| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Wilmega
Joined: 27 Feb 2011
|
 Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 12:04 pm Post subject: New teacher - will my VISA application get denied? |
 |
|
Hello everyone - recently i've been applying for teaching positions in Korea - I found a position in Cheonan and signed my contract and now just awaiting for my VISA issuance number.
I know I am suppose to interview at the Korean Embassy and provide a medical health statement.
My question is - I currently have slight asthma (Bronchial hyper reactivity) which causes a slight irritation in my throat. I have the need to clear my throat every so often - I am taking medication - pulmicort (similiar to a puffer). But according to my doctor this is something I'll have to deal with.
Related to my asthma - I get dry coughs which may last 1-3 weeks. About 2 or 3 times the past year i've had these episodes where I cough alot. I have to take medicated cough syrup and antibiotics to clear it.
Sorry I can't be more clear on my symptons - it's not really serious - just a minor nusance. But I can see how it won't be a good idea to teach if im constantly coughing for days at a time.
Is this a reason to have my VISA denied?
* please note - I tried posting this topic earlier - im not sure if it went through. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Riker
Joined: 28 Dec 2010
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 4:07 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Why on earth would you disclose this info to anyone. Select "No" on everything on the medical form for illness.
Your illness does not sound serious. Don't sweat it. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 4:16 pm Post subject: |
|
|
For visa purposes, asthma is a non-issue. I have it too.
Just write no on the self medical form.
(It is not contagious nor do you require restricted drugs to deal with it, nor can it post a risk to others and it is not a mental health issue.)
No worry at the "in country" medical exam either. The doctor will just ignore it.
. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Skippy
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Daejeon
|
| Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 4:19 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Riker wrote: |
Why on earth would you disclose this info to anyone. Select "No" on everything on the medical form for illness.
Your illness does not sound serious. Don't sweat it. |
I think what riker is Trying to say is sometimes the people who make the medical decisions for visa are not doctors they are bureaucrats who can petty or even down right racists at times or even just plain dumb. What you have sounds minor - I would not classify as MAJOR so I would not put it on the FORM. If it can kill you in a couple of minutes THEN I would put on the form. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ontheway
Joined: 24 Aug 2005
Location: Somewhere under the rainbow...
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2011 7:29 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Skippy wrote: |
| Riker wrote: |
Why on earth would you disclose this info to anyone. Select "No" on everything on the medical form for illness.
Your illness does not sound serious. Don't sweat it. |
I think what riker is Trying to say is sometimes the people who make the medical decisions for visa are not doctors they are bureaucrats who can petty or even down right racists at times or even just plain dumb. What you have sounds minor - I would not classify as MAJOR so I would not put it on the FORM.
If it can kill you in a couple of minutes THEN I would put on the form. |
Or just wait a couple of minutes and you won't need the form. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
lemak
Joined: 02 Jan 2011
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2011 7:59 am Post subject: |
|
|
Agree with the others. Not necessary for them to know.
Side note for what it's worth, you can get the usual asthma meds from docs and pharmacies in Korea (Ventolin, Pulmicort, Seretide etc.) for reasonable prices.
No idea where you currently live, but be aware that Korea can be nasty for people with respiratory issues.
According to the "AirKorea" website set up to monitor air pollution Cheonan had 16 days in February where the air quality was considered "unhealthy". Doesn't bother most people but if you have sensitive lungs you can have a rough time. The next couple of months are usually the worst too.
I have a smoker's cough half the year in Korea and have smoked fewer than 10 cigarettes in my life.
Not sure of my point, just be aware of what you may expect and if you have any personal asthma management tricks now's the time to hone them up. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Hokie21
Joined: 01 Mar 2011
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2011 8:16 am Post subject: |
|
|
| What if you suffer from Anxiety and have been prescribed a very low dose of Xanax from your doctor at home. Is that something that will reflect poorly or cause you to get your Visa denied? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2011 9:12 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Hokie21 wrote: |
| What if you suffer from Anxiety and have been prescribed a very low dose of Xanax from your doctor at home. Is that something that will reflect poorly or cause you to get your Visa denied? |
Xanax will show on your drug screen (they do test for bennies) at your mandatory medical exam and will get you bounced from Korea AND potentially labeled persona non grata.
Additionally, if you admit to the problem and treatment during the job application process you won't even get hired, never mind make it as far as the visa process.
. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Hokie21
Joined: 01 Mar 2011
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2011 9:31 am Post subject: |
|
|
| ttompatz wrote: |
| Hokie21 wrote: |
| What if you suffer from Anxiety and have been prescribed a very low dose of Xanax from your doctor at home. Is that something that will reflect poorly or cause you to get your Visa denied? |
Xanax will show on your drug screen (they do test for bennies) at your mandatory medical exam and will get you bounced from Korea AND potentially labeled persona non grata.
Additionally, if you admit to the problem and treatment during the job application process you won't even get hired, never mind make it as far as the visa process.
. |
So taking a legally prescribed medication from a licensed doctor for a legitimate disorder is grounds for dismissal? Wow Korea sounds like such a great country. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2011 9:56 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Hokie21 wrote: |
| So taking a legally prescribed medication from a licensed doctor for a legitimate disorder is grounds for dismissal? Wow Korea sounds like such a great country. |
No, lying on your visa application is grounds for cancellation of your visa and removal from the country.
It is a double edged sword.
It you are honest you won't get the job.
If you lie then you commit visa fraud (lying on your medical questionnaire and lying on your visa application).
Either way you end up in the same place; back home.
Korea is not alone in this regard. You should take a look at the requirements for most people to get a visa and work permit to get into the states.
It is MUCH worse than it is trying to get work in Korea and far easier to get refused and/or ordered out/deported.
. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Hokie21
Joined: 01 Mar 2011
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2011 9:59 am Post subject: |
|
|
| ttompatz wrote: |
| Hokie21 wrote: |
| So taking a legally prescribed medication from a licensed doctor for a legitimate disorder is grounds for dismissal? Wow Korea sounds like such a great country. |
No, lying on your visa application is grounds for cancellation of your visa and removal from the country.
It is a double edged sword.
It you are honest you won't get the job.
If you lie then you commit visa fraud (lying on your medical questionnaire and lying on your visa application).
Either way you end up in the same place; back home.
Korea is not alone in this regard. You should take a look at the requirements for most people to get a visa and work permit to get into the states.
It is MUCH worse than it is trying to get work in Korea and far easier to get refused and/or ordered out/deported.
. |
Ok but let's say the school whose offered me the job knows I've been prescribed this medication and still offers me this job. Are you saying in that case I'd be alright? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2011 10:05 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Hokie21 wrote: |
| ttompatz wrote: |
| Hokie21 wrote: |
| So taking a legally prescribed medication from a licensed doctor for a legitimate disorder is grounds for dismissal? Wow Korea sounds like such a great country. |
No, lying on your visa application is grounds for cancellation of your visa and removal from the country.
It is a double edged sword.
It you are honest you won't get the job.
If you lie then you commit visa fraud (lying on your medical questionnaire and lying on your visa application).
Either way you end up in the same place; back home.
Korea is not alone in this regard. You should take a look at the requirements for most people to get a visa and work permit to get into the states.
It is MUCH worse than it is trying to get work in Korea and far easier to get refused and/or ordered out/deported.
. |
Ok but let's say the school whose offered me the job knows I've been prescribed this medication and still offers me this job. Are you saying in that case I'd be alright? |
Now you are into hypothetical questions.
Truth, even though it is not what you want to hear, is that no school in Korea will hire you if you disclose the fact and even if they did because they didn't understand your disclosure you probably won't get past the consular interview with the "yes" on your visa application form.
This isn't Kansas and I am just an anonymous voice on an internet forum.
You don't have to take my word for it. Keep asking and someone will tell you what you want to hear.
.
Last edited by ttompatz on Tue Mar 08, 2011 10:06 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Skippy
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Daejeon
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2011 10:05 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Hokie21 wrote: |
| ttompatz wrote: |
| Hokie21 wrote: |
| So taking a legally prescribed medication from a licensed doctor for a legitimate disorder is grounds for dismissal? Wow Korea sounds like such a great country. |
No, lying on your visa application is grounds for cancellation of your visa and removal from the country.
It is a double edged sword.
It you are honest you won't get the job.
If you lie then you commit visa fraud (lying on your medical questionnaire and lying on your visa application).
Either way you end up in the same place; back home.
Korea is not alone in this regard. You should take a look at the requirements for most people to get a visa and work permit to get into the states.
It is MUCH worse than it is trying to get work in Korea and far easier to get refused and/or ordered out/deported.
. |
Ok but let's say the school whose offered me the job knows I've been prescribed this medication and still offers me this job. Are you saying in that case I'd be alright? |
It is NOT up to the school to decide it is the government. If schools could be allowed to have Heroin drug addicted slutty Phillipinos to teach English for hits of H, they would.
Still the school can voice their opinion and immigration might take it into consideration.
The question is can you operate without the Xanax or can you gat and acceptable alternative. As it is for anxiety are you sure want to come to Korea which could raise the blood pressure out of drunk meditating Buddhist monk. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Hokie21
Joined: 01 Mar 2011
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2011 10:13 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Skippy wrote: |
| Hokie21 wrote: |
| ttompatz wrote: |
| Hokie21 wrote: |
| So taking a legally prescribed medication from a licensed doctor for a legitimate disorder is grounds for dismissal? Wow Korea sounds like such a great country. |
No, lying on your visa application is grounds for cancellation of your visa and removal from the country.
It is a double edged sword.
It you are honest you won't get the job.
If you lie then you commit visa fraud (lying on your medical questionnaire and lying on your visa application).
Either way you end up in the same place; back home.
Korea is not alone in this regard. You should take a look at the requirements for most people to get a visa and work permit to get into the states.
It is MUCH worse than it is trying to get work in Korea and far easier to get refused and/or ordered out/deported.
. |
Ok but let's say the school whose offered me the job knows I've been prescribed this medication and still offers me this job. Are you saying in that case I'd be alright? |
It is NOT up to the school to decide it is the government. If schools could be allowed to have Heroin drug addicted slutty Phillipinos to teach English for hits of H, they would.
Still the school can voice their opinion and immigration might take it into consideration.
The question is can you operate without the Xanax or can you gat and acceptable alternative. As it is for anxiety are you sure want to come to Korea which could raise the blood pressure out of drunk meditating Buddhist monk. |
Yes I can operate without the Xanax, it is something that was only prescribed to me a little over a month ago. Traveling to Korea does not bother me in the least, I have lived and worked on 4 different continents so living aboard is nothing new. Frankly it seems the best course of action would be to just discontinue the medication if its going to cause such a problem.
And there was no answer I "wanted" to hear, I just wanted to know the facts that is all. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Wilmega
Joined: 27 Feb 2011
|
| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2011 5:57 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Thanks for the reply -- im currently living in Toronto - I heard air quality in Korea is poor - didn't think Cheonan was that bad considering its a smaller city - but hopefully it doesn't act up |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
