Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Izyb]

Hey everyone! I'd love some help on this question, it's confusing me.

I'm a New Zealander, but I was born in Australia. I have had an Australian passport before, but it expired and I lost it (whoops). I currently have a New Zealand passport and have applied for EPIK (still waiting to hear back) under my NZ passport. I've been doing a bit of reading and it seems that Australians can get any pension contributions back, but New Zealanders can't. I am heading to OZ soon, and I need my mother's birth certificate to apply for my AU passport (which is a bit of a mission). I plan to get my AU passport within the next 5 weeks.

If I got into EPIK and went there on my New Zealand passport, but had my Australian passport by then, could I withdraw the money from my pension scheme under it? Or is it only possible if my VISA is on my Australian passport?

Is it worth worrying about? I have read it's around 3kNZD a year, which is a pretty considerable sum. I still haven't heard back from EPIK (had my interview almost 2 weeks ago...) so I'm not too sure if that's going to happen.

If I do get in, I'm not sure whether I should decline it and get my Australian passport sorted. Public schools really appeal to me as they generally have less working hours, longer holidays, and the orientation sounds great, but you don't really get too much of a choice as to where you work.

Any one got any advice? Am I correct in my understanding of the pension scheme? I'm not sure whether the pension is worth giving up a position (if I'm offered one) but I do like money...

[Ramen]

your visa will be affixed on the passport that you applied visa with. also your arc will state your nationality. you need to submit a copy of your arc to the pension office to claim your refund.

[Izyb]

Thanks for your reply, Ramen.

I'm still a bit confused though. What would be the key in determining whether I can withdraw money from my pension? I will definitely have my Australian passport before I enter Korea, it's just my VISA would be on my NZ passport.

And with my ARC card would it list both NZ and AU as my nationality, or just NZ as it's what my VISA is on?


Any one else dealt with this issue in dual citizenship?

[ttompatz]

[Izyb]

Ahhhhh that sucks! I'm going to Sydney in a week or so to start the application process for my Australian passport.

If I got into EPIK and applied for my VISA under my NZ passport, can I get that VISA cancelled and reinstated on my Australian passport?

It just seems silly to throw away my pension money :\


I can't decide whether it's just worth going down the private route so that I can apply after I've got my Australian passport. I'm wanting to get to Korea in September, at the latest, and so EPIK's timing was perfect.

[ontheway]

OP. If I'm clear on what you wrote, you are only at the beginning of the process. No one has filed any paperwork for your visa yet. Have you had an interview yet?

If this is correct, then why not wait until you get some indication that you have been hired. If you have your Australian documents in order by then, including a new CBC from Australia, then you can ask your new employer to use your Australian documents instead of the NZ documents when filing for your visa. If you can get your new docs quickly enough, you can forward them on to your recruiter during this application phase of the process.

[Izyb]

Hey ontheway -thats a good idea.. However, getting my Australian passport is going to take me around 5 weeks as I have to get my grandma to get my mother's birth certificate (complicated). So I doubt I'd have it in time for the public schools *if* I get offered a position. My recruiter seems to think I will be.

Also, would I have to get an Australian criminal record? Seems pretty stupid to get one if I've never lived there!