Korean Job Discussion Forums

PittGirl07 · Joined: 05 Oct 2010 Location: Seoul, Republic of Korea

Hey all. I've had a few offers and I ultimately decided to go with Korea since the position is at a university in Seoul, my top choice anyway! I have a good friend who will be in the area too so I'm glad I won't be completely alone! I am very excited but at this point I cannot do anything but wait. They have sent me the contract to sign and return (I am still waiting for it) and I am awaiting my federal background check, which I then need to have apostilled (I will do that in person the same week I go to the consulate to apply for my visa). I submitted my federal CBC request back around May 20th and it is still being processed. I was told today it could take "another week or so" so I am really worried. I am supposed to arrive in South Korea no later than the end of August, but of course I'd like to arrive earlier. I haven't purchased my ticket yet but I will soon. Should I be worried??? Has anyone else had less than two months to go and still not have documents ready and managed to still get by okay? I am very worried because I don't won't to miss out on this opportunity. Anyone else care to chime in?

PittGirl07 · Joined: 05 Oct 2010 Location: Seoul, Republic of Korea

Okay, I am bumping this in hopes that someone with more experience can chime in.

Turns out the university doesn't seem too concerned about the CBC and said I could send it later, but I thought I would need it in order for everything to be processed? I spoke with the Korean embassy for my region and the man with whom I spoke didn't even say that their office needed it for the visa and also said that my job should have given me a visa issuance number. I am very confused right now! I am browsing the forums but it seems like everyone has a different story....anyone ever been hired from abroad to teach at a university?

My schoo, by the way, is in their first year of hiring an English teacher from abroad and they have hired several and everyone seems to have questions for them and their answers are not black and white.

:-/

ren546 · Joined: 17 Dec 2010

Congrats on the job - university jobs are very competitive here, and most require some experience in Korea, so you may have lucked out (or you must have great qualifications).

I was also hired from abroad for a university job. I submitted my documents on time, though (3 weeks before I started), and the university sent me my visa issuance number by email. I then took that number to the consulate and got my visa in about 5 days. 2 days later I flew here, and started the semester shortly after.

You likely won't be able to "send it later". You need the CBC for the visa issuance number. How close are you to a consulate? You will need at least a few days between when you get your visa issuance and when you can fly out. Also, it'll take immigration at least a few days to process your CBC and other documents in order to process your visa issuance number (sometimes up to two weeks).

So, at the latest, your university should receive your CBC sometime by the beginning of August. If not, you could always come here on a tourist visa, and then go for a visa run to Japan before the semester starts. Don't expect to get here too early. Korean administration tends to leave things to the very last minute.

Modernist · Joined: 23 Mar 2011 Location: The 90s

warmachinenkorea · Joined: 12 Oct 2008

I thought Uni teachers were on an E1 visa?

sirius black · Joined: 04 Jun 2010

For what its worth you may want to get a statewide background check in the interim in case you have to come Korea without the CBC in hand. Only the CBC is accepted but immigration offices will at least know you're not an ax muderer. They are well aware of the delays in getting one.

Most unis make you do a lot of the legwork yourself. PS scools have EPIK and GEPIk helping with them getting the immigration stuff done, hogwons have the owner or director doing it. Many unis leave you on their own. Often times though there is an office manager that can help as they have tons of time in the summer since school is out to go with you to immigration.

The wait time is consistent. it can take several weeks to get one. If you're under no rush to come now, wait till you have all your docs. I can't imagine them wanting you this early when the fall semester won't start till late august at the earliest for most schools.

Modernist · Joined: 23 Mar 2011 Location: The 90s

asutrack · Joined: 05 Jul 2007 Location: Busan

E-1's do not require a CBC. Nor do you have to have a PHd. to recieve an E-1. If not an E-1 then she must have the CBC before any visa issuance number can be sent.

PittGirl07 · Joined: 05 Oct 2010 Location: Seoul, Republic of Korea

Thanks all. Sorry for the delay in responding. It turns out that it was in fact an E-1 visa but that wasn't revealed until later. I sent the school all the additional docs they asked for. I ended up moving to be with family and ended up using the consulate in their city and my visa was approved. I am on my way afterall. I did eventually get my CBC back in the mail but it turns out I did not need it anyway. I mistakenly thought I would be hired under an E-2, which is why I was scrambling. I knew nothing of the E-1 until I was told that was the visa I'd be hired under and in the requirements, a CBC was not even mentioned. I am relieved to say the least, but I was very worried for a while there.

Adventurer · Joined: 28 Jan 2006