Korean Job Discussion Forums

[mfrenglish]

Hey everybody. This is my first post but I've already taught for one year in Korea and have been frequenting the boards since 2010. After searching I've found no posts relating to this topic.

Getting to the point, if a school needs to higher you ASAP(true in every sense of the acronym), and I have all of my documents, what would be the most logical process of visa application?

A recruiter stated if I had my documents I would fly this weekend.

Is flying to Korea, receiving a visa issuance number, and running to Japan for the visa possible? Recommended? Crazy?

Has anybody done it? Stories of success and failure are much appreciated.

[swinewho]

[mfrenglish]

Wow. Didn't see myself doing that on my first post.

It's like stepping into a fashion conference with your fly undone.

I have been shamed.

Will the board forgive?

[cincynate]

Lol.. You get one freebie.

Flying to Japan to get your visa is quite common and done frequently. Its very easy. The only cravet is to get in writing BEFORE YOU LEAVE that your school/hagwon will pay the cost of your trip to Japan. It is a two day ordeal if you arrive in the morning.

Process->

1. Arrive in Japan
2. Head to the Korean consulate in Japan (with your visa issuance number already issued)
3. Hand in the form, your passport, and your payment. Your documents will need to be submitted by your boss in Korea.
4. Pick up your passport with visa stamped in it the next day.
5. Head back to Korea.
6. Do not agree to work until you have the visa. It is not worth those few extra days to get caught and deported, and likely never able to return to Korea again.

Good luck!

[swinewho]

[mfrenglish]

Many thanks cincynate!

I sea the bored can forgive.....see what I did there, board?

Thanks swinewho!

[swinewho]

[Skippy]

What they are asking is not against the normal realm of way to do things.

Still be very wary of the bali bali of applying. If any place needs you right away - then there is a good chance that school will be badly run.

Even the recruiter who is rushing you can be scamming too. He she says school needs somebody right way. You get here and whoops it already went, but this school (please ignore the 2 hour drive to get here) is hiring too. Here let me take those papers from you.

As mention you can very likely lose out on plane ticket. You come over, whoops the already found somebody - so sorry.

Next, illegal working. What will happen is you will come over and you will start working right away before the visa. School will start the visa process. That working on a tourist visa is illegal. It is done often and your chances of getting caught are slim. BUT as the more time goes by the higher the risk. Some schools can be soooo slow, that you can find a whole month has passed by and the school wants you wait another few more weeks! But this can also work to your benefit. Keep all your documents to yourself. Do not let the school hold or recruiter hold. Do not hand them over till they are actually going to process the application. So in the time you are working under the table you can be checking out the school. If you hate the and the school drags it ass a little you can just walk away.... The school can not go after you (unless you did something serious) because they asked you to work illegally.

One confusion is the interview. In the past immigration wanted to Interview all first timer E-2 applications. But they stopped doing that (I think). Anyways OP you already have done a year. UNLESS you have done something wrong with your school or with the government like overstay visa. Then immigration could request you to go back HOME for an interview at the nearest Korean Consulate!

Good Luck

[luckylady]

one of the scams involves getting a teacher over right away such as yourself, because another teacher has actually been hired already and their paperwork is being processed for the real visa - the one you think you will be getting, but you will actually be fired for some reason, when that teacher's paperwork is all done and they are due to arrive.


on the other hand, sometimes it's all legit, just bad planning for whatever reason, and you really are sent on a visa run, paid for by the employer.

try and talk to another teacher at the school and get their take on it. also try and gauge how big the school is - bigger schools often can do this because they have the budget for it. if it's a mom and pop outfit, that's a screaming red flag - don't do it.

[mfrenglish]

Thanks for all the info everybody!!