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brclark85
Joined: 18 Nov 2010
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 Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2014 4:09 pm Post subject: bringing a fiance to Korea? |
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Hi,
I've been trying to find info and advice on this, so I thought someone here could help me. I want to teach in South Korea next year, and my fiance will be coming with me. She didn't graduate college, but she is working on getting an online TESOL certification. I was told I should wait until we are married in October, and that some recruiters will pay for a spouse to travel as well. Does anyone have experience in this? If she has a TESOL certification, would finding work be possible? Any feedback would be appreciated! Thanks!
-Ben |
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modernseoul
Joined: 11 Sep 2011
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2014 4:59 pm Post subject: |
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Current Situation: As just your fiance she would only be able to enter the country as a Tourist and stay for 3months then leave for a day then come back.
Once Married: She'll be able to get an F3 visa, but she cannot work legally doing anything. However she can stay in Korea as long as you're here.
Working / Teaching Without a Degree: It's not possible even with an online TESOL certification.
Sorry to be negative on this one but if you come to Korea she can join you but cannot legally work. |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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| Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2014 5:02 pm Post subject: |
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Fiancée and girlfriend are not relationships as far as the South Korean government is concerned. To stay with you, she'll need proof of onward travel within the time limits that apply to her nationality. The other issue is that a TESOL certification absent a university diploma is meaningless.
If you marry her, then she can join you in South Korea; however, she cannot work legally. If she works illegally and gets caught, you may lose your job.
Last edited by CentralCali on Tue Jan 07, 2014 9:15 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Tue Jan 07, 2014 5:06 pm Post subject: Re: bringing a fiance to Korea? |
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| brclark85 wrote: |
Hi,
I've been trying to find info and advice on this, so I thought someone here could help me. I want to teach in South Korea next year, and my fiance will be coming with me. She didn't graduate college, but she is working on getting an online TESOL certification. I was told I should wait until we are married in October, and that some recruiters will pay for a spouse to travel as well. Does anyone have experience in this? If she has a TESOL certification, would finding work be possible? Any feedback would be appreciated! Thanks!
-Ben |
Before you are married her ONLY options are:
a) to come as a tourist (90 days-6 months depending on HER country of passport).
b) apply for a "working tourist (H1) visa - NOT an option for some countries of origin. She still can't teach but she can find part-time work legally - usually in the tourism sector.
Without a degree she CANNOT legally teach in Korea; full stop.
A TEFL/TESOL cert won't make any difference.
AFTER you are married she can get an F3 (dependent family) visa and remain in Korea for as long as your visa remains valid. She cannot (legally) work on an F3.
There is under-the-table work to be had for young, English speaking ladies (usually in Kindergartens) but it is illegal and there are risks (arrest and detention for immigration violations, not being paid and no recourse to the labor board, etc).
. |
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hellofaniceguy
Joined: 10 Jan 2003
Location: On your computer screen!
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| Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 3:14 am Post subject: |
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| CentralCali wrote: |
| Fiancée and girlfriend are not relationships as far as the South Korean government is concerned. |
Any country for that matter. |
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CentralCali
Joined: 17 May 2007
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| Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 3:48 am Post subject: |
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| hellofaniceguy wrote: |
| CentralCali wrote: |
| Fiancée and girlfriend are not relationships as far as the South Korean government is concerned. |
Any country for that matter. |
The US does have a "Fiancée visa" but that applies to permanent immigrants. |
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tardisrider
Joined: 13 Mar 2003
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 12:55 pm Post subject: Re: bringing a fiance to Korea? |
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| brclark85 wrote: |
Hi,
I was told I should wait until we are married in October, and that some recruiters will pay for a spouse to travel as well.
-Ben |
Others have rightly pointed out that your fiancée will not be able to legally work without a university degree, but I thought I'd just point out something about this statement. Recruiters never pay for anything. Recruiters get paid by the schools to find teachers. Schools are the ones who pay. Generally, schools will pay airfare for new teachers, but you'll be very lucky to find one that will pay airfare for two people, especially if you're a first-time teacher coming over for a hagwon gig. |
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brclark85
Joined: 18 Nov 2010
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| Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 5:46 pm Post subject: |
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thank you all for the responses, i would definitely wait until after we were married then. Our wedding is in October. Ideally I'd come to South Korea in December or January of next year. Is it common to find work that time of year?
And if my fiance didn't teach, is there any work available for foreigners? Someone mentioned her having a tourist work visa and possibly working a tourism job. Is that available to those living here with a spouse?
again, thank you all for your help! |
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SeoulNate
Joined: 04 Jun 2010
Location: Hyehwa
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| Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 8:40 pm Post subject: |
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| brclark85 wrote: |
And if my fiance didn't teach, is there any work available for foreigners? Someone mentioned her having a tourist work visa and possibly working a tourism job. Is that available to those living here with a spouse?
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No.
You can not hold 2 visas at the same time. If she is on the F3 visa she is unable to work and, as other posters have pointed out, she would have to apply for the H1 visa instead which could be done w/o you being married.
From the immigration website information about the H1:
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When applying for the Visa you must be aged between 18 – 30.
Must have original bank statement issued in the last 3 months with sufficient funds. Usually anything above 2,000 usd or 1,500 euro.
Schedule and plan of your trip. e.g I will live in Seoul for 3 months and sight see while working part time then move to Busan.
Criminal Background check. The criminal background check must be affixed with an Apostille. The apostille is a stamp or document issued by your government to verify that the documents are real.
Round trip ticket. However it is not always checked.
Medical insurance to cover you for your stay in Korea.
The working holiday visa must be applied for in the Korean embassy in your home country. You cannot apply for the visa abroad and you must visit the embassy in person.
Restrictions:
You are not allowed to teach English while on the working holiday visa. If you wish to teach you must change your visa to the E2 visa while in Korea.
You are not allowed to engage in any Adult Entertainment related to businesses also becoming a dancer, singer or acrobat is prohibited.
Not allowed to engage in jobs that require a specific licence or skill, such as in the field of medical practices, lawyer, professor, pilot, etc.
Not allowed to engage in journalism, religion, academic research or instruction of engineering-related technical skills. You must get a different visa for these.
You must have no dependent children. |
I have no idea about how often they hand these things out, but I can't imagine that there is a whole lot of work to be had out there for people on these things w/o the ability to speak Korean. |
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mayorgc
Joined: 19 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Wed Jan 08, 2014 9:44 pm Post subject: |
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I don't want to sound negative, but this idea sounds like a train wreck waiting to happen.
If you're getting married, shouldn't you be focused on settling down?
Moving to Korea and bringing with you a spouse who can't legally work sounds a bit off.
But I wish you the best of luck. |
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