Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cari83]

This is probably wishful thinking but I'm wondering if things are the same as when I arrived in Korea the first time in 2011. I remember that my background check was late and it got to Korea after I did. I had a Korean visa in my passport when I arrived. Can I still get the Korean visa before the apostilled check gets to Korea? Probably not.

I've been offered a hagwon job and I want to take it, but my background check is not apostilled yet. The job starts July 1. My sister will send it overnight to the apostille place tomorrow, and they'll send it directly to Korea by FedEx International Priority. But then we still have to do the visa process. I hope they let me take this job. I ordered it on time and it was delivered to my parents' house almost 3 weeks ago but my sister couldn't find it because my mom misplaced it.

[trueblue]

OP...

Why oh why, would you have it sent directly to Korea? What if you change your mind? What if the school pulls some last minute contract "negotiations"?

Don't do it that way. Have your documents IN HAND, BEFORE you send them to Korea.

[cari83]

Thank you for the advice.

My question is, can I get my Korean work visa before my background check arrives in Korea?

[trueblue]

[Aine1979]

No, you can't. Once all of your documents arrive in Korea including your apostilled CBC, your employer will submit them to immigration to get your VIN (visa issuance number). That takes about a week. They'll then email you the VIN, which you'll fill out on the application form for your E2. You'll submit that and your passport etc to the embassy for your E2 visa to be issued in your passport.

The VIN will not be issued without the CBC, and the visa will not be issued without the VIN.

[cari83]

Thank you Aine1979. The only reason I wanted to check is because this happened before in 2011; my background check did not get there until after I did. I wasn't the only person in this situation either, at the time. So I was wondering if it was still possible. Thanks.

[Aine1979]

You can arrive before the background check, but not with your visa, so you'd have to do a visa run. Should have been the same in 2011. Unless you're applying for an F4 visa, in which case you don't need the CBC to get the visa, only for registering with the MOE.