Korean Job Discussion Forums

[n3ptne]

I'm rather amused. Was under the misconception that everything was completed, with the only remaining step left a mere stamp on my passport... then I was informed that I still had to apply for the visa.

What exactly is a visa issuance letter? I already sent my documentation to Korea for processing, if approved... whats the point of another application? Or is it more or less just an excuse to con me out of $45.00USD?

What exactly do I get with my application? I am supposed to send, along with the application, my passport and a 2x2 photograph. Whats the purpose of the photograph? I thought all they were going to do was give me a pretty little E2 stamp in my little blue book and call it a day. What gives?

[coulter]

If you are approved, you should be sent a visa issuance letter from your employer. You must take this letter, your passport, a piture and the fee to the nearest Korean embassy or consolate office. There you will have to fill out an application for the visa and submit all of your documentation. The process used to only take 1 day, but now it takes 2-3 days. The embassy will do a background check on you and put a visa in your passport. The photo is for their paperwork. If you are not close to an embassy you can print an application up off the internet and apply by mail with a self addressed, stamped envelope. You cannot be issued an E-2 visa in Korea, so you must do it before you leave. Otherwise you will have to enter on a tourist visa and do a "visa run" to Japan.

[Ya-ta Boy]

What coulter said.

[n3ptne]

So basically sending all my stuff to Korea was a huge waste of my time and money?

Should have just sent everything to Chicago... oh well.

Does anyone know what the background check entails? Or what would preclude someone from getting the visa? I dont have any outstanding warrants or anything bad on my records... but I've had a few warrants issued in the past for not paying a ticket on time, and its possible (though unlikely) that there are a few outstanding parking tickets still in my name.

In the unlikely event that, say, there is an outstanding bench warrant for my arrest in either the state I live in, or another, would this automatically preclude me from final visa authorization? And if so, would this totally bar me from reapplying for a specific amount of time? To be sure I'll visit my local police department in the morning and see if they can find anything outstanding... but I worry that in the event there is such a thing, and I take care of it right away, that it will still be too soon before their computer background check tests negative?

I'm not really worried, just one little unexpected stress-ball of a hurdle to get over I suppose. But I'd like to get all my ducks in a row (finally) and get on the plane, the very last thing I want is to not be able to go over some inconsequentially stupid reason, and then on top of that be barred from reapplying for six months or something.

[coulter]

You need to send your documentation (degree, photocopy of passport, etc) to Korea in order to get the letter of issuance from Korea. Your employer will get that through the immigration office in Korea. You will take that to the Korean Embassy in your country.
The Korean embassy will check you out to make sure you are somebody that they wouldn't mind teaching in their country. I'm sure you'd know if you had any outstanding arrest warrents or whatever. They will check to make sure you don't have a criminal record. They may even call your university to make sure your degree is legit and past employers to make sure you didn't lie on your resume.

[n3ptne]

Alls clear, went to the police station today. I think I plan too much, ha.