Korean Job Discussion Forums

[stuey11]

I am i the process of applying for an E-2 visa, I have had E-2 visas before but this is the first time time since they changed the rules and require you to show your uni transcript

I had one sent over but the immigration were'nt satisfied with the envelope!! (it was'nt sealed correctly apparently!!)

So I got a second copy sent over....this time the envelope was up to their standards....however once they opened the envelope and looked at my the transcrpit they found another "problem"

I am from the UK, and during my first year at uni I only studied core modules for which I was not awared any credit ( This is the case for alot of the degree courses in the UK)

So because the transcript only lists the credit I got for my my second and third years immigration won't issue the visa until I can prove i actually studied a 3 year degree ( despite the fact the transcript shows my start date (Sept 97) and graduation date July(2000)

I have contacted my uni and they said they will not send any e-mails to korean immigration regarding students personal details (against their policy) and the transcripts they have on record only list the credits that were awarded during second and third years

So I'm stuck, and time is running out both for my hagwon and tourist visa?

I'd be intersted to hear from other teachers from the UK who have similar problems?

If anyone else has any advice then i be keen to hear it because I really don't know what else to do???

thanks is advance

[harryh]

A toughie. Not sure what you can do in this situation. Contact your university and ask them to send / fax over a covering letter which clearly states that you studied for the full years?

Perhaps the immigration office is being too picky, as I'm sure your transcripts and covering letter state your years of study.

I had a problem a couple of months ago. After the hassle of getting sealed transcripts, the way immigration wanted them, they were still unhappy once they opened the envelop.

At my university (Brunel Univ.), for the first and third years I was given percentage grades (eg: 68%, 63%...), but for the second year I got 'Merit' for each subject.

This confused the folks at immigration, as I had to try to explain why I didn't get grades such as "A, B, C,"

It was ok in the end, but I'm sure they were trying to wind me up.

Not every country does it the 'Korean' way, as I felt the immigration people wanted.

[denverdeath]

OP, don't think I can really offer any kind of advice other than what was already mentioned...maybe get a letter direct from your school's registrar stating that you fulfilled the requirements for your degree program and that the transcripts you were issued are valid according to your school's regulations. Which immi office are you dealing with?

[plato's republic]

OP,

I also studied at uni from Sept 97-June 2000. Didn't have any problems getting my paperwork in March this year but that was before the new rules came into effect. Anyway, where did you study?

I would suggest trying to get your uni to call up immigration or perhaps better, send some kind of signed/stamped letter confirming that you have a 3-yr degree. Or ask the immigration officials to call up your university. They are just being too picky. Gotta blame all those damn canucks for that I guess.

Good luck!

[BigBlackEquus]

My two pence would be to contact the Korean consulate in your home country, and perhaps they would be more savvy as to your situation. Could they somehow intervene and explain things to immigration here?

We all saw these types of problems coming. Looks like Brits are going to be getting the shaft.....

[stuey11]

thanks for the replies...

I'm dealing the mokdong immigration office

I studied at St.Martins College Lancaster, an affiliate college of Lancaster University

So far I have contacted my uni but there are very reluctant to give out any personal information regarding students?.....this said, a fax confirming I studied there would pretty much solve the situation!

My university website lists the course i studied and the details e.g course length, credits availible etc....surely immigration should be able to look at this and confirm it with the transcrpt I have already given them????

Failing that i'm considering going back to immigration and try speaking to another guy?....can't see why there should be a problem is my transcript clearly states i studied there from 97-2000!!!!

[keithinkorea]

Immigration can be unpredictable at the best of times. It seems that individual officials sometimes just make arbritary decision depending on what they had for breakfast.

A letter from your Uni registrar confirming your study times on headed paper might help, then again it may not. Some officials love to make life as difficult as they can on occasion.

I'm a Brit and have not had any problems this time around, fortunately my degree does have details from all 3 years of my degree. Sometimes butting heads with Uni people and then immigration can be quite stressful.

A note from your University is probably the best bet.

Good luck.

[lastat06513]

Is there an accrediting agency in the UK?
I know there are some the US that evaluate the courses given and match them with a list of other courses similar to the ones that are unmarked in your transcripts (if that is what you're saying).

The problem with this route is that it makes about 2 months to evaluate and can cost some money and precious time.

Actually, it shouldn't be your ploblem per say; it is the responsibility of your director to guide you through the process and pick up any slack in this regard.

They can also call the university (as what they are doing right now in the first place with all of us) and confirm it is a uni for starters and to confirm that you went.

Having them evaluate what you did and how you did it doesn't seem right to me.

[Bee Positive]

My feeling is that you need your prospective employer to go to bat for you.

Korea is sufficiently corrupt that bribery, in a case like this, might be what's NECESSARY to get the job done.

Short of outright bribery, the right *Korean* patron, knowing how to talk to just the right person at Immigration in just the right way (whatever that may involve!), is probably what you need at this point.

I've faced similar problems in the past. In fact, before ever coming here to Korea for first time (five years ago), I was turned down for an E2 not just once but TWICE, each time on really, really dumb technicalities such as what you're facing. After my second very frustrating and disappointing visit to my local Korean consulate, I well and truly thought that I'd NEVER get to Korea. Little did I suspect that my future boss in Seoul would easily settle my misunderstanding with Immigration via a simple phone call. (OK, so curious minds want to know: I'd lost my diploma in a cross-country move, had ABUNDANT documentation proving my degree, sealed transcripts and so on, but the Consulate wouldn't look at any of it UNTIL they'd heard from my boss in Seoul. Funny how that works!)

Repeat: Having a Korean employer go to bat for me is what did the trick.

So I'd say just explain your situation very politely and honestly and straightforwardly to your future Korean boss. I can't promise that this will work, but don't be surprised if you hear back from him/her/them that everything has magically been cleared up with Immigration and that you're good to go.

I know that this may sound like dumb advice, but it's probably the dumb advice you need.



BEE POSITIVE

[Gwangjuboy]

I am from the UK too, and at my university the subjects that I studied in the first year did not contribute to my overall degree classification. Fortunately, I secured my job before the immgration offices changed their rules, and I am unlikely to change jobs in the forseeable furture. Still, this development was worth knowing about.

[plato's republic]

Stuey11,

Are you a Lancashire lad? There can't be that many of us here in Korea. Well what are the latest developments regarding your situation? You should also ask your hagwon director to intervene and contact immigration.

[stuey11]

yep I'm a Lancashire lad, from Garstang, just outside Preston!

Well contacted my Uni again and explained the situation, usually the transcripts they send out only contain details of modules which credits are awared for. However in this case they have agreed to dig up my entire student record and put together a three year transcript. It was'nt easy though, the clerk I spoke at my uni said this is the first time for such a request.

I have a feeling this situation is going to cause alot of problems for people with similar degrees (mainly brits) in the future!! Any brits reading this and are about to apply for a visa make sure your transcpit, as well as being printed on headed uni paper, signed and sealed in a university marked evelope, also shows the details of every single year at uni, not just the years you were earning credits!!!!!!! (Mods maybe make a sticky post regarding this!!!!)

This is will now be my third transcript in 2 months, and this delay has cost me an extra visa run ( to renew my expiring tourist visa) before i can process my E-2, Not to mention the countless hours of wasted time at immgration waiting and argueing with various peopple, none of whom are willing to listen or be reasonable!!....Immigration surely there is a better way then this!!!!!??????????

So with any luck it a should be arriving in the next 7-8 days and I should be problem free, but you never know!!!

I'll keep you posted and once again thanks for all the help!!