Korean Job Discussion Forums

[BigBuds]

IMPORTANT!!URGENT!! To all teachers!! Just got back from Masan Immigration with Just Because. We quizzed them about the "Verification of Degrees" thing. They've told us that all teachers on E-2 visas have to have it done by tomorrow, Friday 30th of December, even if they haven't been notified of it, it's up to the teachers to do it. Immigration said that they told the hagwon associations and that they have done their job so now it��s on the teachers' heads. If you don��t get it done by tomorrow, they said that they won��t renew your visas if you want to stay in Korea. THIS IS NO JOKE GUYS so get your asses down to Immigration tomorrow ASAP, don��t worry about what your directors are telling you or saying as this is straight from the mouths of Immigration. If you��re planning to stay in Korea and teach, you have to get this done ASAP. TOMORROW IS THE DEADLINE!!!

[schwa]

The info above has been my take on it since the beginning. No matter how well or ineptly immigration announces a new policy, its our responsibility to keep up on it. I'd say thats true for expats in any country.

Clearly, a lot of teachers through ignorance or just plain willfulness are gonna get bit by this next year.

So whats the upshot? I dont think it will be totally dire -- Korea needs teachers. My guess is that those who didnt file the form on time will be denied easy in-country renewal. Meaning a visa run, diplomas, & sealed transcripts even if youre re-upping with the same school.

Or just go do it tomorrow.

[chronicpride]

Given that many immigration district offices didn't even send out letters to schools, I'd say that once the front-end immigration clerks start getting the brunt end of the flak from pissed directors, the loophole will begin to reveal itself. And that's assuming that all 30+ district offices do the superhuman feat of having united adherence to strictly enforcing the same thing that Masan said. If they couldn't engineer the letter mailing part of this policy very well, then I have some reservations.

[just because]

i was there with BigBuds....

We asked the girl, "most of the people don't have nay idea, what happens if they don't come in?"

basically her answer was
"We told the hagwon association in each city and it was their job to get the word out, we did our bit so if the teachers don't find out then it is too bad"..

I honestly think that not much will happen but just hearing her say that was enough to know my trip there wasn't wasted...

[jacl]

We don't have ESP. If no one tells you, how can you know? I filled a form out, but those who didn't and have a contract can't be blamed. It isn't ignorance of the law.

[The Cosmic Hum]

Hmmm...well this may come back to haunt me...but
I didn't go, and I am not going, and quite honestly, I'm making it a point not to go, and for what it is worth, for those who are reading this and didn't go...I say good for you.
I've been at the same university for over 5 years, so I guess I have little concern over this 'crisis of the moment' some here may feel.
Immigration has my home address, I received no notification, and neither did many people reading this forum.
Now, before someone says...I told you...don't bother, I'll take my lumps if they come.
In fact, I'm a little disappointed with those who volunteered...I'm sure I'll get flamed for this, but come on...no notification and no consensus among the various immigration boards... but all this yes sir, no sir, three bags full sir...what's up with that...better safe than sorry?
Not having any of it...thanks but no thanks for the warnings...all this...I did and so should you, reminds me of scaremongering school children wanting attention for being a do-gooder. It's really kind of strange...the only time I feel any kind of negativity or paranoia is when I read some of the comments on this board.
I'm all in favor of cleaning up this industry...illegal teachers and the rest...but this kind of deadline strikes me as some middle manager authority trip wet dream.
It seems this kind of verification could just as easily be done, if not more easily, at the time of visa renewal...or is that just too simple.
I am fairly confident I won't be the only person still here in the years to come who didn't get this done.
Like I said...this may come back to haunt me...but not as much as it would bother me to voluntarily bend over for this witch hunt.

[chronicpride]

*claps*

Level-headedness is the new pink, IMO. You need to post more often.

[jacl]

[BigBuds]

We all know what Immigration is like. All I was doing was trying to help out teachers with the information that was given to me. My policy is "Better safe than sorry". I'm not saying the sky is falling but immigration has been know to do some strange things so all I'm saying is just to be careful. After all, it's your choice to go in and do it. I'm not forcing you, just advising.

[Hollywoodaction]

Remember the post written by someone who said his friend works at a university in the US? The friend hung up on someone who claimed to be from Korean Immigration. The person was threatening to file complaints against his friend because he or she refused to divulge confidential information without0 a written permition from the student. There is nothing written on the form that hints to a written permition to do so. It appears they never had the intention to verify the information. It seems to be a bandaid solution for a problem that they want to go away on its own, a charade for the benefit of the press. It seems to have worked...for now.

I won't be filling it out. At first they were requiring all foreign teachers to do so. Instead of doing so, I've made a few phone calls informing them that as a holder of an F-2-1 visa, my employment is no longer of their concern. If you hold an F-2-1 visa, your E2 hasn't been valid since September 25, 2005. I guess they've received quite a few phone calls from F2-1 holders since I posted about the fact they were overstepping their authority. Last I heard, some of the offices started posting signs saying the form is only a requirement for people on an E2 visa.

[Songbird1979]

What *I* want to know is what the new policy is for APPLYING for visas after the 30 December

My school said they may have a problem seeing as I refuse to send my original degree- they got my paperwork last Wednesday and they MUST have been to immigration to get an employment letter or whatever it is......but I haven't heard anything from them yet!

I'm getting very twitchy- 3 weeks til leaving and I haven't applied for the visa yet! BTW, does anyone actually KNOW where to get the forms from to actually apply in your home country (I'm in Australia)?? And how much (in AU$) are the multiple entry visas?

[Yu_Bum_suk]

Do you have to go yourself? My school district just had all the teachers fill in forms.

[Zenpickle]

I filled out my degree confirmation form at Omogkyo Immigration yesterday (Thursday, December 29th). This is the short conversation I had with the officer on the 3rd floor of the building:

"Excuse me, I have one question."

"Yes?"

"Our school did not receive the letter about this. I heard about it through others. We have one teacher who doesn't know about it, and he's in Hawaii until next week. What can he do?"

"He'll do it next year?"

(I'm thinking, 'Oh yeah, next week is next year.')

"Yes, next year."

"First floor."

"First floor?"

"He doesn't go here. He goes first floor."

She also mentioned that she had received many complaints about this whole process. Very nice girl.

[Hollywoodaction]