Korean Job Discussion Forums

[two roads]

Hi,

This is my first time coming to Korea. I have been offered a position with a public school through a recruiter. All of my communications have been with the recruiter. I haven��t spoken with the school. It seems to be a great job, exactly what I was looking for. I just have a few questions.

First of all, I��m supposed to leave for Korea in less than two weeks, and the recruiter still hasn��t given me my visa issuance number. They told me before that they would have the number for me by now. However, they told me today that they still do not have it. How long does it take to get a visa after you get the visa issuance number? I��m worried about if I will have enough time to get the visa before I leave. There isn��t a Korean consulate near where I live, so I��m going to have to travel or apply through the mail (if that is possible).

Second, I am under the impression that I should have a copy of the contract that has been signed by both the employer and myself. As I understand it, I��ll need that to apply for the visa. However, the recruiter hasn��t given me a signed copy of the contract (I signed three copies and sent them to them weeks ago). I��m starting to get paranoid. I haven��t had any communication with the school. I don��t know for sure that I have the job. All I have is the recruiter��s word. Maybe they��re just telling me that I have the job so that they can keep me available as a possibility. Maybe the school hasn��t completely made up its mind.

The reason that I am so concerned is the issue of airfare. In my contract I��m supposed to buy my own airplane ticket and then get reimbursed by the school. The recruiter was telling me before that I should wait to buy my ticket. Today they told me that I should go ahead and buy the ticket. Airfare from where I am now to Korea is going to cost about $1000 USD (one way). I��m worried about buying such an expensive ticket when the situation seems kind of shaky.

Maybe I��m paranoid. Maybe this is normal. Does anyone have any advice?

Thanks.

[peppermint]

Phone a consulate in your country and ask how long it will take the visa to process once you apply.

When you buy the ticket, arrange for a stopover of however many days needed in that city. You can ask if the school will reimburse you for a hotel stay, but they probably wont.

Either way, make it clear that you won't be booking a seat anywhere til you have a visa number.

[sheba]

I firmly believe in schools paying for the airfare upfront because there have been a lot of problems getting reimbursed. I simply told my school I did not have enough money to pay for my airfare.

I dont know much about the verification number.... its new since I came to Korea. It took overnight to process my visa with all the papers, so I imagine it wont take much longer without all the paperwork! Otherwise they might ask you to go to Korea on a tourist visa and do a visa run to Japan.

*edited*

[VanIslander]

not being informed...

and things getting done at the last possible second...

that is the Korean way...

seriously, it's perfectly normal here.