Korean Job Discussion Forums

[MinneasotaGirl]

Our recruiter sent us this e-mail. I am super sketched out. Everything has seemed great up until now, we have researched the school, spoke with the director, and teachers. Negotiated and re-wrote our contract, etc, etc. We are ready to leave next week. We do not have our E-2 visas yet, as we will not have time to get one. So, we will have to do the Japan visa run. When I wrote to my recruiter asking when we will go to Japan, and for how long, this was their response....... I am concerned, I know you are allowed to enter on a tourist visa for 3 months, but from what I have read, YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO WORK, until you have your E-2 visa. My recruiter stated that we are not going to go to Japan for about a month or possibly longer! What should I do, we have our house packed, and we are ready to go!


Message from Recruiter:
"You will probably, be going to Japan within the first month. Technically you have 3 months on your tourist visa to stay in Korea so you have plenty of time to get this done. Provided the paperwork is sent to Japan to get things started you are 100% legally allowed to work in Korea. This is why it's imparative you get your contracts sent to Korea so your director can start this process."

[Grotto]

Its a lie! Until your visa is in your passport it is illegal for you to work in Korea.

Choices are:

1. Call him a liar and tell them that you wont work until you have an E2 visa in your passport(i'd call him a liar...you dont have to)

2. Work illegally and hope you dont get caught.

Yet another reason why recruiters are scum sucking bottom feeders!

[AliNZ]

Find another job!

You must have your E2 visa to work.

[sadsac]

I agree 100% with Grotto's sentiments. Tell the recruiter he is an outright liar and that until you have any E2 he and the school can eat sh#t and die. Don't jeopardise your future by working illegally.

[cubanlord]

F#*(ing people. It never stops. Don't work without the E2 in your HAND!

[billyg]

Not an authority, just speaking from my own experience.
I worked three weeks without a visa... a friend worked a month and a half, another, being that he was Canadian and had a longer tourist visa, worked almost three months without one... I know quite a few people that have done the same. Is it illegal? Yes. Is it something to scrap the whole trip on, no way. Try to get more information from the recruiter but don't throw in the towel.

[Milwaukiedave]

I agree with that others are saying. The recruiter is lying. Please post the recruiters name for us. There should be a red flag next to his/her name.

That being said, I came to Korea without a visa and had no idea it was illegal. After three weeks the school sent us to Japan.

It seems like its still standard practice for school to do this. I'm not saying it's right, just that schools are still doing it illegally.

If there is not a recuriter blacklist, someone should sure as hell start one.

[some waygug-in]

Working illegally is not a good idea. This gives the school tremendous power over you.

What if they decide to lower your paycheck or even not pay you?

You have no legal ground to stand on. If you try to report them, they can deport you for working illegally.

I have no way of knowing that this particular school will do this, but that's the whole point.... One never knows what they are planning.

The recruiter is half lying. He is right that you have 3 months on a tourist card before you have to get your visa changed, but he is not telling you something. You can not legally work until you get your E2, so if you get caught, it is you who will be held accountable.........not the school....not the recruiter. YOU!

Do you really want to do that to yourself?


On the other hand, if you do decide to go this route and you find the school is jerking you around you still have the option of walking away and finding another job. But you may not be financially secure enough to do this. So...it's up to you.

[tiger fancini]

I bumped into a couple of guys last week that I met on my flight over here (2.5 months ago). They had no visa then, and still don't have one now. However, they have been hard at work since they arrived.....

[mindmetoo]

Recruiters will simply tell you anything to collect their meager fee.

[John Henry]

Not down for working illegaly, but I think once you have a visa confirmation number that is authorized from a consulate, you're legal. At that point, your visa is issued, you just havn't picked it up.

[Dan The Chainsawman]

Depending on your resources there is another thing to consider also. If you come here and find the school to be a total hole then its much easier to back out of the deal and find a position elsewhere.

I would not reccomend coming without a visa, but it is something that you should think about. For both my schools I worked illegally for a few weeks prior to being shipped to Japan. My first school was nice, my second is well... hmm anyway no more about that.

[billyg]

[Ilsanman]

I have always worked before the visa was processed. I never got caught, but it is possible.

You are allowed to pretend to be 'training', if immigration comes. You can't admit you are teaching classes.

[Hyeon Een]

I worked illegaly for a month (boss actually wanted to send me to Japan after a couple of weeks, but I pretended I'd left my degree back home because I was still scoping the place out..)

Got busted by immigration after a month. Boss paid some bribes and fines. I got 3 days in Japan insteada one. Suited me fine =) Not had any problems getting subsquent E2 visas

P.S. I don't recommend it though because you might not have a boss willing to pay bribes, or you might have nastier immigration officers. I got lucky.