Korean Job Discussion Forums

[falco]

Anybody know anything about the legality or otherwise of schools who give E-7 visas to their foreign teachers? Have some friends who teach at a place where the wae-gooks all have E-7s instead of the usual E-2s.

I understood that E-7s were usually restricted to medical people etc but I could be wrong.

- falco.

[alabamaman]

http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=9844

[falco]

Thanks fer the posting Alabamaman but it doesnt really answer my question. That is - is it legal for SCHOOLS to obtain E-7s for their teachers? The school in question is actually a kindergarten.

- falco.

[Aussiekimchi]

I am on an E7 visa.
It is not only for medicos. But teachers cannot get one.
Your company must front up with 5 mil guarrantee I am told. They also need to prove that there are no other Koreans whom can do the job...(again I was told)
I dunno too much.My company just said they would put me on an E7 and a few weeks later it arrived.
I had to do all the same visa stuff for an E2.

[falco]

Thanks Aussiekimchi. Your obviously doing something other than teaching.

But I really want to know (on behalf of my friends) if this kindergarten is doing something underhand in giving its teachers E-7 visas. Why would they WANT them to have E-7s? Should this be something the Immigration Dept should know about??

- falco.

[Aussiekimchi]

You've got me mate. Maybe they send them out to other schools. On an E7 I can pretty much work where ever I want to. .....I am told.
I know a lot about everyone else's visa but not my own I guess.
If they were issued E7 visas, Immi probably already knows about it mate.

[falco]

Yes, thats true. But I'm just wondering if Immigration knows that they're actually teaching or if they (Immigrat. dept) has been told something else. Very strange really. I know the school itself didnt directly obtain these visas, it was done by an agent who works for the company who own the school (it is a kindergarten/'International' chain type place).

- falco.

[OiGirl]

[Aussiekimchi]

hey thanks Oigirl. I did not know that. Don't deal with them. Any idea why the school offers those teachers E7s?

[OiGirl]

[falco]

I didnt know that either. But I guess the only way to know fer sure is to talk to Immigration directly. The teachers at the aforementioned school ARE employed exclusively as English teachers.

What also still leaves me a little bit puzzled is when one of the ex-teachers at this place was at the Immigration office on an unrelated matter last year, the officials he was dealing with were particularly curious as to why he possessed an E-7.

- falco.

[alabamaman]

E7 Visas are for (General work) in a legitimate company, and we know what E2 Visas are for (Teaching). Immigration will not let you work with an E7 Visa at kindergarten hagwon unless your boss is "master paperwork forger."

http://www.immigration.go.kr/indeximmeng.html

[tzechuk]

When I first came, I was on an E7. I was invited by the Ministry of Information and Technology to work at a venture start-up (which owner is now my husband.. lol)..

I am not aware that you need the 5m to sponsor an employee, but I do know that the rule used to be that you had to be invited by a governmental body to prove that there were no one else in the country who could do the job and that your presense was essential to the success of the business.

[falco]

Hmm......VERY interesting. Thanks for yer response Tzechuk.

Alabamaman - do you know that for sure? I've been searching through Korean govt websites but cant seem to find the relevant information.

- falco.

[falco]

Aha....just saw your link Alabamaman. Thank you very much.

- falco.