Korean Job Discussion Forums

[yospeck]

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Okay, I'm a first time TEFL wannabe looking to come to Korea in the next month or two, I graduated uni in the UK in July and am now looking for details on the process to getting my E-2 visa. I've looked around the forums and on a few sites and I think the information I've gathered together is in order and a working step by step process. Just need some confirmation before I start that the info I've gathered together is right.

This information is without the 'Fast Track' method, where you apply from Korea, this is for those graduates who are in their own country and are gathering their documents.
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To live and work in South Korea, you must obtain an E-2 visa (working visa for English Instructor). To get your working visa there are a number of documents you need to send to your employer. One of the documents required is your university degree. This can either be a notorized copy of your degree (which can only be acquired from your nearest Korean consulate) or the original degree. It is to each persons discretion as to whether or not they wish to use their original, occasionally the document can get lost or problems arise when trying to reclaim your degree from your employer. Replacements of your degree are possible, but depending on the university you graduated from or the country you studied, replacements costs and times can vary. For those who are willing to send their original certificate to their employer then skip to (section B), those who wish to get notorized copies then go to (Section A).




(Section A)

- Acquiring your Notorized Degree Copies

The original university degree must be sent to the Korean consulate to get the notarized copy of the degree. It can be mailed or given in person to the nearest Korean consulate. The Korean Consulate will stamp the copied degree certificate with their official seal, verifying the authenticity of the diploma.

These Required documents are handled a little bit differently whether you send them by mail or go yourself to the Consulate:



Requirements by mail:

1. Resume

2. Letter requesting the degree confirmation (notarized degree)

3. Original and two photocopies of your university degree

4. Fee for degree confirmation (money order payable to the Korean Consulate General). You should call the Consulate to check the exact fee before going there

5. A copy of the picture page in your passport (2 forms of Identification)

6. Self-Stamped Envelope (if requesting return in mail)


Requirements in person:

1. Resume

2. Original university degree

3. Forms of Identification (Passport, Driver's License, Etc.)

4. Degree Confirmation Fee (Notarized Diploma)

Call the Consulate to check the exact fee.





(Section B)

- Applying for your Visa

The following are the documents you need to send to your employer who will then submit to immigration office to get you a visa Issuance letter:

1. An original or a certified copy of your university degree by only the korean consulate in your country

2. Stamped and sealed academic transcripts from university only. (simply go into your university and request a copy of your transcripts, they must be put in a sealed letter and have the university stamp over the envelope seal. DO NOT OPEN THEM).

3. A photocopy of your passport where your photo and information is recorded (The passport must be current for at least one year before the expiry date).

4. The original signed contract between you and your employer.

5. TESOL, TEFL, CELTA Certificate if applicable. (not necessary for most contracts).


Once this process is completed, a 'Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Insurance' (basically a blue form from the Korean Immigration office that says you are eligible for an E2 work visa) will be couriered to you via express mail.

Once you receive your 'Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Insurance' letter from us, take it to your nearest Korean consulate along with your passport. The consulate will then stamp your visa in your passport and you are ready to come to Korea to work. There is a small fee for this process. You may have to call ahead to the consulate for the cost of this process. You will be able to pick up your passport the next morning. If you have to mail your passport to the Korean Consulate, include a check or money order for the total cost and a self addressed stamped envelope. If you do not send the self addressed stamped envelope, the consulate will not send your passport back to you.






Thanks for any help and apologies if I stuck this in the wrong section, there's just so many!

[shevek]

sounds right

[yospeck]

Okay so the problem I seem to be having is getting my degree notorized, seems the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing while I'm ringing around.

Rang the Korean Consulate in the UK asking about sending my degree to them to get it notorized (as per the information I pulled off the net). They said I need to get it notorized from my local Chamber of Commerce first and then send them the copies. Fair enough.

Googled my local Chamber of Commerce in Manchester. Rang them. They have no clue what I'm talking about. They say anything that needs to be notorized has to be done by a specialist notory and then sent to the foreign office, then they put me through to some Business group thingy who can give me a list of notories in my area.

Talk to the guy, he also has no clue what it is I really need, but says he will email me a list of places in my area that I can get my degree notorized.



Am I talking to a bunch of people who have no clue what they're talking about? Should I just do it as listed in the original post and hit and hope? Also the people at the Consulate said I dont need to send in a resume. How does all this mixed info come about?

Long live beuracracy.

[dimnd]

The consulate told you correctly
my San Francisco Korean consulate 415-921-2251 they speak English
told me take my orig diploma to a notary..the bank made copy of my diploma together with their notarized certificate and made it into one two-sided copy. I now have ten copies to send to the Korean consulate with my passport for them to certify for Korean immi. Free at my bank and $2 apiece at Korean Consulate..Had to send passport to consulate..so did an overnight and return by po flat rate express.

peg

[dogshed]