Korean Job Discussion Forums

gatorchick82 · Joined: 24 Oct 2006 Location: Seoul

I'm leaving for Korea in a week. My employer still hasn't sent me my visa number (it's been 3 weeks). I'd like to get it before I go to Korea so I don't have to do a visa run, worry about having a round-trip ticket, etc. Is there anything I can do, besides bug my employer, to see what's going on with my visa?

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

lastat06513 · Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 9:52 am Post subject:

It is your prospective boss' responsibility to provide you with your visa confirmation number so you can get your visa and it is your right to have it before you enter the country.

So, bug him about it.
When I first went to Korea, I had to call them several times a week to make sure everything was in order. Once I got my visa in my passport, I had to wait for my ticket. I basically had to threaten to go to a different school to make sure they had everything in order.

If this is your first time going overseas and you want everything in order, press them to do it, again, it is your right.....

amanda114 · Joined: 18 Apr 2006

I would like some advice. I am coming back to Korea but this time due to problems with post I will not have my VISA before arriving. I have a one way ticket. I have heard and understand fully there will be problems at customs etc. My question is .. will I be allowed to enter considering my paperwork is being sorted and I may actually have a VISA number by then but not the actual VISA? What occurs if I don't have the number by then?
This is not the most ideal situation and yes I understand all the requirements, this is simply the situation that I am having to deal with at this time. Advice? past experience with this?
Thanks

gatorchick82 · Joined: 24 Oct 2006 Location: Seoul

PaperTiger · Joined: 31 May 2005 Location: Ulaanbataar

Your boss might be a procrastinator but I wouldn't rule him out as a good boss just yet. Maybe they're waiting til you get here to send you off to Japan...might want to ask about that. I know they might have told you something different, but they may have decided to go that way since it might be easier for some reason. Sure, you should have your visa before you start teaching, but this is Korea (TIK!) the legal implications of such a situation are typically no concern to most employers. Ask a few polite questions and I'm sure you can tease an answer out of them, all the while being mindful that bosses in Korea have no concept of a reality in which a boss is anything but a feudal lord with power of life or death over their minions.

Seriously, just be cool and don't get lippy or upset...just ask nicely.

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

It might take your Korean consulate several days to process your visa. To be safe I'd budget 3 days. He's cutting it close. Did he say he would process you an E2?

gatorchick82 · Joined: 24 Oct 2006 Location: Seoul

My boss told me I would have my number 2 weeks ago. I've asked her where my number was a few times. She said I would get it this week (obviously didn't happen). I'm going to call her on Tuesday morning. I'm just wondering if it's a problem with immigration (back-up or something) or with my school. Hopefully, it's not anything to do with my paperwork. Confused

gatorchick82 · Joined: 24 Oct 2006 Location: Seoul

Yes, it's an E2 visa. I called the consulate in Atlanta, and they said I could get the visa in one day. So if I get the number on Tues. or Wed., then I can run to Atlanta to get it. Since it's a holiday weekend, I'll just have to wait until Tuesday to figure this all out. Rolling Eyes

mindmetoo · Joined: 02 Feb 2004

Young FRANKenstein · Posted: Thu Feb 15, 2007 10:20 pm Post subject: Re: visa

rvintage · Joined: 05 Jul 2005

It took me 6 days to get my visa number; far less than the 10 days they said it would be.

You are going to show up at the beginning of the sememster. They always want the new teacher to start at the beginnning of the new semester, not a week later; time enough to get your visa. So I wouldn't be surprised if they threw you in a classroom without a visa(if you do come here without one), and tell you that they will send you to Japan soon!!!

JUST MAKE SURE YOU DO NOT STEP INTO A CLASSROOM WITHOUT A VISA!!! THEY WILL ALWAYS TELL YOU THAT IT IS OK, BLAH, BLAH, BLAH..... OBVIOUSLY THIS IS NOT TRUE!!

jmbran11 · Joined: 19 Jan 2006 Location: U.S.

I didn't get my visa number until the day before I was leaving (on Friday morning with a Saturday plane ticket). I was quite nervous that something would go wrong, but everything was okay. And I work for a very reputable company, so it's not all that strange.

Definitely make the phone call again, and I agree that you should not get on the plane without your visa (assuming that you live somewhere where you can go in one day and do it in person), unless you are so enamored with this job that you are willing to foot your own bill for a visa run if necessary.

To those worried about a return ticket, simply make one on your computer (and e-ticket) in case you need it. Choose a different airline than the one you are flying with and choose the proper flight and date to Japan or China. Easy enough to find on the internet. I keep an old e-ticket on file and just "edit" it. I've done it for friends before with no problem. Of course, if you prefer to be, well legal, and buy a return that you'll cancel later, that's fine and moral as well. Personally, I'm all about the counterfitting (I can do a mean credit report if anyone is interested . . . )

gatorchick82 · Joined: 24 Oct 2006 Location: Seoul

I actually got a hold of my boss on Friday morning. She said I'll have it on Tuesday so I can run to Atlanta to get it. I'm not holding my breath.

Thanks for all the advice!

lastat06513 · Posted: Fri Feb 16, 2007 7:46 pm Post subject:

This is not just for you, but also for people who are going over to Korea and worrying about your visa/ticket/ ARC

Well, it doesn't matter whether your visa stamp says 1 year on it, because it is not your visa stamp date that determines how long you stay in Korea, it will be the expiration date on your ARC that determines how long you stay in Korea.

Once you get your visa number, you have 90 days to pick up your visa and then once you enter the country, you have an additional 90 days to get your ARC.

And your contract is a formality more than something totally binding; you won't get in trouble if your ticket is not issued on time or if your visa is not processed in time.

Bascially, if your boss procrastinates on issuing you a visa number or issuing your ticket to Korea, it is on him/her, not you. You won't be held liable if you can't come to Korea on-time.

By pressing him to give you these things, you are doing him a favor by trying to arrive on time.
If he needs you as badly as he says, he would have all these things ready for you.....which is not always the case....