Korea - New Visa Rules Mean Some Teachers Have to Go Home? - Ajarn Forum

soijetcornergirl · 3rd December 2007, 06:56

The latest on the new visa rules in Korea:

http://joongangdaily.joins.com/artic...sp?aid=2883449

jimbo · 3rd December 2007, 07:49

Thanks for that. Tomorrow seems like it'll be a big day, followed by the 15th.

russellsimpson · 3rd December 2007, 09:45

Quote:

Many embassies here have already announced they cannot or will not conduct such a service.
In addition, even if the applicant submits a criminal record, it may not be accurate.

This has always left me scratching my head.

Why the hell can't the embassies deal with this.

This is just bureacratic nonsence.

These fat pork barrell appointees should at some point lift themselves off their fat asses and do something usefull.

AjarnYaiMak · 3rd December 2007, 09:50

Some kimchi consulates are not requiring interviews. Sorta like Thai consuls. To each their own rules.
But it appears that for renewing an ARC, you gotta go back home. Now talk about a teachers market now. Salaries will go way up!!!
Fuck North Korea, I will explore Sojuland!
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Blatantly off topic. OMG, Soi7g has greens now. You softening up, girl?

goo_stewart · 5th December 2007, 11:25

What's all this medical stuff about? Did I miss something recently? Did the recent scumbag kiddie fiddler have a disease of some kind? I realise that a medical is required in Thailand, but that is a joke piece of paper issued to anyone with a pulse - this Korean thing seems to be going into some medical depth. Are they (Koreans) paranoid about something? I know the answer is yes, paranoid about most things, GDP, world status, food etc. but are they paranoid about this specifically?

phuketbound · 5th December 2007, 12:32

Public government schools already require that you have a medical check. It was a pain in the butt to get it in Canada, because of it being for a third party. I had to pay over 100$ to get the form filled out and signed by the doctor. The form that was sent to me from Korea, asked if my shots were up to date, and a myriad of other funny questions, that my doctor actually laughed out loud at.

When I arrived here, the school board, never even asked for it. Go figure!

----------

It'll be interesting to see if they actually follow through with this new regulation.

With regard to the medical check, an applicant will be required to submit a self-completed form indicating his or her medical history.
Once arriving here, according to the release, the applicants need to go through a mandatory health check, including blood and drug tests, at a clinic or hospital designated by each school or education office.

Benedict XVI · 5th December 2007, 13:04

Here is an excerpt from the article that is linked above in the OP:

Quote:

New visa rules may force some to return home

English teachers to be required to furnish their criminal record

....the Justice Ministry has announced that starting in less than two weeks foreigners who teach English will be required to provide their criminal record and undergo a medical checkup to renew or receive a visa.

In many cases, the new requirements will force English teachers to return to their home country to get the criminal record check. Many embassies here have already announced they cannot or will not conduct such a service.

In addition, even if the applicant submits a criminal record, it may not be accurate.
In the United States, for example, criminal records are compiled and maintained on the local, state and federal levels. Therefore, a person could commit a crime in one area, then move to another area. The criminal record check from the second area would not reveal the crime in the first area.

The changes have frustrated English teachers, who point out that only a few of them have committed crimes. Some have suggested the new rules could lead to a shortfall in the number of teachers here.

“I don’t have any problem with the changed regulations, if the ministry arranges the procedures with the embassies here so that we could follow the regulations more timely and efficiently,” said Frances Lucas Murray, an English teacher from Australia. “Otherwise, there could be a shortage of foreign language teachers.”

Teachers have complained about the additional expense of traveling home to get the police check, when in the past a short trip to Japan or Hong Kong was enough for a visa renewal.

Entire: http://joongangdaily.joins.com/artic...sp?aid=2883449

In a few months things should be sorted out and be back to somewhat normal.

AjarnYaiMak · 5th December 2007, 17:36

According to the other site, Immigration has now changed the rules again and an interview at a consulate will be required.
And you must be at the job for at least 90 days or you have to return to country, reapply for the E2. Otherwise, it is transferable after 90 days on the job.

What a clusterfuck that place is. Good pay, though!

Benedict XVI · 5th December 2007, 20:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by AjarnYaiMak

According to the other site, Immigration has now changed the rules again and an interview at a consulate will be required.
And you must be at the job for at least 90 days or you have to return to country, reapply for the E2. Otherwise, it is transferable after 90 days on the job.

OK. Hopefully most have been working there for 90 days or more. But still....

Quote:

What a clusterfuck that place is. Good pay, though!

Feel free to share more about your RoK experience, YaiMak.

Cheers.

AjarnYaiMak · 5th December 2007, 21:35

Actually, I am wrong. Not 90 days, 9 months. Sorry for typo.

soijetcornergirl · 7th December 2007, 07:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by AjarnYaiMak

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Blatantly off topic. OMG, Soi7g has greens now. You softening up, girl?

Possibly.

Previously, I might have written something like it just shows how the calibre of the posters here has improved what with the weeding out and all.

Couldn't have that now, could we?

soijetcornergirl · 14th December 2007, 06:20

Embassies won't be able to help out too much with the new regulations:

http://joongangdaily.joins.com/artic...sp?aid=2883905

MisterStretch · 14th December 2007, 09:22

Can't say I'm surprised about embassies not helping out.

Am glad though that E2 holders who had visa issued prior to 12/15 don't have to worry about this til next time around, as the FBI takes 14 weeks to process a request. You can do a US check by mail, just have the local embassy send you the FBI's fingerprint card, have the local police print you and then send off with required fee and cover letter (from the FBI's website).

AjarnYaiMak · 14th December 2007, 09:28

Sounds like an impossible situation. But for the Korean govt. to insist that embassies must provide these BC is a wet dream.

Even in the US, an FBI bc takes months to get. Even if they did provide it in Seoul, it would still be weeks or months.

These people must not have any toes left, with all the foot shooting they do to themselves.

And didn´t the illustrous Canadian not have a criminal record? Karr? None did.

For all the teachers there now who have a current E2, time to negotiate contracts. Your salary is going up, yo!

russellsimpson · 14th December 2007, 11:10

Quote:

Can't say I'm surprised about embassies not helping out.

True Stretch. But why shouldn't they? That's what I fail to understand.

There have to be many people at the embassy with security clearance and the mental wherewithall to figure out some way of expediting this process without people having to spend thousands returning to their home countries.

Maybe somebody could shed some light on this for me.

Just because they haven't done it in the past doesn't mean they can't do it now. They are, after all public servants...we being the public and them being the servants .

Pretty damn straightforward to me.