FAQ'S - Visa Process

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Q. Can I send a copy of my diploma?
A. You will need to send your actual diploma or a copy performed by the South Korean consulate nearest you.   There have been a lot of people attempting to use fake degrees in order to teach in Korea.  To counter this problem, the Korean government requires individuals to submit either a notarized copy performed only by the Korean consulate in Canada/USA, or the actual diploma.  We have had no problems with anyone losing their diplomas because the Korean postal service is very good.  Always remember that the notarized copy is an option.  When you send your documents, it is important to send them with a reputable company (DHL, FEDEX, UPS, Purolator, or another well known courier).  ALWAYS GET A TRACKING NUMBER FOR YOUR PACKAGE WHEN YOU SEND IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS!!   

Q. Where do I get the contract mentioned on the Application form?
A. The contract is provided by the school that you choose to work for.  Each school has a separate contract.  It is the agreement that you and the school make together.  After you interview with a school, and they offer you a position, they will send you a contract for your review.   We will also look at this contract and make sure that everything is covered that should be and nothing looks fishy.

Q. Do I need to send passport photos, or can they be just other photos shrunken to passport sizes?
A. Yes they do need to be passport photos.  They will be used for your visa, which is put in your passport and they are also added to a few forms you will have to fill out.

Q. What is the process for obtaining a visa in Korea?
A. Click here to view the visa process.

Q. Why is the E-2 visa process so extensive for South Korea?
A. Do to some recent and unfortunate cases where foreign English teachers were involved in illegal activities; the Korean Immigration Office has issued more stringent E-2 visa requirements.  The new requirements went into effect as of December 15, 2008 in attempt to counter the following: More Info...

1.Fraudulent Documents
In the past few years many foreign teachers have taught in South Korea using fraudulent diplomas and exaggerated qualifications.  The government has continually been seeking new methods to counter this problem and assure Korean parents that their children’s teachers are indeed qualified.  The degree verification documents and consulate interviews are designed to cut down on fake diplomas and qualifications.

2. Sexual Offenses
The recent arrest of a notorious Canadian pedophile, amongst other instances, has raised major concerns for everyone involved in the English Teaching sector.  Now criminal record checks are required to make sure that all E-2 visa holders do not have any previous sexual allocations in their home countries.

3. Illegal Drug Use
The Korean government has very severe penalties for the possession, trafficking, or use of illegal drugs.  The stiff penalties have kept Korean Society relatively drug free.  Recently, several foreign English Teachers were arrested on drug charges.  The story about the teachers was aired on a major Korean T.V. network, which has led to heightened public concern about foreign teachers.  As with sexual offenses, the criminal record check was implemented in attempt to avoid potential drug problems.      
*Even though the criminal record checks cause an extra burden in the visa process, they are a completely reasonable requirement whenever people have the possibility of working directly with children. 
The apostil and certification requirements and consulate interviews seem quite extensive and problematic for teachers, but really there is nothing we can do about it for the time being.  What the government requires we must do so that you can teach in Korea legally. 

Q. What is the difference between apostille and certification? (click here for sample apostil)
A. First of all, what exactly does apostille/apostil mean? We had to look it up…
Apostille: A marginal note on a letter or other paper; an annotation. --Motley.
Citation: Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, copyright 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.

Basically… with the E-2 visa process, it means that a government office will be placing a note on your documents stating their authenticity. Because of a certain documents sharing policy between the U.S. and South Korea, Americans are able to get their criminal record check and have an apostil added. The same agreement does not exist between Canada and South Korea.  Therefore, the Korean Consulates in Canada are performing the criminal record check certifications.

Q. Will I be required to go to the Korean Consulate in my home country for an interview before I can have the E-2 visa placed in my passport?
A. In most cases the teacher will be required to do an in person interview before the visa can be issued.  These interviews must be arranged with the consulate that has jurisdiction over your state.  If the consulate is an extensive distance from your place of residence, you will want to contact the consulate by phone in order to inquire about your case.  Some interviews have been performed via webcam.  If you are concerned about being able to make it to an interview, be sure to call and see if you can opt for the interview through another more practical method.     

Q. What type of health testing will be performed after I arrive in South Korea?
A. The two tests required for the health check are:
1. TBPE Test
2. HIV testing
Wondering if you will pass?  Please make sure to have these tests performed in your home country before coming to South Korea.  The Health Check will be performed within 90 days of your arrival, and must be completed before your Alien Resident Card is issued (ARC). 

Q. Why does the Korean government require the teacher to have their criminal record check notarized and then have an apostil attached/ or have it certified as well?
A. Because the immigration office is unable to verify documents from other countries the Apostil/or certification steps of the visa process are required.  The certification and apostil steps simply verify that the documents are genuine and that the teacher does indeed have the qualification which they profess. 
The process is very new and we expect adjustments will be made to make the process clearer in the future.     

Q. Some countries require different sized passport photos, what size should I submit?
A. The U.S. typically requires 2 x 2 inch photos for passports.  Most countries, including Canada, those in the European Union, the United Kingdom, and Australia require 3.5 x 4.5 centimeter photos for passports.  Both sizes are acceptable for the E-2 Teaching visa process in South Korea. 

Q. Do the photos need to be signed and dated?
A. No.  The photos do not need to be signed and dated as is required for Canadian passports.  The photos should be taken within the last 6 months though, so a date won’t hurt either. 

Q. Can I send a copy of my diploma, and not the Original?
A. You will need to send your actual diploma or a notarized copy performed by the South Korean consulate nearest you.   There have been a lot of people attempting to use fake degrees in order to teach in Korea.  The Korean Government has created these specific regulations to counter this problem.
We know that it can be very intimidating to send your actual diploma.  To-date, we have not experienced a single lost or damaged diploma.  The Korean postal service is quite good, but whenever you send valuable documents it is important to send them with a reputable courier service and get a tracking number for your package so you can find the package in the case that something does happen. 
In the case that something did happen to your diploma, most universities are able to print new diplomas for a modest fee.  The fee usually ranges from $15.00 to $70.00.  Be sure to check with your university to see what is required to have a new diploma issued if you are concerned.  Also remember that a Consulate performed notarized copy is an option. 

Q. How do I send my documents to Korea?
A. When you send your documents, it is important to send them with a reputable company.  DHL and FedEx have the best networks set up in South Korea and are able to provide the most efficient service.    Only if you have a significant amount of time extra time in the process will we suggest that you send your documents to Korea by express post (Canada) or Global Priority Mail (USA).  ALWAYS GET A TRACKING NUMBER FOR YOUR PACKAGE WHEN YOU SEND IMPORTANT DOCUMENTS!!
Check the websites for a mailing center near you.
http://www.fedex.com/
http://www.dhl.com/splash.html

Q. Questions regarding the E-2 Visa Application Form:
A. (Box 8) What is the classification of my passport? (don’t know what this is Reuben, do you?)
(Box 11) Who is the issuing authority? This is the country who issued the passport.
(Box 16) What is my occupation?: “Teacher”
(Box 19) Purpose of entry: “Teach English for your school or institution’s name”
(Box 21) Desired Length of stay? “One Year, teaching contract”
(Box 23) Address in South Korea: Your school address (this should be listed on your teaching contract)
(Box 27) Who will pay for your stay: Give your school name
(Box 32) Guarantor or reference in Korea: Give your school director’s name, phone number, and school address.  For relationship: “Employer”

Q. What if my criminal record check is not clean, can I still teach in South Korea?
A. As long as you do not have any drug related or sexual offenses on your record, you will still be able to teach in South Korea.

Q. Can I get a criminal check performed from an online service?
A. NO. The criminal check should be performed by your local police station.  Online criminal record checks are currently not accepted by Korean Immigration because they cannot be certified by through the apostil services or other document certification systems.

Q. If I don’t obtain my visa BEFORE I come to Korea, when will I go to Japan?
A. As of December 15, 2007 teachers that are new to Korea cannot go to Japan to obtain their teaching visa. The process must to done in their home country.

Q. Is the visa run still an option for current E-2 visa holders?
A. Yes

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