EFL Geek 3.0 - ESL & EFL in Korea - New Visa Rules yet again

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Books to the sky,
My pile of books is a mile high.
How I love them! How I need them!
I'll have a long beard by the time I read them.
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The voodoo priest and all his powders were as nothing compared to espresso, cappuccino, and mocha, which are stronger than all the religions of the world combined, and perhaps stronger than the human soul itself.
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Those who know nothing of foreign languages, knows nothing of their own.”
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Hanging is too good for a man who makes puns; he should be drawn and quoted.
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One man alone can be pretty dumb sometimes, but for real bona fide stupidity, there ain't nothin' can beat teamwork.
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Man invented language to satisfy his deep need to complain.
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it's probably not a good idea to underestimate my ability to make an ass out of myself—just when I seem to have it under control, I'll turn around and surprise you.
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Isn't it interesting that the same people who laugh at science fiction listen to weather forecasts and economists?"
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Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence.
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---- George Orwell

No one can understand the truth until he drinks of coffee's frothy goodness.
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We don't know a millionth of one percent about anything.
---- Thomas A. Edison

New Visa Rules yet again

update
via this thread on Dave’s Cafe a PDF of the official rules - though it’s in Korean. Also be sure to check the post at The Marmot.

I recieved an email from my school detailing the new rules to follow for E2 visas. Please note the final sentence which suggests further changes tomorrow. That means I should get another email late on Wednesday or sometime Thursday with details. Keep checking back for updates.

How are you all?
This is a translation of the newly introduced visa regulation. On Wednesday, 12 December, Immigration is issuing a clarification and I will send out another translation on Wednesday or later when we receive it. While I know this is frustrating, please be patient while we gather the information.

These are the necessary documents for contract renewal and new contract:

Renewal (only for E-2)

1. Criminal Records
2. Documentation of Physical Check-up for employment, issued by hospitals in Korea
3. Employment contract
4. School or institution foundation-related document (School owner registration certificate)
5. Reference to vouch for teacher’s good character
6. Passport
7. Certificate of Alien registration
8. W30,000 for visa extension

Numbers 1 and 2 are the new requirements. Numbers 3 through 8 are provided by the PEEC.

For New contract

1. Document to prove academic degrees학위관련 검증서류
* It is sufficient to submit one of the following:
- Original degree (it will be returned after checking a copy of it with signature)
- Copy of academic degree (with confirmation of a consul from one’s own embassy or consulate at Korea or with academic career proof related document issued by Korean Association of College Education)
- Degree certificate issued by each university (with confirmation by Apostille [Convention
Abolishing the Requirement of Legalization for Foreign Public Document], or with academic career proof related document issued by Korean Association of College Education)
-Graduation Certificate containing the fact of obtaining degrees. (with confirmation by Apostille, or with academic career proof related document issued by Korean Association of College Education)

2. Criminal Record
3. Self-confirmation of conversation teaching lecturer’s own health (just fill the form of attached file and submit it to an employing school)
- One has to submit a documentation of Physical Check-up for employment within 3 months after alien registration.
4. Employment contract
5. School or institution foundation-related document (School owner registration certificate)
6. Reference to vouch for good character
7. Sealed transcripts issued by a university which one graduated from (as same as the previous procedures)

* Important things when submitting Criminal Record
- Criminal records should be issued by a lecturer’s federal government, local government, by their ambassador, or the general consul from their own country (e.g. the American Embassy at Korea, for Americans)

- The criminal record should be submitted with Apostille confirmation by one’s own government. (The Apostille is a validation stamp ensuring that a certain document is recognized in certain foreign countries (countries that signed The Hague Convention treaty). Basically, a document is only valid in the country in which it was issued. Validation for recognition in another country used to be a very complicated and time-consuming matter and involved, in hierarchical order, several authorities of the issuing country, and, as a final step, validation by the Consulate of the country, in which the document was to be recognized.)

-As for citizens whose country does not join the convention of Apostille, such as Canada, China, and etc., one should submit a criminal record issued by the ambassador of their country or a criminal record endorsed by a consul of their country.

If it takes too much time to get a criminal record from a teacher’s country, the teacher is allowed to submit (the criminal record check application) a temporarily (or provisionally) issued receipt paper with the visa-application/renewal document and bring in the authentic criminal record when it is issued (within 3 months from the date of requesting an issue of an acknowledgement form of visa production)

-This (the criminal record check application) temporarily issued receipt paper is allowed only for contract renewal. New employment contracts need to submit the (actual criminal record check with Apostille) authentic document.

I have heard that there have been a lot of complaints to the Korean government offices about this newly introduced regulation, and they are considering amending some of these procedures. These will be specified after Dec. 12 (Wed).

Sean. inscribed these words of wisdom on Tuesday Dec 11, 2007 at 05:58 AM
Public_Service_Announcement | ESL_in_the_News |

Jroberts wrote 30 words on Tuesday Dec 11, 2007 at 10:19 AM

Thank you for keeping us informed! I have read so many different things all over the net. I will keep checking back to see exactly what they decide to implement.

Ut videam wrote 72 words on Wednesday Dec 12, 2007 at 09:49 PM

According to posts on Dave’s in the past day, some people have been told that the new regulations will not take effect until March 15th. So far, I’ve seen three different sources cited: the Seoul Help Center for Foreigners, the Korean Consulate in Chicago, and an unspecified Immigration office here in Korea. So, while I wouldn’t consider this confirmed, it sounds like this may be the December 12th update you heard about.

sumashi wrote 144 words on Tuesday Jan 8, 2008 at 12:47 PM

i’ve submitted my application to go teach english in korea this year and the new regulations are definitely extending the process by quite a bit. i have my interview this thursday and really have no idea what they’re going to ask in order to determine whether i’m suitable for the job or not. i could update later after it’s done!

i was curious to know if you know what the deal is about visiting other countries during your 12-month teaching contract. i’ve talked to other people and they said it was as easy as applying for a multi-entry visa once they arrived in korea. however, i’ve read recently that korea has changed their laws about this as well in order to make it difficult or impossible to go to japan ... though i’m kind of unclear exactly what they changed. can you clarify? thanks!!