Step by Step to Korea - Kind of

http://pegasusteachers.com/gettinge2visa.html


All the pictures are really random pictures--but a post with pictures is MUCH easier to read--so enjoy!

The above link is to the page for the information below--this actually was pretty helpful to me.

I will go into more detail about each step we had to take to get there.
This was our experience as a poor  American Family---every experience will differ, I should say that this whole process was for a family of five coming from the United States in 2013.  SO...

Before we start reading below --- here are some terms I didn't know before this process--

Apostille: There are two kinds of Apostille stamps: A stamp that you have to get on your documents that show the United States

(or your state) recognizes this piece of paper as legal--and so that other countries will recognize it.

FBI background check vs. Background check: There are  'background checks' that only check you out in that state and than there is the FBI background check--which checks you out in every state in the US, to make sure you didn't just jump to another state to get a clear background check.

Certified Copy: To get your diploma notarized you would have to have the people who signed your diploma (School president and others) there with you, and since that ISN'T going to happen...you have to get a certified copy (I went to my local bank)--THEY make a certified copy and then have a certified stamp or 2nd page they print with it---I will try to go into more detail later.

The whole process can take about 6 months:

FBI background Check= 6 weeks to 6 month
Apostatized Background check=1-2 months
Diploma = (if you have to order a new one = 4 weeks)
Apostatized Diploma =about 3 working days
Passort =Pictures-about 10 minutes, passport papers-about 20 minutes, passport 2-6 weeks.


You will need some money set aside for paperwork, because over night-ing stuff cost us at least $300!  BUT we did have to send some stuff twice--I will get into later!

When you are in Korea you have a Visa, which is proof that you are legally working in Korea, which also gets you your health care, and your foreigner card, which gets you the ability to get a phone, open a bank account and pretty much live normally among the Koreans.  The visa type of Visa you will receive is a E-2--IF you bring a non-working hubby or kids they will have a F-3 visa (I think it is an F-3).

Like I said before: THE RED PARTS ARE THIS are WORD FOR WORD from the other site, but with my experience is writen in BLACK!

All English Teachers preparing to work in South Korea in ESL teaching jobs have to apply for an E-2 visa. The entire process takes 6-10 weeks. We started the Paperwork process in January and we arrived on May 28th....plan on taking a while. But we did have some problems.   (Canadians must get their documents notarized then verified by the Korean Consulate in their jurisdiction. Everyone else must get their documents notarized and apostilled.) Once you have accepted the position to teach English in Korea, the teacher will be asked to mail the following documents via FedEx or DHL to the school in application for your VISA for teaching in Korean schools. I SUGGEST you do all the paper work before applying to a school, because it will make life a LOT less stressful if you are not waiting for a Visa, and already have a flight! Copy of your Bachelors degree - Notarized and Consulate Verified (Apostatized)  (said like App-ah-steel---- APP like an App for a phone  --- AH like sudden understanding --- and steel like the metal a not like A-Paw-still)   Also it doesn't matter what your degree is in--mine is in communication/theater.  Others I have met are graphic artist, English (or course), finance, and lots other. BUT having a basic understanding of the English language is nice (but not necessary--if you don't know a verb from a adjective-- you will be ok--but you might want to study a little on your own! If you haven't figured out yet, English is NOT a strength of mine--spelling and sentence structure is really difficult for me!) SO  If you can't find your ORIGINAL COPY Of your DIPLOMA (like me!) you have to send for one. Lucky for me I live 25 miles from my college and i just popped in and asked for a copy.  I think it was 17 dollars?  Maybe 25? After that they had to send in the request (my full name, and the year and semester I graduated) Anyway--it was frustrating cause it cost money and took extra time--4 weeks extra time!  Find your diploma!!  I found it while I was packing up the house to move! Also they don't want a copy of your transcripts (which is all the classes you took and the grade that you got in each class), all they want is an apostatized copy of your official diploma.  (If you haven't noticed, I have no idea how to use the word Apostilled...apostatized...apostatize....ugg! Anyway it is a pain in the butt!) No idea where this is---These are all from my husband Camera cause I have posted most of all my good pictures already.  AFTER getting my diploma...I mailed to the office that does the Apostatized stamp and it was RETURNED!  I needed a notarized copy of my diploma, not my ACTUAL diploma!  So I went to a bank.  They told me they couldn't notarize my diploma because a notary's job is to stamp a paper to show the signatures are authentic, and since I didn't have the schools president with me, and whomever else signed the diploma they wouldn't do it.  I went to another bank---same thing---so I went to another bank! UGG...finally I called a number at the bottom of the sheet they had used when they returned my diploma and asked THEM how to do it.  The first person didn't know so I hung up and got someone else and THEY knew how to do it and even told me what page it was on in the notary handbook so the notary could look it up.  SO I took that information in to the bank and had to walk through the process with them. Come to find out the bank can make a CERTIFIED COPY of the diploma and NOTARIZE their signature.  There is a form they fill out and staple it all together.  THAT is what you send to get apostatized. AFTER you send that in you get paper work back.  A copy of your diploma stapled in three places to another piece of paper-- WARNING...WARNING...WARNING --  DO NOT UNDO THOSE STAPLES! I wanted a copy, so the the bank lady took them apart and made copies of each page and then I stapled them together again and mailed it off to Korea. It came back -- SERIOUSLY!!  I got a letter that said 'the staples have been messed with and that makes us suspicious--please resend everything!' SO back to the bank--to get another certified copy--mail THAT back to DC to get apostatized, get it back, mail it BACK to Korea--and THEN move on to the next step.  I wish I could express how much stress and pressure this caused me.  I have caused my back and head to hurt just typing about the experience! So after I had all that paper work in the works--I asked a guy I knew who was living in Korea how he had gotten his job--he told me about www.ESLCAFE.com  or google daves ESL cafe.  It was SO helpful! A Friend from America came to visit and brought his daughter!   The kids loved having her visit! I posted my resume and the phone calls started coming in.  Lucky for me I am night owl because most of my phone interviews happened around 10PM or Midnight. After posting your resume..recruiters start calling you.  I worked with about 3 different recruiters at the same time--not sure if that is 'kosher' or not, but it worked for me.  A few recruiters wouldn't work with me once they found out I had a family.  So only worked in the big cities, some only for public schools--and so on.  So I had about 12 recruiters call me, and I only ended up with 2 really working with me.  I asked A TON of questions--and they answered them all.  MOST of the contact was done through email and with the time difference, and me on vacation, that took a while.  I finally found a school that sounded awesome--saw pictures--look fun, clean, and wonderful.  They said the kids could go to school there for free, and the apartment was small, but looked new---so I said OK!!  Only to be told, or sorry they signed a new person yesterday---SO the next recruiter the next day sent us a contact that again, looked great.  Bigger apartment, smaller town, good hours, and I said YES!  and that is the one we are with now.  What a blessing it has been for us to be in the is area, and with this school.   MOVING ON... After getting our passports and the school to teach at I had to send my passport to the Korean consultant in order to get my Visa.  IF I would have waited and got my Visa in Korea, I would have had to flown to Japan, because you can not get a Visa issued in the country you are working in.  I am not sure why--BUT I know you can't.  So we stressed over sending my Passport to California and have it returned to my moms house the DAY BEFORE we would fly to Korea!  Let me tell you about STRESS!  I had the phone number to FED-EX memorized I called them SO much to check exactly where my envelope was to that I could get it in time.  I really think the driver in my area was THRILLED to get ride of the at package because the company would contact him everytime I called to see if he had received my envelope or where he was on route!  My paper work all came in on Saturday morning about 9:00 AM---I flew out of Denver Sunday night at 6:00 pm-ish.   I  An empty street in P(b)usan FBI Criminal Record Check (RCMP Search for Canadians) - Notarized and Consulate Verified (Appostiled) For me this was pretty easy--I called the local police station and asked where the closest fingerprint place was---it was the Jail---So I called the jail and found out they do fingerprints on Mondays from 11am-3pm ONLY if they are not super busy. I was able to pay with a check, but then had to take everything back to my car since no cell phones, purses or anything, is allowed in the jailed.  I was let  in (through about 3 big and locked doors) and they had a computer that was telling them if my fingerprint was clear enough--either I move a lot or the person doing the fingerprints was really bad cause it took about 1/2 hour to do the prints.  Then they printed them out and I was on my way.  I did get two copies, but only needed one--I have heard that other people needed two copies... My husbands first batch of homemade Kimchee Chegea.  SO YUMMY!

Copy of Resume Make sure you have someone else look it over for mistakes. Make sure you add ANY experience you have had with children or teaching. Copy of Passport (photo side) I would take a few just to on the safe side--they ask for this in the process, but once you are traveling it is good to have in a different location of actual passport--just in case! PASSPORT PHOTO They say to have 3 copies, but I have used about 6-8 copies since being here.  They seem to want them everywhere! WARNING: Your passport picture is used EVERYWHERE, so get a GOOD picture.  I had crazy hair, winter coat on, and no make-up.  Now everyone asks for my card (which has my passport ID on it!) and it is kind of embarrassing.  Also--just get the original two and then use a photo program and print out more (photo paper) on your computer for cheaper!   Signed Complete Contract:   I got my contract through email, they had scanned it in, and I signed it and sent it back. 6 Bring at least 2 copies with you.  One for you and One in case your Hogwan/school looses theirs--which happened to me.  I asked "when do I get paid?"   Boss: Ummm..how much did we say we would pay you?  Amy: I believe it is X amount, I have the contract.  Boss: yes, please bring in your contract so I can have a copy. OK: Now I am SWITCHING my COMMENTS TO RED: and the other Website is in BLACK! Once the school has received your documents they will submit them to Immigration to sponsor your Visa for teaching abroad. This takes about 10 days. Immigration will issue the school with a visa insurance number, which will then be sent to the teacher via email. Take this number with your documents to your nearest Korean consulate. OR if you are like me and it is 3 states away--Mail it into your recruiter (She does paperwork on her end)---  Required Documents: 1 Visa issuance number 2 Actual Passport 3 Visa Application form 4 1 Color passport size photos 5 Check or money order (Please check with consulate) Then you go to the visa application website and print out the application pages. Fill them out---when you get your Visa Issuance number you mail these forms AND your passport to them (The consulate). DO NOT BOOK A FLIGHT until you have your VISA--causes WAY to much stress! It takes about 5-10 days for the Consulate/Embassy to process your E-2 Visa. The cost varies depending on what country you are applying from. When I called the Consulate office in San Francisco the woman was not overly friendly.   In fact I took a breath between questions and she said "Ok, thank you, goodbye" and hung up before I could ask my next question.  I had to call her back.  my visa will cost about $45.00.  The LA Consulate takes one day to process it while the San Fran takes 3 days--call around if there is more then one in the area!   Once you get to Korea the school will take your passport, degree and transcripts to the Korean Immigration Office and you will be issued an Alien Registration Card. This will be your I.D. Card while you are here.  AMY SAYS: We went about 1 week after arriving before we went to the Immigration Office and then had to wait 3 weeks for our cards.  We were nobodies till we got our cards, no bank, cell phone places would even talk to us--Heck we couldn't even get a Point card at our local grocery store till we had our ARC card AND a bank card---trust me until you get your ARC card you are invisible. New E-2 visa regulations As of December 15, 2007, the Korea Immigration Service implemented its new regulations mandating a criminal record check and medical check for issuance of E-2 visas. 1) Once in Korea, your school director will take you to a clinic/hospital and tested for illegal drugs and HIV. If anything is found in your system, you will be sent home and will be responsible for any costs occurred by your hiring process.  Once in Korea--you pee in a cup, they draw blood, I had a x-ray of my chest, and the normal eye, blood pressure, and listen to your heart exam.  Nothing overly scary. AND you are expected to pay for all of this, but it isn't crazy expensive!  I really should have done all of this a long time ago--I can't remember prices at all!  I want to say it was about $80. US dollars.   2) You must obtain a criminal record check from your police station - it cannot be older than 6 months. Canadians must also have the VULNERABLE SECTOR SEARCH. Americans must have a STATE-WIDE background check. Once the police certificate is received, it (along with your bachelor's degree)must be verified by your local Korean consulate in Canada. (Americans, South Africans, New Zealanders, Australians and UK must get their criminal check apostillied). 3) All teaching candidates must arrange an interview with their nearest Korean Embassy/Consulate before obtaining the E2 Vusa.  I didn't have to do this. Infact like I said the Consulate didn't even really want to talk to me at all!

Again--no idea where they are, but pretty. 

So this is how it worked for me

January: decided to go to Korea.  Started to get information.
February: Got Passports set out
March: Got background Check sent out
April: set for Diploma (since I couldn't find mine)--NOT transcripts (though I did get a copy of those (just in case)).
May: Turned in EVERYTHING and seriously LAST MINUTE get everything done and get on a plane to KOREA!!
June: Start working!


The sad thing is--I started typing this the first week we were in Korea and I am just now finished--It is January!  I have forgotten a lot of stuff, and hope that this has been a good overview for you.  Seriously--I mostly you-tubed video's and read blogs.  If I got stuck I would watch another you-tube video on that specific step.

Wish I could have been a little more helpful--but Good luck and if you read this and do end up in Korea--tell me when and where!

Thanks.

Korean Bucket List --

(UPDATE 1/1/2014--All the things that are in ( ) are things that I have updated today!)

So I had a few things on my LIFE bucket list before coming to Korea that I knew I could accomplish in Korea... (I wrote this at the end of November)

like

1. Ride on a subway
2. Ride in a taxi
3. Go out of the country
4. Get a passport
5. Get a stamp in my passport
6. Own a smart phone

And then after reading blogs about Korea I started to add other things to my Bucket List that were specific to Korea...

like

7.  Go to Jeju Island
8.  See traditional Korean dancing
9.  Hear traditional Korean music
10.  Find at least one KPop song I really like
11. Go to the Garden Expo
12. Go to the Suncheon Bay
13. See tradition Korean houses
14. See tradition Korean clothes
15.  Eat Street food
16.  See the Cherry Blossom festival
17.  Buy really cheap, really cute clothes (This isn't going to happen, because clothes here are not cheap!)
18.  See a drunk guy peeing in the streets
19. Make friends in Korea
20. Be really good with homeschooling (Started this on Dec 30th--so far so good)
21. See an area Lucas served his mission in. (the Girls and Lucas took a day trip to take Steven and Azylynn to the airport and saw one of his old area's.  I stayed home with a sick Wheeler man!)

Since being here I have added even more

22. Learn to make Kimchi Chega (It is SO GOOD!)
23. See the lantern festival
24. Be helpful to any foreigner who needs help
25.  Earn a black belt  (this goal has changed because I won't have enough time to become a blackbelt, and the final test -in front of a panel of judges-only speak Korean, so I would have to learn Korean in order to take the test--not going to happen!)
26. Go to a Bath House
27. Get a Korean name from Koreans.   (Jung Pbearl Song--Jung is the family name Lucas was giving, and Pbearl means 'Star' and Song means spiritual or/and tender.)
28. Leave with the same amount of suitcases we came with
2 learn to make Kimchee  (I don't think this is going to happen because 1. I guess it takes months-because you have to make the sauce a few months before actually adding it to the kimchee. PLUS we have been given so much kimchee we don't need to make it--so I will watch youtube, and read blogs when we get home on how to make it.)

Lucas Bucket List:
1. Live in a super small apartment!
2. Enjoy it while I am here so I can look back on it fondly.
3. Reach my goal weight (he is within 3 pounds)
4. Learn some MMA   (He joined a gym and is learning some moves)

Peppers:

1.  Lolli Polli (a bouncy house play place)   (Pepper went to a place like Lolli Polli-so that counts)

Sedona

1. get a circle stamp with her Korean name on it.   (Dad has been paying the girls for helping with Wheeler so with the money Sedona got she bought her own Korean Name Stamp--it says her name in Korean-Sounds like: Say-Dough-Nah)


So our new Bucket List looks like this

1. Find at least one Kpop song I really like
2. Go to a Bathhouse
3. See the lantern festival
4. See the Cherry Blossoms
5. Be helpful to any foreigner that needs help
6. Leave with the same amount of Suitcases we came with

Lucas:
1. Reach my goal weight
2. Enjoy it while I am here so I can look back on it fondly.

Christmas Activities

Christmas Cookie Decorating

A friend named Sonia Knapp that we met a few months ago has been inviting us to do things, but we have always had sometime going on--so we were very happy when we were able to go to her Cookie decorating!!  She had invited some other kids, and we invited our Korean friends, and we all had a great time.

Wheeler loved the cookies and was a horrible mess the rest of the day--sugar doesn't agree with this kid!

But he looks so cute doing it!

This is our friend Edwin.  When we ask him "how are you?" 

he answers "handsome!" 

Our friend Amanda---she and Edwin are siblings and they speak the best English of the kids who go to school with our girls. 

We really like them. 

Sedona cracks me up!

They seemed to have a great time. 

These two kids and there parents were really great.  The dad went to College in USA and then taught at a college there, the little boy is the best English speaker his age I have ever seen.  The girl didn't talk so I don't know if she spoke English well or not.

More cookies--Sonia did an amazing job!  100 cookies, tons of fun decorations, and lots of frosting!

Making new friends

The only picture I got of Sonia!  She has a great place

I think the sugar crash is happening in this picture!

The following pictures are of the cookies we decorated. 

These are Amy's--and I think Wheeler ate the ones he decorated

We had a great time and were so glad we went. 

After this we went to the Chruch

This is brother Kim and his son.  This family is really amazing.  They have three sons, two are totally talented, and the third some is handicapped.  He is about Wheelers age mentally, but is actually about 14.

One of Brother Kims sons playing the piano.  The decorations for Christmas were really fun. 

This is Brother Kim and another ward member doing exercise.  They were both really flexible and I was totally impressed.  Wheeler was having a breakdown from all the sugar so Lucas was dealing with him and my camera kept dying and my phone was dead so I have a few videos from the event I will try to post later. 

It was a talent show and our family sang a song. Overall the night was fun.  They gave our family big boxes of junk food and a santa hat.