As a result of various scandals involving teachers in Korea, the Korean government has gone to new lengths to allay the public’s concerns over hiring English teachers to come work in Korea. Korean Immigration initiated a new policy for applicants on Dec.15/2007, affecting the visa requirements for E1 and E2 visas, as well as C4 visas issued to teachers working at seasonal camps:
-All new applicants for teaching visas need to submit a criminal record check and medical report.
-All new applicants must have an interview at the nearest Korean embassy or consulate in their home country.
-Continuing with past policy, applicants must submit their degree and sealed transcripts issued from your university.
-Teachers who are currently working on teaching visas and wish to renew or extend their visa, may do so freely, without being subject to the new laws, until March 15. After March 15, all new teaching visa applicants, visa extensions and/or renewals will follow the new law requirements.
As the Korean teaching industry is known for its immediate hiring needs, the new laws are obviously beginning to lead to a crisis due to the dwindling immediate supply of available teachers. Although the Korean government anticipated that the existing teacher community in Korea would be enough to offset the bulk of demand issues, that is proving to be a miscalculation, as schools are complaining strongly over the supply crisis and as a result, the new visa policy is being reviewed by Immigration. As this is a fluid situation where the process seems to be evolving, we’ve broken down the different aspects of the process, with updates on the changing requirements:
[edit] Criminal Record Check
The criminal record check is rumored to be one of the aspects that may likely be phased out over time. But for now, criminal background certificates need to be apostilled by a notary public in their home country. Applicants from Canada who do not have an apostille agreement with Korea will need to submit the background check to their nearest Korean Embassy or consulate. Canadian citizens can have the police agency send the certificate directly to the Embassy. Criminal record checks must be done from local, state/provincial, or national law enforcement agencies in your country. Korea Immigration will not accept criminal record certificates issued from privately-run companies, such as online sites that offer this service.
[edit] Medical Check
The applicant must fill out a medical form which then must be sent to the school, along with the other documents needed for visa processing. Then, once in Korea and after they have received their ARC, they need to have a medical check done, which will consist of drug tests and an HIV test. If the test is positive for narcotics, HIV, or other communicable diseases, the visa will be cancelled and they will be deported.
[edit] Degree and transcripts
This is the same process as before. Original degree or copy notarized by a Korean Embassy or consulate must be submitted, along with transcripts in a sealed envelope from your university.
[edit] Current teachers seeking to transfer/extend before March 15
If you are seeking to extend, just sign the contract extension with your employer, give them your ARC and let them take it to Immigration to extend the visa.
If you are finishing a contract prior to March 15, but want to retain and transfer your teaching visa to a new school, you will need the following:
- Appropriate application form
- Copy of passport
- ARC
- 60,000 won fee (Note: The 60,000won is just for the transfer fee. Visa renewal will be 30,000won extra and 50,000won for a multi-entry visa.)
Your current employer needs to provide:
- Agreement of transferring
Your future employer needs to provide:
- Copy of their business registration certificate
- Signed contract
- ID
