Application Process

Getting FBI Check State Level Apostilled Swiftly

Getting FBI Check

Sate Level Apostilled Swiftly

USA-States
  • Due to the COVID-19 disruption, for the American teachers, it takes a great amount of time to sort out the visa documents working with the super slow government authorities.  
  • Especially as per getting an apostille after obtaining an FBI check, we have seen the teachers who directly applied to the Federal Department of State took more than 6 – 8 weeks to receive an apostilled FBI check back.  
  • However we provide the express service for the teachers to have this long process shortened as swift as 3 business days.
  • As an FBI check is a federal document, the state level apostille is not available for an FBI check in most states. However we have established a special partnership to enable this. The Korean Immigration accepts an FBI check with State Level Apostille as a legal document. 
  • Please find the guidance on how to expedite getting an FBI check State Level Apostilled that is legally accepted by the Korean Immigration. Furthermore it only takes 3 business days.  
  • Firstly we strongly recommend you to work with one of the FBI approved channelers to secure an FBI check. You can get the check in PDF format in 3 business days.
  • Through this process, firstly you are going to receive an FBI check in PDF format from an FBI Channeler or the FBI. Then you can upload the digital copy to our application form.
  • Please click the link below that leads you to our dedicated web form page for submitting an express apostille application. Through the link, you will have a discount price of $50 from the regular $55.
  • When you directly applied to the FBI and only received a copy through the mail by the FBI then you need that copy mailed to our office as guided in the form.
  • To order an express state level apostille service, PLEASE make sure to write a note in the Special Instructions section of the order form as “Apostille at the State Level” and it will surely be delivered in 3 business days. This input is essential to apply for the State Level Apostille service.
  • And we also provide both Notarization and Apostille service on the copy of Degree/Diploma so that you don’t need to legalize it separately.
  • As an FBI check is a Federal document, the Notarization is not required and only the Apostille is required.
By |2021-12-12T10:21:38+09:00September 25th, 2021|Application Process|0 Comments

Benefits – Teaching in South Korea

Benefits – Teaching in South Korea

Benefits - Teaching in South Korea

Korea is a fantastic place to teach English and Live for a number of reasons. For one, there are a lot of jobs here if you’re a TEFL-certified, native English speaker. It’s easy to secure a job before you arrive in Korea, and most agencies and schools in Korea help you get your visa, saving you a great deal of time and stress. You usually get free furnished housing. You may also get free airfare at least one way, and a bonus, severance. Your employer will generally contribute half of the cost of your medical coverage, and Korean medical care is excellent. Korea is modern, safe, and has many western amenities. There is a huge foreign teacher community. And, you can save a decent amount of money thanks to free housing and very low cost of living in Korea.

Free Air Ticket to Korea

  • Schools provide Free Flight for teachers and at the end of the contract, another Free Flight to return home. The airfare is prepaid or reimbursement which varies from school to school.

Free, Fully Furnished Housing

  • Schools will provide a Free Single Studio Apartment (one room plus a small kitchen and bathroom) with basic household furnishings of bed, blanket, pillow, wardrobe, cooking utensils, kitchen table, chairs, two-burner gas hot plate, refrigerator, washing machine, TV, air conditioner, high speed internet and etc.. Couples will be provided with a 2 bedroom apartment.
  • This enables you to save on monthly expenses and is one of the biggest benefits of teaching in South Korea.

Low Coast of Living and Big Save

  • The cost of living in Korea is Pretty Reasonable and you’ll find that utilities, everyday expenses, and transportation are Very Affordable in Korea. 
  • You can save approximately $1,000 monthly after all the costs/expenses considered! At the end of 1 year contract, the total should be more than $10,000!

Affordable Healthcare

  • The healthcare system in Korea is Very Affordable. Schools provide 50% of medical insurance coverage for their teachers and the remaining 50% of the coverage is deducted from the teacher’s monthly salary which equates to a minimal 2.24%. English teachers should get the extremely inexpensive medical procedures and medicines whenever needed with the affordable insurance package.

Severance Pay

  • At the successful completion of 1 year contract, schools provide a severance package for their teachers which is equivalent to 1 month’s salary.

Active Visa Sponsorship and Renewable 12-month Contract

  • Korean schools support your legal stay in Korea by proactively helping you acquire E-2 Visa that is based on 12 month working period. After the 12 month contract expires, you can renew the contract with a current school or transfer to a new school.

Well Designed Curriculum and Rich Teaching Materials

  • Teachers can start teaching with ease as schools have developed a Well Designed Curriculum for their students and provide Various Teaching Resources for teachers such as flashcards, coloring tools, white/black boards, computers, English related games, multimedia materials, story books, student books, work books and so on.

Opportunity to Taste the Exciting Korean Culture

  • Korea’s rich history, ancient traditions and modern advancements offer teachers the chance to experience something truly unique.
  • Most people are pleasantly surprised by Korea’s welcoming attitude and engaging in local cuisines, traditions, lifestyles, etc. This a great way to learn about one of Asia’s most exciting cultures.

Travel Opportunities

  • Korea is a small country and easy to get around. On regular weekends you can head to the mountains for hiking in the summer and skiing in the winter, or to the islands and beaches in the South.
  • On an international level, Korea is the perfect hub for traveling to other countries. It is a few hours from numerous other countries including Japan, China, Mongolia, Russia, Taiwan, Thailand, the Philippines and more! No matter how long you’re there, you will never run out of foreign countries to visit on your holidays.
  • Upon contract completion, most teachers spend a few weeks or months travelling around Asia with the money that they have accumulated over the past year.

By |2017-12-13T01:55:42+09:00September 25th, 2017|Application Process|0 Comments

Hagwons vs. Public Schools

Hagwons vs. Public Schools

Hagwons vs. Public Schools

These are only the Generalized Pros and Cons and the choice is up to you! Therefore YOU should research the school thoroughly before signing a contract. Best advice is that you have to talk to the current/previous foreign teachers and find out if the pay is always on time, what the school and director is like and if they are happy in terms of both working and living there.

Hagwons (Private Language Academies)

PROS

  • More jobs than public schools and mostly central city locations.

  • You can start work at any time of the year. Schools do not start and end, they run continuously year-round.

  • Better salary (expect anywhere from 2 to 2.5 million won.)

  • Small class size (expect 10 or fewer students.)

  • You will have fellow foreign English speaking colleagues.

  • You typically will have a boss who speaks English, which is not usually the case in public schools.

  • Higher English level from students

  • Afternoon to evening work hours (good for night person)

CONS

  • Less vacation (expect 10 days or less.)

  • Bigger workload as gets paid much

  • It’s a business, meaning you are dealing with a “director” whose main concern is making money first.

  • Prefer Caucasian (foreign-looking) teachers.

  • Nonfulfillment of a contract (delayed payments of wage, pension/insurance, sick leave and etc.)

Public Schools

PROS

  • Better vacation time (18 days plus public holidays)

  • Smaller workload (You will only be teaching conversation and will therefore will not be grading papers or testing students on a regular basis.)

  • Co-teachers (You will have a Korean co-teacher to help you in the classroom. But some teachers want autonomy though.)

  • Stability (these jobs offer a worry-free one-year contract with medical insurance.)

  • Traditional work hours (Expect to work from 9 to 5.)

  • Morning to afternoon work hours (good for morning person)

CONS

  • Limited number of positions available due to the drastic budget cuts last few years.

  • Competitive and strict application process

  • You usually can only have two possible start dates: March, when the school year begins, or August, when the second semester starts.

  • Can’t choose preferred locations.

  • Less pay (expect around 2 to 2.2 million won.)

  • Large class size (expect to teach 25 to 30 kids at one time.)

  • Lower English level from students

  • You might be the only foreigner in the school.

By |2017-12-07T07:10:13+09:00September 25th, 2017|Application Process, Contract Condition|0 Comments

D-10 Visa Transfer

D-10 Visa Transfer

D-10 Visa Transfer

D-10 Job Seeking Visa and Transfer to Work Visa

  • A D-10 Visa, the ‘Job-Seeking Visa‘, allows job applicants the room or grace period to remain in Korea while searching for a new job.
  • A D-10 visa is valid for 6 months. If you have get a new teaching job with this visa, you must transfer your visa to one of work visas (including E-2 visa) at least 2 weeks BEFORE your contract begins.
  • Those on a D-10 visa must go to immigration BEFORE their ARC expires as well as BEFORE their contract begins. Mind that TRANSFER FIRST and then START CONTRACT! This process will take about 2 weeks until your visa status will be transferred.
  • You need to request 2 SEALED medical checkup results for Immigration Office and Office of Education for submission.
  • The following documents are required for the Medical Check Up;
    • 2~3 Passport size photos
    • Valid Passport
    • Fee: 60,000KRW – 150,000KRW (varies by hospital)
  • Plan a date on when to visit an immigration office. Recommend to make a reservation in advance via Hi Korea website at . Immigration offices in Korea are usually very busy and only open from 9am to 6pm.
  • If you cannot pick up the visa in person, please opt for the mailing service. This service costs approximately 3,000 KRW. Please request a Temporary ID from immigration, as during the processing period your school might request your ID.

Required Items for D-10 Visa Transfer

  • Application Form (No. 34 form)
  • ARC (Alien Registration Card)
  • Valid Passport
  • One Sealed Medical Checkup Results
  • One Passport Sized Photo
  • Signed Contract (original and copy)
  • Business Registration Certificate (사업자 등록증) copy
  • School Establishment Registration (학원설립운영등록증) copy
  • Confirmation of Residence/Accommodation
  • Class Timetable
  • Fee: 130,000 KRW
  • Notarized and Apostilled Nationwide Original Criminal Record/Background Check and one Photocopy (If you have left Korea longer than 3 months with a D-10 visa)

By |2020-03-24T00:03:55+09:00September 23rd, 2017|Application Process|0 Comments

E-2 Visa Transfer

E-2 Visa Transfer

E-2 Visa Transfer

Visa Transfer to a New Job

  • Teachers in Korea who want to work at another school are required to go through Visa Transfer process.
  • Those teachers won’t need to obtain new sets of the documents they already obtained before coming to South Korea. 
  • After preparing the documents as below, a teacher or a school representative needs to visit the Immigration in order to get the transfer done same day.
  • In case that a school representative visit the immigration on half of a teacher, a teacher should write a Power of Attorney for the school.
  • The transfer should be done within 2 weeks since the new contract starts.
  • When the visa extended, 60,000 KRW fee is charged.
  • Recommend to make a reservation in advance via Hi Korea website. Immigration centers in Korea are usually very busy and only open from 9AM to 6PM.
  • Here are the documents that you need to prepare;

By |2021-01-11T17:23:46+09:00September 22nd, 2017|Application Process|0 Comments

E-2 Visa Run Guide

E-2 Visa Run Guide

E-2 Visa Run Guide

Usefulness of Visa Run

  • Thanks to the visa run trip, applying teachers with tourist visa in Korea can conveniently change to E-2 visa via 3 to 4 days of short trip to the nearest countries where Korean consulates/embassies situated as Japan or Hong Kong or Guam.
  • Visa run is also useful when teachers want to switch jobs before contract/visa expires, in which case they’ll need to get a letter of release to switch employers. If their employers won’t give them a letter of release, they need to go on a visa run for renewing their visa.

Popular destinations – Fukuoka or Osaka in Japan

  • The most popular destinations are Fukuoka or Osaka in Japan. It usually takes 3 to 4 business days to complete the process.
  • Teachers should submit their visa application between 9am ~ 11:30am of the day they arrive and their visa will be ready for pick-up between 1:30pm ~ 4pm (in Korean Consulate Fukuoka) and 2pm ~ 4pm (in Korean Consulate Osaka) the day after next day. For example, you could drop your visa off Monday morning, then pick it up Wednesday afternoon. 
  • A typical visa run takes 4 days, given it is very difficult to leave Korea and arrive at the consulate before noon on day 1, please make sure to choose/plan a flight schedule carefully and allow enough time for getting the visa.
  • Always double-check your dates since Japan has MANY holidays and on holidays the Consulate/Embassy is closed. Recommend to call the Fukuoka/Osaka Consulate in advance to ensure that they will be open during the time that you’ll be there and how long they expect the visa turnaround time will be.
  • You need to check both the holidays of Japan and Korea when the Consulate/Embassy is closed in reference to the following;
  • January 1-3: New Year (Shogatsu)
  • Second Monday in January: Coming of Age (Seiji No Hi)
  • February 11: National Foundation Day (Kenkoku Kinenbi)
  • March 21: Spring Eqinox Day (Shunbun No Hi)
  • April 29: Green Day (Midori No Hi)
  • May 3: Constitution Day (Kenpo Kinenbi)
  • May 4: “Between Day” (Lokumin No Kyujitsu)
  • May 5: Children’s Day (Kodomo No Hi)
  • Third Monday of July: Ocean Day (Umi No Hi)
  • Third Monday of September: Respect for the Aged Day (Keiro No Hi)
  • September 23: Autumn Equinox Day (Shubun No Hi)
  • Second Monday of October: Health and Sports Day (Taiiku No Hi)
  • November 3: Culture Day (Bunka No Hi)
  • November 23: Labour Thanksgiving Day (Kinro Kansha No Hi)
  • December 23: Emperor’s Birthday (Tenno No Tanjobi)
  • Note: If a national holiday falls on a Sunday, the following Monday will be free as well.
  • Solar New Year’s, January 1st 
  • Independence Movement Day, March 1
    This day commemorates the Declaration of Independence proclaimed on March 1, 1919, while under Japanese colonization. A reading of the declaration takes place in a special ceremony at Tapgol Park in Seoul, where the document was first read to the public.
  • Children’s Day, May 5
    On this day, parents dress up their little ones and take them to children’s parks, amusement parks, zoos, or to the cinema for a full day of fun and games.
  • Memorial Day, June 6
    Memorial Day is set aside to honor the soldiers and civilians who have given their lives for their country. The largest ceremony is held at the National Cemetery in Seoul.
  • Liberation Day, August 15
    This day commemorates Japanese acceptance of the Allies’ terms of surrender and the resulting liberation of Korea in 1945.
  • Foundation Day, October 3
    This day commemorates the founding of the Korean nation in 2333 B.C. by the legendary god-king Dangun. A simple ceremony is held at an altar on top of Mt. Manisan in Ganghwado Province. The altar is said to have been erected by Dangun to offer thanks to his father and grandfather in heaven.
  • Christmas Day, December 25
    Christmas is observed as a national holiday in Korea as in many other countries.
  • New Year’s (Seol-nal), 1st day of 1st lunar month, plus the day before and after
    Lunar New Year’s Day (Seollal) is one of the most important traditional holidays of the year; the holiday is much more significant than January 1st. Most businesses are closed, and people take several days off from work to visit their hometowns to be with their family. On the day of Seollal, everyone gets up early, puts on their best clothes, and bows to their elders as a reaffirmation of family ties. Feasts are held with specially prepared food such asttokguk and manduguk. People play traditional games, fly kites, or spin tops.
  • Buddha’s Birthday (Seokka Tanshin-il), 8th day of 4th lunar month
    The 8th day of the 4th lunar month. Elaborate, solemn rituals are held at many Buddhist temples across the country and lanterns are hung in the temple courtyards. The Sunday before Buddha’s birthday these lanterns are lit and carried in parades in the evening.
  • Harvest Moon Festival (Chuesok), 14-16th days of 8th lunar month
    Chuseok is one of the year’s most important traditional holidays. It is celebrated on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. Chuseok is often referred to as Korean Thanksgiving Day. It’s a celebration of the harvest and thanksgiving for the bounty of the earth. Family members come from all over the country to visit their ancestral homes.
  • Please find the detailed guideline for your visa run trip to either Fukuoka or Osaka;

Related Links/Downloads

By |2020-04-11T04:41:02+09:00September 21st, 2017|Application Process|0 Comments

Interview Tips with Expected Questions and Answers

Once any of school shows a interest in you, the interview (phone or Skype) will be set up and the supervisor or school director will call you for the interview. A typical interview will be 15 minutes – 30 minutes long. Schools will decided whether or not hire you through this short interview so it is very Crucial to be Well Prepared to secure a position.

Key Points for Successful Interview

  • Do plan to get ready by your phone or computer about 10 minutes early. If you don’t answer your phone for a job interview is never excusable. If you are running late, promptly contact us for assistance.
  • Do greet the interviewer by title (Ms., Mr., Dr.) and last name if you are sure of the pronunciation. (If you’re not sure, do ask us about the pronunciation before going into the interview. This is where you make your first impression.
  • Do show CLEAR accent. Korean employers prefer North American accent. If you don’t have North-American accent, try to speak with neutral accent.
  • Don’t be soft-spoken. A forceful voice projects Confidence.
  • Do enunciate words and do not speak too fast, or too slow. Try to covey your saying clearly in consideration of Korean Interviewer’s listening capability.
  • Don’t tell jokes during the interview.
  • Do show Enthusiasm in the position and the company.
  • Do have Good Motives to come to Korea and teach. Don’t say that you are coming to Korea b/c of your girl friend or boy friend or for travel purpose or adventure.
  • Do show that you have good class management skills
  • Do avoid using poor language, slang, and pause words (such as “like,” “uh,” and “um”).
  • Do have a high confidence and energy level with bright personality, but don’t be overly aggressive.
  • Do avoid controversial topics. Don’t say anything negative about former employers, or supervisors.
  • Do stress your achievements. And don’t offer any negative information about yourself.
  • Don’t bring up or discuss personal issues or family problems.
  • Don’t inquire about salary, vacations, bonuses or other benefits until after you’ve received an offer. It’s not considered polite, in Korean culture, for applicant’s to ask questions about salary, apartments, airfare, benefits, etc. Obviously these matters are important and need to be addressed, however, it’s best to direct these types of questions to us and/or one of the other ESL teachers currently working at the school. The interviewer wants to listen your passion for teaching rather than your interest in benefits themselves.
  • Do ask intelligent questions about the job, company, or industry. Don’t just ask any random questions — it shows a lack of interest.
  • Do close the interview by telling the interviewer(s) that you want the job and asking about the next step in the process.

Expected Interview Questions (General)

  • Please introduce yourself stating your Name, Age, Nationality, Academic Background.
  • Please explain WHY you want to come to Korea to teach English.
  • If any, please describe your Teaching Experience citing Age Group, Subjects, Length, How Taught.
  • Please describe your Skills and Capabilities in Teaching.
  • Please describe your Personality that should help you become a Good Teacher.

Expected Interview Questions (Detailed)

  • What do you think of the first ability that a teacher has to possess?
  • What kind of students do you like to work with? What type of students do you think that you could teach most effectively?
  • There are many different levels of English in each class. How will you solve these discrepancies?
  • How would you help students feel successful and motivated?
  • How are you going to motivate/encourage students especially who are shy or who are very new to English?
  • The students in your class are complaining about the homework you assigned. How can you handle the problem?
  • Your class’s grade average is almost at the bottom. How can you deal with the problem?
  • What quality or qualities do you have that may help teach a class? and why?
  • Tell me about a teacher who have most influenced you.
  • Tell me about a voluntary service or internship that you did during school life.
  • Who do you respect the most? Why?
  • Could you describe the most impressive class of your life?
  • What is the most important thing during school life?
  • Do you have any hobbies or special ability?
  • Do you have a plan to develop your aptitude?
  • Could you describe a book or movie you’ve seen recently?
  • Have you ever been to Korea and know any of Korean Culture?

Expected Interview Questions (Taught in Korea)

  • Please describe an unforgettable student in your class?
  • Please describe your teaching method that students responded well?
  • Please describe the rules you made for better class?

By |2020-11-15T03:56:12+09:00September 17th, 2017|Application Process|0 Comments

How to get F-4 Visa for Korean Descendants (Gyopos)

How to get F-4 Visa

F-4 Visa for Gyopos

F-4 Visa is only provided to Korean descendants (people with Korean heritage or lineage or called ‘Gyopos‘) who are NOT Korean citizens NOW.

Eligible Applicants

  • Foreign citizens who previously possessed Korea citizenship (They must have renounced their Korea citizenship.)
  • Foreign citizens with at least one parent or grandparent who possessed Korea citizenship in the past but who currently is a citizen of another country.

Powerful Benefits

If you are qualified for the visa requirements, definitely you should get this visa over E-2 visa for POWERFUL benefits;

  • The visa gives a person nearly the Same Rights as a Korean citizen
  • You can legally work anywhere in Korea
  • When you move from one school to another, there is no need of a release letter
  • You can legally tutor students, which can be very lucrative in Korea.
  • The visa is renewable every two years, and you don’t have to change your visa if you change jobs.
  • It is not necessary to complete the alien registration process, if the F-4 visa holder reports Domestic Residency to a Korean Immigration office.

Apply in Your Country or in Korea?

You can get the F-4 visa in your country or after you arrive in Korea.

As a first step, you should contact the nearest Korean Consulate/Embassy for the exact details of the procedures, required documents and processing time.

And After search, if you can’t meet the timeline of job start date working with Korean Consulate/Embassy, recommend you to expedite the process working with a Korean Immigration office in Korea after your arrival on tourist visa.

  • In Your Country
    • You should contact the nearest Korean Embassy or Consulate and follow the procedures/required documents for getting the visa as guided. Calling first is suggested.
    • Find your closest Korean Embassy & Consulate.
  • In Korea
    • There is a department in the Korean Immigration Service for F-4 visa. You can arrive in Korea on a regular tourist visa and then apply for your F4 visa. Ensure that you value the tourist visa time limit.
    • Find your closest Korean Immigration Office.

Best Exemplary Instructions

For best exemplary instructions, we suggest to refer to the linked pages below first. As guidelines vary by Embassy/Consulate, you should double check with the nearest Embassy/Consulate to you at the same time.

NOTE for Military Service

  • Among Dual Citizenship Holders who were born outside Korea but whose names were included on their family register (Hojokdeungbon), only those who have renounced their Korean citizenship can apply for F-4 visa. Men aged 18 to 35 who did not renounce Korean citizenship before they reached 18, cannot renounce their Korean citizenship unless;

1. Have an exemption from military service, or
2. Complete their military service

  • Please note that men aged between 24 to 35 who did not renounce their Korean citizenship before the age of 18, should apply at the Consulate for deferring military enlistment. (required in order to travel to Korea for a short period). For details, please contact the Consulate.

By |2020-03-24T00:18:27+09:00September 17th, 2017|Application Process|0 Comments

Getting Notarization and Apostille

Getting Notarization And Apostille

Getting Notarization, Apostille

Notarization First and Apostille Second

  • Apostilles certify documents for international use whereas Notarizations certify that documents are legitimate copies of original documents.
  • All teachers applying for ESL jobs in Korea have to have a Degree/Diploma Copy to be Notarized First and then Apostilled to be accepted by Korean Immigration.
  • In most cases, as the nationwide criminal checks have been issued and signed by the government authorities, the notarization aren’t needed but only apostille certification needed for international use. For this process, please refer to the article – Getting Criminal Record Check and Apostille.
  • A Notary Public, or lawyer with a notary license provides the notarization service. To find a notary in your area simply do a Google search for: ‘Notary Public + your city name’.
  • Do NOT, for any reason what so ever, remove the staples and/or damage the apostille certificates. Korean Immigration will automatically reject any apostille authentication that looks like it’s been tampered with (detached, re-stapled, etc.).
  • Please NOTE that Notarization First and then Apostille Second.
  • Please find how to get Notarization by country.

USA

  • To find a notary in your area simply do a Google search for: ‘Notary Public + your city name’.
  • Please find how to get apostilles on FBI Criminal Check and Diploma in reference to the following;
  • FBI criminal background checks are federal documents and therefore can only receive a federal apostille from the US Department of State. FBI criminal checks are already notarized, therefore obtaining an additional notarization before an apostille is not needed.
  • The U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications in Washcington DC accepts requests via Mail or Walk-in Counter or Appointments.
  • Please NOTE that it would take almost 1 month to get it back from them via Mail request method. So DO NOT just mail your FBI criminal record check directly to the US Department of State if you don’t have enough time in job/visa process. You could opt to request the service via Walk-in Counter or Appointments but please firstly call the Office of Authentications to inquire about the delivery timeline.
  • Your university diploma is a state-level document. Therefore you can get it apostilled by your Secretary of State Office in your own state. In order to be apostilled however, the document needs to first be notarized. The process would take 1 to 2 days.
  • We provide End to End legalization services on both an FBI check and the copy of Degree/Diploma. 

Canada

Canada Flag
  • Find a Notary Public or lawyer via the Yellow Pages website.
  • Please NOTE that All Canadians must have their original RCMP criminal check and diploma certificates verified by the Korean Consulate/Embassy with a Consulate Verification Stamp because Canada is not a signatory of the Apostille treaty. First have them notarized by a notary public then mail or take the notarized ones to your nearest Korean Consulate or Embassy for the Consulate Verification stamp.
  • Remember to make a request for 2 notarized criminal checks, you might need an additional copy when applying for your E-2 visa at the consulate. 
  • Please NOTE that multiple applying teachers told us that the Korean Consulate in Montreal and Toronto may not require them to notarize the criminal checks. Please contact your nearest Korean Consulate for more specific details.

South Africa

South Africa Flag
  • Find Attorneys in South for notarization via the Attorneys.co.za website.
  • South African candidates need to have their documents apostilled by the Legalisation Section of the South African Department of International Relations & Cooperation (DIRCO)
  • You can have an apostille job done the same day via in person visitation.
  • Please NOTE >>> Newly implemented Time Consuming Degree Verification Process
    • To get the copy of degree apostilled, originally DIRCO required a verification letter issued by the Department of Higher Education which takes normally one to two working days.
    • However, DIRCO changed this process and requires to obtain a verification letter from the SAQA (South African Qualification Authority) which takes 20 to 30 working days to issue the letter!
    • The entire process goes as following; Copy of Degree > Notarization by a Notary Public/Attorney > Verification by SAQA > Apostille by DIRCO 
  • However High Court May Expedite the Degree Verification Process
    • Instead of going through the time consuming lengthy verification process with SAQA, we managed to find a working way of having a copy of degree apostilled by working with a South African High Court. They even apostille the Police Clearance Check as well.
    • Please contact a high court in the vicinity of your location in advance if they could provide the services of your request. Some high courts may not provide the services.
    • The entire process goes as following; Copy of Degree > Notarization by a Notary Public/Attorney > Apostille by a High Court
    • We have also found out that a high court usually doesn’t use a standardized single apostille cover template so that they ended up using the templates having different font styles, sizes and layouts on a copy of degree and a Police Clearance Check each. Therefore when you actually sort out these two docs for the apostille working with a high court, please make sure to ask them to apply a same identical apostille cover template. Please find the samples for your reference below.
    • We have also noticed a misspelling in the sub title line – ‘(Convention de La Hayel Du 5 Octobre 1961)’. The correct spelling is ‘La Haye’ not ‘La Hayel’. Please check that if there might be a typo like this. 

UK

United Kingdom Flag
  • Find a Notary via The Notaries Society or The Faculty Office websites.

The Notaries Society’s Find a Notary Page
The Faculty Office’s Find a Notary Page

  • The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)  is the best option for getting an apostille in the UK and it is faster and cheaper than other apostille services. Please follow the instructions at Get your document legalised on the GOV.UK website.
  • It normally takes 2 working days to process the Apostille job using the standard service, plus courier or postage time. Applications during peak periods around Easter and summer can take up to 10 days.

Related Links/Downloads

Ireland

Ireland Flag
  • The Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is the only office in Ireland that is able to authenticate documents. Please follow the instructions at Authenticating documents on the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website.

Related Links/Downloads

Australia

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  • The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) is the office that Australian teachers must use for their Apostille authentications. Please follow the instructions for applicants applying from Australia and also from overseas at Legalising documents on the DFAT’s Smartraveller website.

Related Links/Downloads

New Zealand

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  • Please follow the detailed instructions for apostille at Apostille Certification on the Department of Internal Affairs website.
  • Getting an aspostile takes 7 – 10 days. If urgent, you could attach a cover letter explaining why it is urgent to make the delivery quicker.

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By |2021-12-12T11:28:54+09:00September 17th, 2017|Application Process, Essentials|0 Comments

How to Apply for ESL Jobs in Korea – A to Z guideline

How to Apply for ESL Jobs in Korea

A to Z guideline

How to Apply for ESL Jobs in Korea - A to Z guideline

We are laying the ENTIRE Application/Hiring process out from A to Z and helping you through it step-by-step so you are comfortable and know what is going on at all times.

E-2 Visa Procedures for English Teachers to Korea

  • The E-2 visa is the specific visa for individuals coming to Korea as an English Teacher. The E-2 visa is sponsored by educational institutions such as public schools, private academies (hagwons), and at universities. The visa must have prior agreed upon sponsorship by one of those institutions in order to obtain. An E-2 visa is valid for 13 months, and must be renewed with each new contract or continuing contract.
  • Assuming that you have all the required Visa Documents in your possession, the entire placement process will usually take 1 – 2 months from the point of online application to actual start teaching.
  • Please refer to the following major steps you’re going through.

STEP 0:  Begin Gathering Up Visa Documents (1~2 months)

  • Gather the following documents ASAP because it takes most of time in process.
  • Please follow these directions exactly as any variation will be rejected by Korean Immigration.
  • Obtaining these documents is typically what delays departure to Korea so begin working on these IMMEDIATELY.
  • Please keep us posted of your gathering progress. It is very important to calculate your approximate start date.
  • Required Visa Documents;
    • Notarized and Apostilled photocopy of your Bachelor’s Diploma
    • Notarized and Apostilled Nationwide Original Criminal Record/Background Check
    • Application for Visa Issuance
    • Self Medical Assessment for Immigration
    • A color scan of the information page of your Passport
    • (4) passport sized photos (3.5cm x 4.5cm)
    • Resume with correct mailing address and phone number (the resume must bear your signature)
    • (if any) Photocopy of TESOL/TEFL/CELTA Certificate(s)
    • (if any) Photocopy of your Master’s Diploma
    • For Gyopo (Korean American) teacher, prepare either the Photocopy of F4 visa or Permanent Residenceship Certificate

STEP 1: Submit Your Application (5~10 mins)

  • Submit online application via ‘Apply for ESL Jobs‘ page. It only takes a few miniatures as we minimize the application items as simple as possible.
  • If you have any questions regarding application process, please let us know by sending email to contact@gloii.com for prompt assistance.

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STEP 2: Review and Pre Interview (1~3 days)

  • We will review your application and contact you via email to set up a pre interview over phone or Skype.
  • During the interview, the below topics will be discussed mainly and your questions will be answered;
    • Please introduce yourself briefly.
    • Please let us know why you want to teach ESL in Korea.
    • Please let us know your educational philosophy and how to motivate/encourage students.
    • Please let us know how you would cope with the cultural differences.
  • Through the pre interview,  your qualification, experience and preference will be checked and you’ll be introduced to our nationwide Public and Private schools for prospect interview set-ups.

STEP 3: School Interview and Offer (1 day)

  • We will notify you soon as any school asks us to interview with you with the details about the position information and condition
  • We will schedule the interview if you accept the interview invitation after the position review.
  • The interview will be conducted over phone or Skype taking about 15mins – 30mins.
  • Upon successful interview, you’ll be given the formal Job Offer from the school with official contract.
  • You are going to review the contract and having any questions, those will be answered by us and the school and even current foreign teachers with whom we’re going to connect you up for objective information on working and living around the job.
  • If everything turns out to be ok, you are going to sign, scan and email the signed contract back to us for securing a position.

STEP 4: E-2 Visa Issuance Number (in Korea, 2 weeks)

  • In order to legally work in Korea, the E-2 visa (work visa for English Teachers) is needed for foreigners who will teach English in Korea.
  • Soon as gathering all the required Visa documents, please mail them which are listed in STEP 0 via Express Mail Service (UPS, FedEx, DHL or any others in your country) for your Visa Issuance Number. After mailing, send us the tracking number.
  • Before mailing, make a photo copy of your Diploma and Criminal Record Check with Apostilles to be used in STEP 5.
  • The school submits your documents (Statement of Purpose and Sponsorship Guarantee form) to the Korean Immigration Bureau for getting the number.
  • CHECK POINTS before you sending;
    • Make sure you have a valid passport that does not expire in the near future (check expiration date)
    • Criminal check: Is it apostilled? Is the word ‘Apostille’ there on the paper? Is there written ‘No Record’ in original paper? Is it issued by authorized institute?
    • Degree: Can you find ‘BA’ or “‘BS” on your degree?
    • Please advise us if you will be answering YES to any of the questions on the Health Statement Form.

STEP 5: Visa Interview (in Your Country) and Flight Ticket Arrangement (1 week)

  • We will email you the visa issuance number issued by the Korean Immigration Bureau.
  • Now that you have been approved/confirmed for a visa, you will need to receive the actual visa by sending the following documents to the nearest Korea consulate. Use expedited shipping.
  • Please NOTE that each Korean consulate handles the visa process differently so make sure to call ahead for double check for the items to be prepared and sent. Some consulates will require an in-person interview, others will require a phone interview and the rest do not require an interview at all.
  • On average it will take approximately 5 ~ 10 business days from when the consulate receives your request (not including shipping time). We strongly recommend using a tractable overnight carrier to send your visa documents to the consulate.
  • To expedite the process, you can send the required documents to the Korean consulate with jurisdiction over your area by courier before receiving the visa issuance number, and then call the number in by phone once it is received. This will save some leg-work, but you should call before sending in their documents to verify that this can be done. And as visas are issued faster if the teacher goes to the consulate in person, as opposed to sending their passport and documents via courier, check in with the consulate if that option might be feasible.
  • Following is the general list of items you will need to take/send to the Korean consulate prior to your interview;
    • Passport with at Least 6 months remaining validity (They will stamp it with the visa and send it back to you. Some consulates process the visa electronically issuing the Visa Grant Notice. It depends on the consulate/embassy)
    • Filled-out Application for Visa form (Your school’s information is written in the employment contract that you signed.)
    • (1) passport-sized photo (3.5cm x 4.5cm) attached to the Visa Application
    • Consul’s checklist
    • Pre-address and stamped express mail envelope for the Consulate to use when mailing your passport back to you once processed (If you want to collect your passport in person, please consult ahead if that’s optional)
    • Cash (for visiting in-person) or Money Order (for mailing-in). The Visa Fee (US citizens: $45 USD / UK citizens: £154 / Canada citizens:  $78 CAD / Ireland citizens: €54 / New Zealand: $60 USD / South Africa: $60 USD / Australia: A$ 156 – Please check with Consulate General for the exact amount)
    • CANADIAN APPLICANTS ONLY!: Canadian applicants will need to have one set of Sealed University Transcripts as this is a requirement by Canadian Korean Consulates.
    • And any additional items each Korean consulate require you to submit.
  • Once you have scheduled your interview with the consulate, please notify us for us to book the flight ticket timely.

STEP 6: Visa Issued! and Fly over to Korea and Start Teaching

  • Receive your passport back after your visa has been processed. Check inside your passport to verify that a new page with your Korean visa has been inserted. Now you’re ready to come to South Korea! Congratulations!
  • Once you arrive in Korea, an escort meets you at the airport and transports you directly to the school. Arrival and contact information is always given to you prior to departure.

After Arrival: Medical Check Up (1 day)

  • In order to obtain your Alien Registration Card (ARC) and register yourself to the local Office of Education, you will first need to get a Medical Check Up done at a designated local Hospital.
  • The medical exam will check for general health conditions, narcotics usage, as well as certain diseases. The check will consist of an x-ray, blood test, as well as various physical tests.
  • It takes 3~7 days to get the results for these tests and they are mandatory.
  • Please request 2 copies of the results before taking the test. One copy will be for your ARC application and the other will be for submitting to your school.
  • The following documents are required for the Medical Check Up;
    • 2~3 Passport size photos
    • Valid Passport
    • Fee: 60,000KRW – 150,000KRW (varies by Hospital)

After Arrival: Alien Registration Card (ARC) (1~2 weeks)

  • Once the results of the Medical Check are processed, you will visit the local Immigration Office to apply for your Alien Registration card (ARC).
  • All foreign teachers must apply for ARC within 90 days of arriving in Korea. Your ARC is a form of official identification. The Korean government requires all non-Korean citizens working in Korea to obtain this ID and carry it on their person at all times.
  • All foreign teachers need to return to the Immigration Office to pick up their Alien Registration Card. The process often takes between 7 and 14 days. Alternatively, a paid courier service can deliver the card. Please note that you will have to surrender your passport during this period, so plan accordingly.
  • The Alien Card is necessary to obtain Identification such as a Cell Phone, Bank account, Credit Card, etc.
  • And having an ARC also allows you to be enrolled in the Korean National Health/Medical Insurance and Pension Plan.
  • The following documents are required to apply;
    • Application form for Alien Registration
    • A color scan of the information page of your passport and original passport
    • (1) passport-sized photo
    • (1) photocopy of accommodation contract
    • (1) signed Confirmation Letter of Accommodation Residency
    • (1) sealed medical test results
    • A copy of the Business License of the employer or school
    • Fee: 30,000KRW

By |2022-01-23T04:28:50+09:00September 15th, 2017|Application Process, Essentials|2 Comments
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