Visa Run

I have had to turn down the Hanam position. Which I am very upset about. I completely blame the AFP, because when I called them on Tuesday they (after over an house on hold) told me that they hadn't even opened my email yet. I had sent them the application on the 20th June, so as you can imagine I was pretty pissed. It wasn't that particular lady's fault, so I tried to keep it cool, but I expressed my displeasure and asked when she thought I might receive it. She said it might still be ANOTHER 20 DAYS. To me, this is complete rubbish... I know I have a clean record, how long does it honestly take to do a name search and print off the page? On all the crime hows on TV it takes 30 seconds. And we all know that the TV is based on real facts (like the internet) so I know they are just being slack.
I am on the phone to them again now, waiting in a call queue. The current time of waiting is 14 minutes...

The SLP school in Hanam knew that it would take ages for this check, but they still offered me the position. They wanted me to come over to Korea, work for a bit then do a "visa run" to Japan. When Irene first suggested it to me, I was pretty sure I knew what it was but I asked anyway. I was pretty much spot on with my guess.

Visa Run

This is quoted from the email from Irene:

1. When you have all your documents, come to Korea

2. When you arrive, give all your documents to the school. They will go to the immigration office and apply for your E2 visa. It will take a week or 2 tops.

3. Go to Japan with your visa issue number

4. The next day get your visa (still in Japan)

5. Come to Korea with E2 visa!

Its that simple! Everyone does it! There will be no problems!

It is actually illegal. You can Google visa run, and heaps of things come up. You cannot get a working visa done while being in Korea for some reason, you need to have it issued in another country. Not all schools will pay for it, but SLP offered to pay for mine. They usually pick Japan, I guess because its closest and they get the system over there. I have not read one instance where someone has been caught doing it, and I have been informed that it used to be the way to get a job - you go over on a tourist visa for a face to face interview, accept the job then hang out in Japan until the visa is ready. My issue isn't the going to Japan, its the working without a visa. 

I would have been working in Korea for a week or 2 (depending on the visa application time) without an E2 visa, meaning that I would have been working in the country illegally. And I have spoken to a heap of people, and they all say that its fine and heaps of people do it. But, for me it just wasn't right. I do not want to start my time in Korea on a bad note. I would have been super worried all the time, and not able to enjoy the whole thing properly. 

I love that the school was going to organise all of it - they would have paid for the trip to Japan, paid for my motel and given me some spending money. And they were super nice. The teachers email they gave me was that of a really really helpful guy from NZ. They offered his email without me having to beg for it. They head teacher told Irene she felt that her and I had a 'connection' and she really wants me to work with them. They gave me extra time to think, they say they understand what a big decision this is for me. And I actually feel super bad to let them down. They were jumping through hoops to get me there. 

But I refuse to commit fraud just for a job. There will be other jobs. The stress of it would have made me sick.

NB 

By me saying "it will make me sick" I mean I will put myself in hospital. Its not common knowledge I suppose, but I have a form of Crohn's Disease (inflammatory bowel disease) and when I get overly stressed, or make poor lifestyle choices (like eat too much crappy food or drink too much booze) it upset my fragile tummy and I end up quite ill. 

So i am concerned about the spiciness of the Korean food :s should fun times ahead.

So, to avoid stress and deportation I am turning the position down. As soon as I get off the phone with the AFP (30 mins strong) I will email Irene and tell her the bad news. She will be upset, but I have to do what is right for me.

Update!!!

I finally got through to the AFP after over an hour... He said they haven't processed it yet but they will do it either this week or early next week and I should have the CRC by the end of next week!!! Finally, some good news!!!!!!

The school risks a fine. I risk being sent home and having a blemish on my clean criminal record. Then imagine how hard it will be for me to get another one???

Yune (ESL Partner) has found another school for me, this one is in Suwon. Its kinder and elementary, the hours are a little later 10am-7pm but thats ok, its not too different. The pay is a little lower, 2.1, but if they want to interview me, and if they offer the position I will ask for 2.2. Its worked before so doesn't hurt to ask. 

And I am waiting to hear back from some other recruiters too.

I don't think Claudia is going to help me much anymore, she was pretty disappointed that I didn't take the Yongin position. But its my year! And I will take the job I want. 

All this is good though, because I am figuring out what I do and do not want in schools. So even though I still do not have a start date, I am figuring stuff out. Amelia (shout out to ya!) was really helpful, and made a really good point when she said that there are endless jobs out there, so really I can pick one that suits me.  

At some point I will put a map up of South Korea, and show you where all these places are so you can see where I have been offered jobs. I have a bit of a criteria that I am trying to stick to:

• Kindy - elementary aged kids
• Day time working hours... Nothing that starts in the arvo and ends late at night. Nothing past 7pm
• somewhere within the Gyeonggi province (where Seoul is located - kinda like the state)
• 2.2 million won per month pay
• at least 1 other foreign teacher

Apart from that i am pretty open. Oh, and I want my own apartment, nothing shared or dorm like.

So anyway, the rest of my day will involve waiting on the phone, then I will go feed the horsies and go to medicare. And get some milk... I haven't had my cereal today and I feel on edge :s

Then catch up with some pals tonight! 

I am looking for another good book to read. If anyone knows a good one (please do not say 50 shades of grey - really really NOT MY THING) let me know!

xox