Visa Documents

If you get a contract and go to Korea to teach, you will need to get an E-2 Visa.

There are many stages to this process, and several documents involved. First you will need to collect the following documents:

• 4-6 passport sized photos (so one sheet--you need to keep one or two)
  
• passport (if you haven't got one--this will take the most time)
  
• two photocopies of your passport (keep one)
  
• original degree (they will give it back to you in Korea, but if you don't want to send your original degree, you can get a notarized photocopy to send for the apostille and send it)
• 2 sets of official college transcripts
• criminal background check (needs apostille)
• self-health statement
• original contract (signed)

It takes about 2-4 weeks to get your background check and another 2-4 to get the apostille, so plan ahead.
You will send most of these documents to the contracting school (except the ones noted to keep). The school will then take them to the Korean government and they will give you a visa issuance number which the school or recruiter should send you.
You then need to call your nearest Korean consulate or embassy and set up an interview for your visa. You will need to give them the visa issuance number, your name, and your contact information (phone number). They check out the information and call back to set up an appointment time/date.

For the interview, you will need to go to their site and print out the Visa application form and the consulate checklist and fill them out to take. You will also need:

• 2-3 passport sized photos (the ones you kept)
  
• copy of passport (the one you kept)
• passport (they will keep it and send it back to you with the visa inside)
• Cash or money order of $45 (paid to Korean Consulate General--cash accepted in person)
• self-addressed pre-paid envelope

Don't forget to have the application and checklist filled out when you go.

In my case, I went in, handed over the documents, waited, and was shown into an office. The interviews seem to last about 15-30 minutes. He asked the same questions from the recruiter and school interviews. Then we just talked about our travel experience and Korean food (not necessary, just something we had in common).

It's not anything scary, but look nice. I wore a suit and so did another guy. The people interviewing you will be in business attire, so you should be too. Just look professional and be prepared for the same questions.

Good luck~