Hi, Korea.

Extending Your E2 Visa in Korea.

Please note everyone's situation is different and regulations are changing all the time. Just thought I'd put this stuff up here because there's confusion about it amongst my coworkers and friends that teach here. Hope this can help out a bit.

I got my visa for another year here. Seoul Immigration required a photocopy of my contract with my school, a health check, criminal background check, my passport, W80,000, two types of academy business registration, a reference letter, and my Alien Residence card.

I got the health check done at Saint Mary's. Lots of running around all over the place there but it was much cheaper than the other places I looked into.

I got a state criminal background check but had to go to the US Embassy and have them vouch for me about having no criminal record.

W50,000 was for multiple entry and W30,000 was for the new visa itself. You'll have to go downstairs to buy stamps for it.

Your school should help you along a bit but it's a bit complicated.

Make an appointment at the Seoul Immigration website if you're short for time.

FSO Test

I'm going to take the Foreign Service Officer Test in early March. I finished the application finally, they wanted 6 references! I realized filling out the app was just as much for me as it was for taking the test. There was a personal narrative section where I had to type out my thoughts in regards to my life experiences. I hadn't thought about what I've been doing recently in that much detail. Needless to say much of what I put on there related to my time in Korea and how it has made me better. I don't know of anyone who has ever taken the test before. I'll write here about how it goes. I saw sample questions and they look like they'd own my face though.

Believe Dat.

So I was trying to get a job with the US government. It's incredible the amount of jobs available with them, in all locations. They all require that you apply for them over the Internet, from the $7 an hour jobs all the way up to over $200k a year. Interesting to note that most of the Korean posts are for Osan or Kusan. Yep, the Yongsan base must be on the way out, they don't seem to be staffing that one too much.

Anyways take a look at the USA jobs site and see what you can find. They're quite particular about requirements and as one may guess it seems like it should be all done by the book. Having done some military service or be already working for the government seems to help alot too! I think to make it work for me I'd have to head back to the States and start some trainee job.

There's always the Foreign Service. I am applying for the test and that seems like a long shot too. It's just nice to know that there are options out there.