25 Jul
From Manchester to Guri
Hello everyone! My name is Sam, and I’m moving to Korea in August 2023 to teach English at the CREVERSE Guri Dasan April Institute. There are so many things I’m looking forward to! I can’t wait to explore Gyeongbok Palace in Seoul, and taking yacht cruise underneath the Gwanganri bridge in Busan at night. All whilst enjoying the extremely rewarding job of teaching English! Here are a couple of pics that are getting me more excited. But let me get back to the topic at hand! To teach in Korea, you need an E-2 teaching visa, and here are the step by step directions on the visa application process in the UK, after you receive your visa code.
Gyeongbokgung, also known as Gyeongbokgung Palace or Gyeongbok Palace, was the main royal palace of the Joseon dynasty. Built in 1395.
Luxury yacht tours have become popular in Busan over the last few years, where you can view waterfront landmarks such as Gwangan Bridge and Marine City.
A Quick Disclaimer
Everything I explain in this blog is a step-by-step guide on how I got through the visa application process in the U.K. I am only suggesting that you take a similar approach and hope to give you a clearer understanding through key websites, phone numbers, emails etc. that I used to tackle this process.
Also, everything I explain in this post is for people who are waiting for or have received their VISA code from CREVERSE.
Visa & KVAC Important Links
The first thing I did was visit Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs website which is a site you can use to find updates and guides on applying for Visas in Korea. You can use the website to find key contact information for KVAC, whom I decided to call. I wanted to ask to check what documents were needed and they directed me to the Korean Visa Application Center website.
They helped me through the website to find their guide
It’s a good idea for you to call them to make sure that you don’t need any additional documents—based on your nationality, or any other personal circumstances.
I was still confused though, as this guide didn’t include the documents needed or other important details. So, you can find this information here, and if you scroll down to the E2-1 visa you can see all of the required documents. When you go through this link, make sure to also download the forms they ask you to fill out as they will be important for your application.
Finally, you can see another link on the picture above, where it says “Please check your visa fee here.”
If you click this you can see the fees for your visa according to your nationality. So please check this link and you will know exactly what you owe when you pay for your visa.
Step-by-Step Guide Part 1
- Make sure you have followed my important links section and filled out all the required documents so you’re ready for the visa process.
KVAC also ask for an extra piece of paper with your address and contact details in Korea. I personally contacted my recruiter who then provided me with the relevant details. On this extra paper I also wrote them a note saying what I have attached inside the envelope and that I look forward to their response. It gives your application a professional touch. - Calculate your visa fees. If you’re British that should be 60+180+15 (255 Euros). I recommend adding the 15 Euro Courier fee so that they will send your passport and visa back to you.
(It is in Euros because they deal with their embassy in Germany. All your documents therefore initially go to London and then to Germany.) - Follow the instructions to send your money to their international account. Most Banks allow for international transactions for a small fee (Natwest charged me only 15p.)
- Then you should email them at kvacukinfo@iom.int making sure your email subject reads like this: Your full name/ E2-1 / Proof of Payment.
- Then send this email with the following details:
- Name of nationality
- Visa type (E2-1)
- Write your payment details broken down – visa service fee 60 / Visa fee 180 / Courier Fee 15.
- Attach a receipt of your payment transaction.
Step-by-Step Guide Part 2
After you send this email, then you should send your documents to the KVAC London address that is provided in the guide. You don’t have to wait for their confirmation but send it two to three days after your email. Make sure you send your real passport too. I recommend getting the most secure first class tracking you can get from your local post office – mine offers good compensation if my documents were to be lost, plus I could track my delivery.
- Make sure to add your return details on the outside of the parcel, Your Name, Address and visa category.
- After you have done all of this, wait until KVAC contact you to say your documents are all okay. They will then promptly forward them to Germany. After that you can track the process on the link they provide in their guide: https://www.visa.go.kr/main/openMain.do.
- If you paid for their return courier service, they will then send back your printed off visa + passport. The whole process from sending your documents to London should take around 2 weeks, but this is subject to change.
- Note that if you don’t pay the courier service, you can organise to collect your documents in London. See the guide from earlier to see how this is possible.
- Please be sure to read the ENTIRE guide and thoroughly check every link and your documents so you are sure what you are doing.
Conclusions
Thank you for reading my blog on the visa application process in the U.K. with KVAC. I hope it was helpful. I wish you all the best of luck with your visa, and most importantly, I hope your experience in Korea will be as special as mine has been for me so far! 감사드립니다!!!
Sam Pearce is from Manchester, United Kingdom and graduated from Liverpool Hope University in 2019 with an undergraduate degree in History. However, since graduating he has become interested in the education industry! This has taken him to Sri Lanka, Italy and South Korea. Now he is planning to return to South Korea as a Creverse instructor in Dasan, Gyeonggi-do. Teaching English was a great decision for Sam, who not only loves benefiting children’s lives around the world positively, he can now also experience new cultures and learn about history in places that really interest him. Sam’s other interests include Karate (which he is a black belt in); playing football (he plays for a team in South Korea) and even going to the Norebang to do karaoke; amongst many other things.