E 2 Visa for South Korea
| English Instructor status(E-2) | |
| - US citizen who want to teach English at foreign language institutions or organizationsneed to apply for E-2 visa - The applicant is required to have a bachelor degree or equivalent degree - The necessary documents are as follows(i) If you have a the Confirmation of Visa Issuance Number 1) Valid passport and 1 copy of its personal data page 2) Completed visa application (with confirmation of visa issuance number from Korean Ministry of Justice) 3) A passport picture (2×2, color) attached to application 4) Visa Fee : $45 * Money order only - pay to : Korean Consulate General - Cash accepted in person 5) Self-addressed, pre-paid envelope for return of the passport by mail 6) visa interview is required completed form (Consuls check list)  * need to make an appointment for an interview and it takes 2-3 business days to complete the process of a visa application after the interview |
*This information was copy and pasted from the Korean Consulate of Chicago website.
On Wednesday, my soon to be employer, Mr. Song emailed me with my Visa Issuance Number. This number represents immigration in South Korea approves my visa request. Now, I need to schedule an interview with someone in the Korean Consulate in Chicago and bring the requirements as posted above. I actually have already scheduled an interview for Wednesday, the 19th at 10:30 am in Chicago. I have switched a vacation day around, so I will have Wednesday off to head to Chicago. Sooooooo, by the end of next week or possibly the following Monday, I will have my E 2 Visa 
and will be 100% good to go!
My ticket
As of last Saturday, I have a one way plane ticket with Asiana Airlines to Busan, South Korea! I bought a ticket (I will be reimbursed upon arrival) which was different than Mr. Song found for me. The itinerary he was proposing would have travel time of like 32 hours with 3 layovers…not fun! I decided since I was paying for the ticket, I would look for a cheaper ticket with a better itinerary (one reason being I can’t help but to look for a better deal and save money, even if it isn’t exactly my money and the other is to cut down the travel time). The ticket I found was $250 less than Mr. Song’s proposed itinerary and only 19 hours of travel time…much more enjoyable! So, I fly out of Chicago’s O’Hare airport Thursday, October 8th at 1 am. Flight time of 14 hours to Seoul, S. Korea and a layover of 3 hours 20 min (but Seoul’s Incheon airport was voted #1 in the world, so it will be a sweet layover I am sure) and then an hour flight to Busan. I arrive in Busan, S. Korea at 9:20 am on Friday the 9th.
Speaking with the American who I am replacing at the school (Tyler) via email, I was informed we will go out to lunch with another foreign English teacher (Liz), walk around some, go to the school and sit in on a class or two and then go out for a few drinks and get acclimated to the area a little. It sounds damn near PERFECT to me! My first day on the job will be Monday the 12th!
Found an awesome blog by Matt Kelley with tons of informative videos and posts. Discovering Korea is a good site to learn a little about South Korea’s history, activities and other useful tips.
More to come later…
Tags: Asiana Airlines, Cheap flight to Busan South Korea, E2 Visa, E2 Visa Documents, ESL, ESL South Korea, ESL teaching, Incheon Airport, Korean Consulate in Chicago, Korean visa interview, South Korea