Traveling to Busan without Visa

Ok,

So I'm going to be traveling to Busan without a Visa, I'm Canadian and have all my documents needed to obtain a Visa here in Canada (with the exception of a pre-signed contract)

My question is, once I arrive in Busan and start seeking out schools and recruiters, will I be able to obtain a E-2 Visa in Japan?

I've never teached or traveled to Korea before, and I'm curious as to whether I need to get all my documents notarized here in Canada by a notary public and the Korea Consulate or do I wait till I get to Korea?

Will the Korean Consulate in Canada notarize my documents even though I do not have a Visa?

Any info people can provide would be amazing! I'm excited to arrive but haven't had the greatest success with jobs via the current process. I've been offered positions but the terms weren't to my liking.

If anyone could recommend a recruiter or school that would be superb.

Thanks so much for your advice

Re: Traveling to Busan without Visa

"I want to spend my weekends going out at night (drinking and meeting girls) and surfing the beach during the day..."

You're insisting that you be placed in one of the major "party zones" of the city.  You're clearly being way too picky, holding out for something that will suit your (very specific) needs.  You've been offered positions that had "terms that weren't to your liking"?  What were the terms, if I may inquire?

Are you a qualified teacher?  If not, what gives you the right to hold their "terms" to your unreasonable standards? 

If it's your first time here, you do like everyone else, you start at the bottom rung.  You get something that's standard to what most first-time ESL "teachers" get.  If you're not a qualified teacher, you're not entitled to anything beyond what most of us get. 

Don't get me wrong, you're entitled to what's fair, so don't settle for a slave contract...but if you keep expecting some ideal job that's going to give you minimal hours, maximum pay, and a cozy place in an area that puts the conveniences of sufring, beer, and women within arms reach...well, you're setting yourself up for failure.

If this isn't your first time teaching in Korea, then disregard what I said and do your best to get something that matches up with your experience.

Re: Traveling to Busan without Visa

You couldn't get a job after all the postings and research you've done, what makes you think you'll find a job by arriving in Busan with your high expectations? You have a major in economics, not bad but not quite the type of field that makes you develop extraordinary language teaching skills. Keep in mind there's a lot of supply of English teachers at the moment in Korea. Since you're an economist, I'll let you do the math.

Other than that, I'd say I couldn't agree more with what Champ said.

Oh, and dude, if you really want to get a good job, a good start is to get a professional looking headshot...

Re: Traveling to Busan without Visa

If anyone else could provide any useful information it would be greatly appreciated, thanks for all the help. Safe travels

Re: Traveling to Busan without Visa

I've never personally done a visa run, but as long as you have everything prepared you should be able to get your visa done in Japan.  If I remember correctly, the documents you need for your E-2 are the copy of your diploma with apostille, your criminal background check with apostille, and your transcripts.  There might be more, but it's been a while so I can't remember.  I'm a little confused why you mentioned getting stuff notarized at the Korean consulate.  I don't think they have the power to notarize foreign documents.  All they do is issue your visa once you give them everything they need for it (documents, pictures, contract...).  Anyways, good luck!

Re: Traveling to Busan without Visa

The OP is Canadian. Canada never signed the Hague Convention so they don't do apostilles. That is why he asked about getting his documents notarized at the Korean consulate.

Re: Traveling to Busan without Visa

You can get the E-2 in Japan.

You need to visit the Korean Consulate in Canada and have them notarize your docs. You can't get that done in Korea or any other country.

If you come to Busan to get a job then you might not get your airfare paid for. I know a few people that got hired recently and the only got the visa run paid for when the school hired them.

Just look in the classifieds and you will see the jobs available. It's pretty slow for jobs in Busan.

Re: Traveling to Busan without Visa

Unless the rules have changed again (since this January), if you are a first-time teacher in Korea, you can only get your visa processed in your home country.  Coming to Korea on a tourist visa and then doing a visa run to Japan is no longer an option in that situation. 

Re: Traveling to Busan without Visa

I believe the rules have changed, I haven't got confirmation from the consulate precisely but they did tell me if I'm a first time I should have no problems. But then again, their English was broken so it was difficult to understand

Re: Traveling to Busan without Visa

I don't know when they changed the rules but a 1st time teacher can do the Japan visa trip. I know a teacher that just did it and it was her first time in korea.