This time, in the Korea Herald and Korea Times. Enjoy.
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More Visa Stuff
This entry was written by Robert Koehler, posted on December 16, 2007 at 9:33 pm, filed under Asides, Ministry of Barbarian Affairs. Bookmark the permalink. Follow any comments here with the RSS feed for this post.
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16 Comments
Brace yourselves for a new wave of Canadians on tourist visas.
The HIV test is really over the top. Really, what are the odds of someone from US, UK, Canada, Australlia, NZ being HIV positive? Less than a tenth of a percent or so? Really low that’s for sure. It’s just prejudicial BS.
Yep, but hey, if that’s what they wanna do. People will have the option of going elsewhere, which is what they want.
Let’s see, tighter visa requirements, no int’l adoptions, send the troops back to the US and spread bullcrap through the media about how nasty and dangerous us foreigners are. Gotta love that international hub. LOL.
But Korea still wants that int’l money, huh?
Remember their slogan, ladies and gentlemen, “Soul of Asia”. That’s right, Korea, the “Soul of Asia”.
@#2: In regards to the HIV testing, I believe the U.S. also has similar regulations:
http://www.avert.org/hiv-testing-usa.htm
In addition to HIV testing, the U.S. also tests foreigners wishing to live or work in the US for TB. Health tests conducted on foreigners wishing to live or work in various countries are not unusual.
“Currently, there are over 170,000 foreign language instructors from overseas with the E-2 visa _ 6,700 from the Unites States and 5,000 from Canada.” - Korea Times
11,700 English teachers from North America. I wonder what the breakdown is for the other 158,300?
#5,
So, you’re saying that the new E2 visa regulations may have more than a little something to do with pressuring the US to ease visa regulations for Koreans? If so, then the new law is an even dumber idea than I had originally thought because they’ve soured their relations with 7 other countries in the process.
#6 - The Herald is quoting the figure @ about 17,000 E-2 visa holders, which would also include non-English teachers on that visa, presumably. So the figure of 170,000 is almost certainly a misprint. Too bad the Times is edited by monkeys.
“If so, then the new law is an even dumber idea than I had originally thought because they’ve soured their relations with 7 other countries in the process.”
7 other countries Koreans couldn’t find on a map if you paid them in kimchi.
In the end it’s going to hurt them. They’ll have to live with the consequences, but no doubt blame someone else.
Most people I talk to feel that Korean xenophobia is the real issue here. Last year it was foriegn business, now it’s English teachers.
The whole pedophile, drug taking, arms dealing evil English teacher thing is just an excuse.
One of the last pedophiles do be caught here was a Korean-American teaching in a English village if I remember correctly.
#10: That guy was a Korean passport holder with American characteristics (i.e. he had spent some time in the U.S.). Since he was a negative character, the local media played up the American part. If he had been a sports hero, you wouldn’t have heard about the American part.
Regarding the new rules, once the hagwon association makes the right payments to the right ministry officials these requirements will quietly fade away. I’d be surprised to see this intact at the same time next year. Either that, or keeping up with the Kims is going to get a whole lot more expensive.
i don’t think most people would really take issue with korea requiring an hiv test for people seeking resident or immigrant status. that’s certainly their right. however, that’s not what they’re doing. they’re only requiring it of e-2 visa holders. furthermore, it’s not required of koreans hoping to work in equivalent positions. likewise with the drug-testing. therefore, it’s prejudicial and insulting. i guess i don’t have much problem with degree certifications, as ridiculous as they may seem, because they are generally required of koreans as well, and it seems to be a legitimate (or at least somewhat larger) problem, unlike the hiv and drug testing, which is clearly the result of xenophobia-baiting journalism.
The North Koreans would *love* this. I know the North Koreans are already floating their own version of an economic hub.
Good Luck with that!
ROTFLMAO
Well, for what it’s worth, I had to take an HIV test and full physical for two non-E2 visa jobs I had in Korea and I had also had to go through a criminal background check for one of them as well. In fact, I went through two background checks: one from the US side and one through the KCIA.
(I also had to go through the same regulations as an American seeking a work visa in Europe and Central Asia, too.)
I agree with most people on the issue: the new regulations will probably work against Korea in this regard but I was just trying to point out that Korea is not the only country asking foreigners to undergo such tests and checks and E2 visas are not the only jobs in Korea that demand such things.
Also, I never insinuated that this was Korea’s way of easing immigration policies in the U.S. That is your take, not mine and I don’t think that is the really the case here.
“Also, I never insinuated that this was Korea’s way of easing immigration policies in the U.S. That is your take, not mine and I don’t think that is the really the case here.”
Neither mine. I was being sardonic.