Wait a second? You can get a 2 year E2 Visa now? When did that happen?

I saw this on the Digital Chosunilbo website,

Bar for Foreign English Teachers Raised

"The new rules come in response to public perception that some foreign English teachers are little more than cowboys. "In principle, you have to have a clean criminal history to get an E-2 visa," a ministry official said. The E-2 visa is valid for up to two years and is issued to nationals of seven countries where the native language is English, including Australia, the U.K. and the U.S.

The revision will go into effect from the end of March after approval by the Cabinet" (my bold)

I wonder what a 'clean criminal history' is? LOL!

I remember something like this being tossed around in the media last year during all the hype about the new E2 visa requirements that apparently are ONLY A POLICY--and NOT A LAW yet . . .

So does this mean that foreign native teachers can now jump through the immigration circus hoops and if we pass the ring leader's health check and prove we don't have HIV, and pass the criminal background check and prove we're not criminals . . . does this mean we can get TWO YEAR visas and not have to do the nonsense checks EACH year?

I wonder . . .

J