Korean Job Discussion Forums

jadarite · Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 7:53 pm Post subject: E2 Visa Question

In Japan, if you get a working visa for 1 year and something comes up, you can still work in Japan with another company.

Is this the same with an E2 visa in Korea? Or is the visa no longer valid after working with the company?

jinju · Joined: 22 Jan 2006

jadarite · Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 7:59 pm Post subject:

That wasn't my question. Assume a visa has already been issued. I work with them for 2 months on a 1 year visa. They decide they want another teacher, am I allowed to use the existing visa for work in Korea?

In Japan, the answer is YES
In Korea, the answer is ?

kat2 · Joined: 25 Oct 2005 Location: Busan, South Korea

No.

If you are no longer working at the employer that originally sponsored your visa, your visa is cancelled. If you quit your jobor get fired, you have to apply for a completely new visa. Even if you finish your year in good terms, then move to anotehr job, you ahve to get a new visa. Does it make sense? NO. Welcome to Korea!

Teachers are not given the freedome to choose work by themselves. That would mean foreigners would have a little power againt crappy hogwan bosses! what a silly idea, OP!

jadarite · Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 9:26 pm Post subject:

If the visa is null and void after leaving a company, then what are the terms of stay in the country?

Does the employee get a month or 2 to find another school to sponsor? Do they have to leave the country immediately?

kat2 · Joined: 25 Oct 2005 Location: Busan, South Korea

When you quit/get fired, your employer cancels your visa with immigration. You have 14 days to leave the country (it might be 10. i can't remember). You can come back into the country after leaving on a tourist waiver stamp. The length of your tourist stamp depends on your nationality.

If you quit/get fired before completing your contract length (usually one year), you cannot get another work visa until your old work visa expires. The only way to get around this is to get a Letter of Release from your employer. Employers are not required to give this. It's completely up to them.
For example:
You start working on Jan 1, 2007 (which means your visa should expire Dec 31, 2007). You quit on May 1,2007. You cannot get another work visa until after Decemebr 31, 2007, unless you have a letter of release filed with immigration.

jadarite · Posted: Tue Sep 04, 2007 9:42 pm Post subject:

Is it possible and worth it to make a condition in the contract that if the employer fires, they must also give a Letter of Release?

Obviously, if the employee quits, it puts the school in a bad situation.