Korean Job Discussion Forums

[yingwenlaoshi]

I was fired May 13th, but my ARC was not cancelled. Immigration told me over the phone that the expiry date remains at March 2nd, 2009. I know I have to go in to their office. My last employer told me that they cancelled it. Could they have cancelled it, but without me going in the expiry date stays the same?

I'll be going in, but alone. I'll have immigration call my ex-employer from there. It seems they might have lied to me telling me they cancelled. I can't get a new visa until it's cancelled. Then I can be sent to Japan after immigration process my documents and issue me a number.

[Nowhere Man]

I'm only hazarding a guess here, but this is what I believe:

I think you have something like a one-week grace period to leave the country when your ARC expires, and you face a fine for every day you stay longer.

I believe that if you cease to work for the outfit that got you the ARC, then it's canceled by default and, if you were to stay for many months and got caught, you'd be facing a huge fine.

That said, it sounds like you have things under control.

And the above is not much more than speculation, but I think that's what i heard a long time ago.

[ChinaBoy]

IMO, you can stay until March 2, 2009. When they REALLY cancel the ARC, you'd get a 30-day "Exit Order" telling you to get out. Why do you have to go to the immigration office? Seems like your last employer should be the one to do that if they really want to cancel it. They're the ones who speak Korean.

I got an "Exit Order" last summer for the very same thing.

Of course, the other post might be right as well, but I truly believe that the government would have to tell you that the ARC is cancelled and that you have to leave before they could give you some fine. Well, you'd think, anyway.

[nomad-ish]

have you left the country since you were fired? i've heard that some people on dave's were able to cancel their visas themselves at immi in the airport.

[TheUrbanMyth]

[bodybydada]

I dealt with this situation once. it was last year, so I'm not sure if the process has changed, but...

You should get your visa cancelled and turn in your ARC. ESPECIALLY if you want to get a new job. otherwise, you won't be able to get a new visa until next year.

You should go to immigration with your former employer. People will tell you, "I have a friend who didn't have to go," or "my boss did it without me present," but this is called unsubstantiated anecdotal information. If you want to get it done, go with your ex-boss to immigration. They will give you a 30-day notice to leave the country. You can then turn in your ARC on the spot or when you leave the country. (They might ask for it there...)

One of the posters above mentions leaving the country in order to cancel your visa. Doing so will VOID your visa, but you will be unable to procure a new one until after the old visa end date. Therefore, it is better to formally cancel the visa, as mentioned above. If you don't want to stay in Korea, by all means, leave the country and void your visa...

Also, write a release letter and have your former employer sign and seal it. A letter of release may come in handy later. Immigration may not need it, since they know you canceled your visa, but a propsective employer might want it. Better safe than sorry.

There are examples of this type of letter available here, just do a little research.

[Zaria32]

Where's ttompatz? I may be wrong (it's happened!) but it seems to me that the expiration of your VISA is what allows you to stay in the country,
not your ARC.

[Styles]

Gosh, I guess we have some inexperienced posters here...

This is what the employer does to keep u from working in the country and bad mouthing them soon after leaving...PERIOD.

I wouldnt expect them to send a letter of release.IF they do, it would be remarkable.Kiss their butt like the ESL rat that you are and maybe theyll be less vindictive.But again youre asking them to do something for you, which they probably didnt do while you were working for them, and it is even less likely after firing you.

Stay positive

[ttompatz]

[blade]

[yingwenlaoshi]

[Styles]

Good luck..and unless theyve had a lot of teachers before, your new visa sponsor probably doesnt know either...thus they are "vague."But if they are willing to help you out and know that you were fired, they might be able to contact your previous employeer to get the release that you wouldnt have been able to get on your own.

[yingwenlaoshi]

[wylies99]

[big_fella1]

If your boss is reluctant to cancel your visa you may want to remind them of the reference they signed when they employed you.