Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ajstew]

I'm changing jobs and received an email stating the documents that were needed to do it. I'm thinking since the email went out to a few others as well that it was sent with those on E-2's in mind. These were the stated requirements:

*Passport and foreign registration card
*Application forms for changing the place of emplyment (
*An explanation letter(in case of closing of lecture or closing of office, documents to conform that)
*Issurance of proof of ciminal record
*Original copy of Health Examination for Employment(include TBPC test and HIV test) issued by a Public Health Center or A general Hospital or A National Hospital or A Public Hospital
*A letter of consent from former workplace
*An Employment Contract : will give you
*A copy of school establishment and operation registration and business registration : will give you
*Reference : will give you
*Fees(tax stamp 60,000 won)

Now I've sent an email back to this person hoping to have my concerns cleared up but maybe some of you already know the answers. Which of the above will be required with me on an F-2?

I'm thinking the following can be removed:

*Issurance of proof of ciminal record
*Original copy of Health Examination for Employment(include TBPC test and HIV test) issued by a Public Health Center or A general Hospital or A National Hospital or A Public Hospital

and possibly this (as well as others):

*A letter of consent from former workplace

Can anyone offer any further information?

[Fishead soup]

A Korean wife/husband

[ajstew]

a wife... why?

[tob55]

First of all, who sent these requirements to you, immigration or the potential employer?

If the employer sent them to you then they are full of crap.

1. F2s do not have to provide a criminal background check because this was done by immigration when you first applied for the F2 visa in the first place. If they insist, then just go to the local cop shop and have one done here in Korea.

2. As for your explanation letter for changing jobs, politely tell them that the F2 visa holders are entitled to full job freedom. You can explain your reasons for leaving, but not necessary to go into detail for their curious minds. You just wanted to change jobs for better employment.

3. If you have gotten a recent medical exam from a Korean health center give them the copy of the papers. The health exam costs upwards of 50,000 KRW these days.

4. Other general requirements are different based on the F2 visa status and the employer should be reminded of this fact.

NOW, if immigration told you this then it is something new to all of us who have held F2 and F5 visas. At any rate, you must be willing to stand up for your rights, because no one else is going to go to bat for you, at least from the Korean perspective, IMHO.

[ajstew]

Yeah... as I said, the email was sent by the university to about 5 people in total so I assumed the others have E-2's or something. It didn't come from immigration.

[ttompatz]

To change jobs you need to quit the first job and start the 2nd one.

There is none of the listed paperwork required if you are on an F2 other than perhaps a "medical" and even that is not common before you start work. The medical they are requesting is the one for an E2 visa.

.

[tob55]

Just as I thought. The way things become settled in stone around here is when the employers take liberties to change and bend the regulations to suit their own agenda. The F2 regulations have nothing to do with E2 visa holders (no offense to all of you wonderful E2 people, I respect you and understand what a raw deal you all get at times).

If you do not speak up and the institutions continue to push their agenda, before you know it people are being asked to do things and comply with rules that don't even exist regarding F2 & F5 visa status.

It is your business, and you can do what you want, but I would tell them that as an F2 visa holder you understand the regulations, and what they are asking (with the exceptions ttompatz and I mentioned). Inform them that they are creating regulations that are outside the immigration laws of Korea, and you are not required to fulfill their requests.

If they choose to be stupid about it and make demands, then you know the job isn't for you anyway. Again this is only one person's opinion, but as an F5 visa holder I would never agree to any of what they are asking except for the medical check up which is a good thing anyway.

[mehamrick]

I wouldn't disagree with a criminal background as long as it was local...

But if this is where I think it came from there should be a line on there that says some of the material is not required for certain visa types.

PM sent to the OP to find out if its the University I think it is..

[tob55]

I personally would have no problem fulfilling a request for a medical check or even an "in-country" background check if the employer had this as a prerequisite to employment. However to bend over backwards just because the employer thinks they have rights which trump the F2 or F5 visa status just isn't going to happen, ever.

I have lived here long enough to know these folks will attempt to pull every bit of funny business they can, thinking they are entitled to do so. I live here as a permanent resident and I have practically all the freedoms as a Korean citizen. I share the full responsibilities of residency just as any Korean would. I am not going to stand by and let someone who perceived their power to be greater than my rights to pull any type of crap as a means of control. I hate to say it this way, but it has to be said. It's time to stand up for your rights if you have reached the point of sojourn that is F2 or F5.

[mehamrick]

[tob55]

For the time being I am stuck with the same foreign ID. I was told by someone at immigration they are thinking about changing the ID numbers for F5 visa holders since they are considered permanent residents of the country. this change would then make it possible for those possessing the F5 to have more normal activities with regard to being a resident of this nation.

The restrictions I face have more to do with being able to have the freedom of using the Korean system in terms of documents, using online services, and being able to use the current system in the same way Koreans do. I feel my ID is considered "foreign" in terms of what Koreans perceive or value. My F5 gives me basically all the same rights with the exception of voting for higher political elections.

For me it is just not worth sacrificing my US citizenship to obtain the Korean citizenship. If the two countries had a dual citizenship agreement I would hope on the boat right away, because I feel the benefits of the dual citizenship would greatly enhance my life from a personal point of view.

[mehamrick]

Ok, so you got the same info I did then.. Immigration said I could give up my American citizenship, and I was like yeah riiiiiight...

Allowing us to have a resident ID would greatly enhance life here.

Sorry for the temp hijack...

[tob55]

No problem,

What I see happening in the future (near or distant depending on perspective) is this: The Korean government is doing its best to open up to foreign residents coming here, living, working, and adapting to the culture. I am married to a wonderful Korean woman who is everything I would have hoped Korean could have been. She is respectful, honest, intelligent, and a good keeper of the home. BTW, I work so my wife doesn't have to be treated like a slave in her jobs. When we met she was working about 96 hours a week for 1.4 million KRW a month, and thought she was getting a good deal.

Anyway, I am ranting, and that is for another post. The main thing is that the F5 regulations are going to change before long to allow permanent residents the same kind of ID number the Korean nationals have, which will stop all this nonsense about "us vs. them." I have personally spoken to some people at immigration about this and am hopeful that something I said will be addressed. I am nobody in terms of position or pull, but if more people speak up concerning the real concerns then something will be done in a constructive way.

This is a far cry from always trying to set up every new organization to address particular issues that initially looks good, but ultimately meets with disappointment after disappointment. What we need is not a bunch of new organizations but a group of conscientious people who have been here long enough to understand the Korean system and think of creative and constructive ways to change it for the better.

No unions or help groups, just people who know their stuff and aren't afraid to speak with the right authorities and officials. I only wish I could give you a dollar for every "new idea" I have seen over the last 4 1/2 years of living in Korea. You could have a very nice vacation on that money if it was possible to do.

[Milwaukiedave]

Note: F2's do need to go to the local gu office of the place they are moving to, to register their new address . You do not need to go to immigration unless it is to renew your visa.