Korean Job Discussion Forums

mission_weasel · Joined: 23 Jun 2008 Location: Austin/Seoul

I was supposed to be in Korea last week...

I sent all my visa application documents to my school close to a month ago and every few days I email the recruiter. He always tells me It should be here soon, just a few more days. The reasoning behind the delays are the vacation season and bureaucratic inefficiency.

They now estimate the middle of August for a departure date. I don't have a job and I need to start making money. I hesitate to start a new job because I could potentially leave the next week. I don't want to start the search and application process all over again because it will take me just as long to get all the transcripts and other paperwork.

Has anyone had this happen to them? Should I keep on waiting? Any help or advice would be great. Also someone who is more familiar with the new E-2 regulations might be able to fill me in on why there are delays in processing.

Bibbitybop · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul

This is why people are deciding not to come to Korea and why employers are having starting to pay foreign teachers even more, which makes Korean families pay even more.

Tobias · Joined: 02 Jun 2008

I wonder if this is some sort of scam? Bear with me here, as it could go something like this:

1. Employer gets you to sign a contract that has a start date of mid-July.
2. Employer really wants you to start in mid-August, but doesn't want to pay you for July. He has intentionally delayed sending your paperwork to immi. This will keep you in a holding pattern, but off his payroll, for the first month.
3. Employer wants you working for 11 months instead of 12. He can dodge some requirements by doing this.

Again, this is just a suspicion.

Personally, I'd be giving this guy the middle finger salute right about now. There are too many job openings out there to have to wait on a cheapie owner.

Some other advice that you probably don't need now: ALWAYS get about 5 copies of your transcript when you get 'em. Don't get just one freaking copy. Last time I went to my old uni, I got 8 copies. Good thing, because I used 4 of those in one week before landing the job I wanted. I also grabbed about 5 copies of my degree then as well. I know how fast one can go through those in a place like Korea.

mission_weasel · Joined: 23 Jun 2008 Location: Austin/Seoul

Good call...

I am going to have to go back and get all that crap again and another background check. The only reason I used this recruiter is because a friend who was in Korea for 18 months recommended them so I would like to think they are trying to rip me.

Footprints offered me some public school jobs with starting bonuses and some other really good looking opportunities so maybe I will look into those. I just hate to kiss all my hard work and money goodbye from gathering up the background check and all. Never mind I paid 60 bucks to have the documents fed-ex'ed over there. Blah.

mission_weasel · Joined: 23 Jun 2008 Location: Austin/Seoul

*aren't

Zaria32 · Joined: 04 Dec 2007

The 11th month suspicion is probably unjustified, although the rest of it
seems possible, even probably. The 11 month deal doesn't fly because
if the contract is dated, but the teacher doesn't show up until a month later, the teacher is just as likely to work 11 months and be entitled to
leave, with severance, than anything else. Although the visa would be
dated later, my understanding (I'm no experty) is that the Labor Board
would knuckle rap based on the contract....

And if the school tried to say he only worked 11 months, and now he's out of here with no severance, the teacher can pull forth the visa, passport etc. and say, whoa...

Maybe....

gteacher · Joined: 24 May 2007 Location: Ghost in the machine

mission_weasel · Joined: 23 Jun 2008 Location: Austin/Seoul

Ha it is probably the same immigration office. I bet they are just playing games with me. They probably have the visa number and just won't give it to me hahaha.

Either way it will probably take me just as long to get all the paper work and interview and hunt for a contract again so I am just going to wait it out and piss and moan about it on here unless somebody has a better idea.

Tobias · Joined: 02 Jun 2008

Zaria, you're probably right. The 11th-month thing is only about the boss dodging a salary jack for a month. It'd piss me off to have to wait on this guy for a month. He gets to advertise that he has someone coming on board soon while the new face in the holding pattern waits...and waits...and waits. Without pay, of course.

crescent · Joined: 15 Jan 2003 Location: yes.

Tobias · Joined: 02 Jun 2008

The rock star in Daegu is on vacation and the government won't send someone to take his place. Sure, someone in the office COULD act in his place, but that would raise a stink. Read on.

Understand he's the only one in the office who can stamp it, figuratively speaking. Wielding a rubber stamp is his job. It's his position in the hierarchy.

If an underling grabs the stamp and works in his stead, the rock star loses face. "An underling is doing my job....?" You get the idea.

If a superior grabs the stamp and works in his stead, the superior loses face. "I have to perfom a task that is the job of an UNDERLING...?" Again, you get the idea.

When you enterpret these issues in terms of face-saving/face-losing, everything falls into place and actually makes sense, in a weird sort of way.