Korean Job Discussion Forums

watergirl · Joined: 01 Jul 2008 Location: Ansan, south korea

Hi there.....to make a long story short,
I have been miserable at my hagwon job for awhile and have decided to give my 2 mths notice but am confused because there is conflicting info out there.
My question is if I manage to get a letter of release, can I simply apply for a new job and then change my visa over with my new employer?

I started my job in may 2008 and so have had my crc, health check and all done and now have my alien r card. I've read here that some people have changed jobs but my recruiter's website said that new e2 visa holders have to wait 8 mnths before they can change jobs (but they are a recuiter and it seems against their interest for me to change jobs plus have been misinformed by them before).

I know many on Daves have changed jobs but was wondering if could hear from any newbies who got hired under the new E2 visa regs who have quit.

Cheers

polonius · Joined: 05 Jun 2004

You can change your job no problem, but you won't be able to switch your visa over. So, you will need to do a visa run. You shouldn't have to resubmit your CRC.

Tobias · Joined: 02 Jun 2008

You'll have to wait if you want to switch jobs and keep the same visa. I believe it's 9 months, but I'm going by what I read here.

If you quit now, you'll have to get a new visa. This may entail running back to your home country.

It doesn't matter what you'll have to do really. Your main concern is getting out of a situation you're unhappy in. If that means running back to your home soil to get a little piece of paper and then returning, so be it.

Good luck.

MrRogers · Joined: 29 Jun 2008

but if one has all the documents already, like the CRC, transcripts, etc., can one just go to a Korean consulate in another country one might be traveling in ...as in Bangkok, etc.?

Tobias · Joined: 02 Jun 2008

Call a consulate in the US and ask somebody if you can do that, Fred. That's an interesting question. Surely you wouldn't have to fly all the way back home for a little piece of paper.

I say call the consulate in the US because the Koreans you talk to will have a command of the mother tongue that's much better than those in a consulate like Bangkok.

broken76 · Joined: 27 Jan 2008

Under the current Visa regulations you have to have stayed on a single E-2 Visa for a minimum of 9 months before you're allowed to bypass the consulate interview.
If you change schools you still need to do the interview at your home consulate if you haven't held a Visa for a minimum of 9 months.
Now there is a way to get past it. If your new school can get your degree accredited then you can do a Visa run in Japan. Your degree will need to be verified by the Korean Council for University Education and it is something that your new school will need to do for you

watergirl · Joined: 01 Jul 2008 Location: Ansan, south korea

Thanks so much for all the replies...Broken 76 ...I have already had an interview with the consulate so you think I need to have another one...that seems a bit silly to me but have you had experience with this?
I guess I figured that would be a one time thing as well like the crc etc.
I really like the rest of korea so I would like to stay but if it means staying for 9 mnths unfortunatley that's not an option.
It doesn't matter to me whether I transfer my visa or change it, if this makes any difference at all.
Does anyone know if going to immigration and asking them would help?I have read other stories on here where people changed their jobs after only a few months and I assume it's been under the new regulations.