Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Forbidden-Donut]

So, I've been working a second PT job at an after-school program around my city for a few months now. I turned in the required documents. My boss (who put 4 schools together into one contract) said she turned in the documents to immigration to allow permission a little after starting.

Well, today immigration came to my school. Luckily I had already left. I got a call from my boss' agency saying taht I need to turn in all of these documents. I asked what they did with the last ones, they said they "lost them".

I can't get the form from my main job until Wed, but this job is pressuring me to keep going to work (they are all different public schools). Telling me "dont worry" and "its okay, its not illegal".


I shouldn't go back in, should I? What is the penalty anyway, getting caught?

[kprrok]

Go ahead, go back to your illegal job even after immi has been there and probably now "suspects" you are working there illegally. that'd be REAL smart!

Seriously, if you know this is illegal (which your post makes me assume), WHY THE HELL ARE YOU ASKING US????? Don't do anything illegal and accompany your "boss" or whoever is trying to mess with your work schedule to immigration and make sure any additional workplace (individually, not just one mark) is written on the back of your ARC.

[bassexpander]

If you don't have it marked on the back of your E-2, you are NOT legal. They are lying to you.

I was caught working before my E-2 came through about 5 years ago. This was before the recent crackdowns on E-2s, so it's probably worse now. Back then, my passport was taken from me, and I was told to appear for a hearing when they called me later in the week. I was told specifically by immigration not to work. The school insisted I work the next day. I refused. We argued. I didn't work. The hearing came at the end of the week, where I and another busted teacher were interviewed with my boss. My boss lied through her teeth as much as possible, saying the other guy had only been there 2 days, like me. He'd been there 8 months. I was given the minimum 500,000 won fine and an exit order to leave Korea within 3 to 5 days, if memory serves. An exit order meant I could come back to Korea that same day, but I had to exit and return on a tourist visa. I had to pay the 600,000 won or so ticket by myself. I wasn't paid for the work I did that month. I was told by immigration that I could not work for that school for at least 6 months, and they "might not allow me another E-2". I was able to find a recruiter and a school who got me a probationary 6 month E-2 after that, but it was tough. I think they had to bribe to get it.

In short -- don't do it. I wouldn't dare step foot in that school again. Your boss can threaten all he wants -- he can't do jack squat to you if you refuse. In my opinion, you should fight hard for a letter of release, because you may be fired. Play hardball. Threaten to go to immigration if he gets pushy with you. Anything can happen after this, though. If things start looking bad after you refuse to go work at the other schools, I'd probably march right up to immigration, tell them your situation, and have them call your boss. Make sure they hear your word about it, first. Of course, you'll be out of a job but you'll be in control of the situation. You can always threaten about the tax office, too.