Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Provence]

I know I have posted before on similar topics but I am actually going to pull a runner after the next pay period (This is my 4th month working for this hagwon). I just want to clarify some things first so I am not left jobless/ homeless in a foreign country. First I look for a job and hopefully a recruiter that understands my situation. Then I leave the country for day and come back. Now at this point I am not sure what to do. What about the meeting with the Korean consulate for my new E-2? Since I will owe a plane ticket will my hagwon boss make it impossible for me to get another E-2? Do I really have to wait out the entire year before I can reapply or is it ok once my E-2 gets canceled by leaving the country? Is it possible to go for a public school after leaving my hagwon early? And most importantly, is it even possible to look for a new job while still working at this hagwon or do I have to leave the country for a few weeks to a month while looking for a new visa sponsor?

Sorry for so many questions but I have been getting several different responses in regards to these issues. I really don�t want to mess up where I stuck homeless.

[mountainous]

That would be cool if you did a Midnight Runner podcast interview on your way outta town

[kaosjin]

Why leave on bad turns. You should give your notice, pay reimburse your flight and get a letter of release. This way it will give you time to look for another employer.

[Provence]

Well I am going to try and leave the right way but I want to know what will happen if they refuse to give me a LOR or pull somthing shady after I give my notice. The school has been dishonest and sneaky so far so I am just preparing for the worst.

[bassexpander]

I'm not sure if you will be able to come back after a run or not... it always used to be that you had to wait until the end of your current contract, and then try your luck with immigration. I've heard that things may be different now. The problem is that these things are often left up to the immigration official at the time, so it's hard to say 100% either way.

[Tiger Beer]

[moosehead]

if you've seriously decided you don't want to go back and you want to leave - and you don't trust your employer - which you might be right about - giving notice can have them fire you just before pay day and then stick you for a bundle of cash you thought you were getting but don't -

get your home life in order - find another place to stay so you can move at a moment's notice - then as soon as next pay day arrives, don't come in, stay home, don't call - or call in sick - keep calling in sick - let them fire you.

your visa will then be canceled - no LOR necessary - just leave. just make sure when they fire you, they cancel your visa w/immi - usually they should accompany you there but sometimes a phone call will work.

getting fired is really the best option for getting another job as quickly as possible.

just put this one behind you and learn from the experience.

[plynx]

[afsjesse]

You can also go to Immigration yourself and say you have quit your job and INSIST that they give you an exit order. A piece of paper that accompanies your passport on your way out of K-fluff. Get a new job, come back and start over.

LoR are old news and are not a problem anymore if you know what to do.

[Big Mac]

Let's say handing in your alien card when you leave the country cancels your visa (I'm not sure if it will or not, I'm just saying).

Your new employer cannot apply for a new visa issuance number until your visa is shown as cancelled in immigration's system. It usually takes up to a week to get a visa issuance number. Then, once you have that you can go apply for a visa in another country. I think it's quicker in Japan, but the last time I applied for a new visa in Canada it took five business days.

So your timeline of leaving Korea and coming back the next day might be a little off. Expect to be out of the country for about a week to 15 days. That's assuming your visa will be cancelled without getting a letter of release.

[Provence]

Does anyone know for sure what the rules are on this? Go to immigration and get an exit visa and I am fine or I absolutely need a LOR to work in Korea again? As I said before I am on month 4 of my E-2. I am going to try and give my hagwon 2 months notice and get a LOR but I seriously doubt they will give me one. To be honest my contract says I have to give 3 months notice but I know for sure I cannot work for them that much longer. I am just very tired of getting paid irregularly, working 9 to 12 hours a day, grading stacks of essays on my free time, and 8 65min classes back to back. They are lucky I am even giving them notice at all. But as I said before I don�t want to make things worse for myself by messing up with immigration.

[Provence]

bump

[afsjesse]

If this is your first E2 visa than you might be out of luck. You see you may have to do another consulate interview in your home country. People are only exempt from this if you have completed a full year here before.

People who leave before their contract is up must have another interview I think. Immi may tell you something else though.

[Geckoman]

Wow! Pulling a runner. Awesome!

Best of luck with your runner.

Let us know how it goes and if you have any advice for others regarding pulling a runner.

[ChinaBoy]

Provence where do you work?