Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Struessel]

My one year contract started in October. I decided that I would probably like to change schools, but since most jobs start in Feb or March it would be best if I could extend my current contract just a few months until the end of the school year.
I asked my co-teacher about this, she said the school would be happy to not have to replace a teacher mid-year, but had to check with the office of Education. She reported that O of E said they were ok with a less than full year extension, but the problem is the visa. They said the visa can only be granted in year long intervals and has to match the contract duration.
I smell some BS. Has anyone gotten less than full year extensions / renewals, or have any advice on how I should press my case? fyi, I'm in Gyeongnam-do

[Otherside]

Sounds like some BS.

I transferred my visa from a hagwon to a PS. At the time, my visa had 6 months remaining, and I could NOT extend my visa (had to wait till the final 2 months). Yet I signed a 1-year contract with the PS. Come August, I extended my visa for the remaining 6 months, NO PROBLEM.

Basically, immigration will only ISSUE 1 year visas. However, you can EXTEND your visa for any length of time (up to but not exceeding 1 year).
However, the visa has to match the contract duration.

So, you'd need a new 6 month (get the exact duration) contract up till the 28th of Feb or whenever, and you'd easily be able to extend your contract.

These are the facts, best way to proceed, is to "agree" with what your co-teacher says, and just say that you'll "check" with immigration to make sure there is nothing you can do with the visa. When you report back that in fact everything is great (as we already know it is), you can move forward.

Bare in mind, you'll almost certainly get NO airfare, or severence provision for your extension.

[OculisOrbis]

its BS. once you are in the last month of your period of sojourn (within 30 days of your ARC expiration) you can then go to immi and apply for any length of extension you want - 1 day up to another year...and maybe longer. you will have to have a new contract with the amended dates and pay them 30 000 won when you apply.

you won't get the severance or airfare from the extension period unless you write it up in the new contract. it's public so they prob wont do that anyway.

just ask for a new contract with the new end date you want and tell them youll take it immi to try it - then return to them with your extension approved.