Korean Job Discussion Forums

[True_Blue]

Hey,

I am in a bit of a sticky situation. I accepted a job with a hagwon and they were slow to process my visa. I have a flight booked back to Korea that I paid for that I will have to cancel as the Korean consulate won't have my visa ready in time. The school had agreed to reimburse me 500,000won for my visa run to Canada as I was hired in-country. Now I will have to pay an extra 500 dollars or so to change my flight to next week.

The school hasn't gotten back to me about whether they will help. I have doubts they will.

My question is whether I can cancel a visa if I haven't entered the country on it. I still haven't been issued an issuance number yet, so haven't submitted my passport to the consulate here in Canada.

Has anybody been in this situation before? Can I apply for another job if it comes down to that? The employer has my diploma, CRC, etc.

Thanks! Any advice is most appreciated.

[ontheway]

[Troglodyte]

To answer your original question - YES. You can cancel the visa process. Until you get the stamp in your passport, you're clear. But consider what your options really are before cancelling.

Since you joined this forum in 2007, I'll take a guess that you're not a first timer here. If you've had an E2 visa before, then you don't need to get the interview at the Korean consulate in your home country. You can just do a visa run to Japan. A visa run to Fukuoka will set you back maybe 300,000 to 400,000 Won (for travel and 1 night in a hotel). There are plenty of travel agents in Seoul that can give you a good offer. So if it's that or $500, I'd go for the Fukuoka visa run. If your school says they won't pay for it, even though they were slow in processing the paperwork, then just take another job here. There are no shortage of hogwan jobs here.

If anyone at immigration asks why you already had a visa issuance number but didn't get a visa, just say that you had applied to a school but then they turned you down and the recruiter was trying to get you to take a different position. Be creative. They have no way of knowing and I doubt they care. If the current employer has your diploma (foolish of you to give it to someone) then you aren't likely to get it back if you back out now. Go to Korea. Ask for it back (create some reason if necessary). And THEN argue with the boss about the costs they incurred for you. Otherwise, say goodbye to your diploma.

If you can get your diploma back while still in Canada, then it might be in your benefit to simply NOT get the visa. Tell the school that you have missed your flight and will only get the visa if they give you another ticket. If not, then just don't get the visa. Apply for another job that WILL give you a round trip ticket in advance.

[True_Blue]

[ttompatz]

[True_Blue]

The school has applied for the visa issuance number, and did so 3 weeks ago if what the recruiter tells me is correct. They have yet to send me the visa number and my flight is in 5 days. They knew all along when my flight was and told me it would be enough time.

The school doesn't seem interested in working out the expense money.

Has anyone had success calling immigration and having them cancel the visa issuance number?

[True_Blue]

Update: The school now wants me to come on my scheduled flight but instead of reimbursing me for my ticket from Canada to Korea, they want to pay for a visa run to Japan instead. I suppose this means they want me to work on a tourist visa. They told me not to worry about waiting for the visa issuance number, they need me to start now.

Aside from being angry about not being paid for my flight from Canada (500,000won) like they agreed to, I am nervous about the implications of working on a tourist visa.

If the visa issuance number has been applied for but not issued, is it possible to withdraw the application?

[ttompatz]

[True_Blue]

Hey Ttompatz, Thank you for all your advice to date!

I have had direct contact with the school, I even had to meet the parents before I came back to Canada. I gave them all the visa documents over a month ago so I don't have a clue what has happened. Someone screwed up apparently.

I called immigration to ask about the visa issuance number but they were useless and wouldn't tell me anything, not even if a visa had been applied for. They told me they could only discuss with the employer and told me I should ask the employer to call them.

Obviously I am not keen to work for them but need to get working again in Korea soon. Not sure what to do when they want me on a plane in 24 hrs. I'd be happy to have another school hire me but is that possible with another visa issuance number being processed or issued?

[Adventurer]

[True_Blue]

Well I did eventually arrive in Korea but it has gone down hill fast. I did get reimbursed for air, but everything else has been a nightmare. The director watches all my classes in person, I have to stay late every night for a meeting, I am not allowed a lunch break during a nine hour shift. The worst is I was told I'd teach 7 y.o. kids, but find myself blowing the noses of kids 3 korean age.

Long story short, I told them I was unhappy. My contract says 60 days notice, though technically it's written in a way that seems to make this clause void, anyhow I offered 60 days notice and to repay my airfare. They say NO RELEASE LETTER unless I give 6 months notice.

QUESTION: Can I transfer/get a new visa without a LOR? I want to try for a GEPIK or PS job.

I find conflicting stories around the net.

THANKS!

[freakyaye852]

sorry to hear about your bad situation true_blue, but ild go no LOR no flight reimbersement.

[ttompatz]