Korean Job Discussion Forums

furbyem · Joined: 27 May 2010

i need some help. ive been in korea for 6 weeks without pay. my school say they have sent for my arc card,but i have heard nothing when i ask if i will receive it within the next few weeks the reply is 'i hope so' . they say they wont pay me until i have a arc card despite the factt i managed to open my bank account without one and so have a bank account.im also worried because immagration apparently still have my passport.

i do not trust the staff at my school and im worried dont know what to do next.

also i dont wanna stay here the full year i wanna leave in nov which will be the 6 month mark. in my contract if i give 2 months notice i can leave.if i follow these rules will my school put a black marker on my passport for finishing my contract early?

any advice would be helpful thanks

WadRUG'naDoo · Joined: 15 Jun 2010 Location: Shanghai

They're lying. They can pay you (if they have the money). They're FOS.

furbyem · Joined: 27 May 2010

is there any legal information i can give them so they will pay me? how long does it norm take to get a arc card?

Steve_Rogers2008 · Joined: 22 Mar 2010

a fun way to handle a problem like this it take a copy of the contract, and keep pointing to the pay date as you show your frustration with them.

come off crazy and half-cocked at your discretion... letting them know your angry, priceless. But best lived in small doses. Twisted Evil

furbyem · Joined: 27 May 2010

ive tried that they just say they cant legally pay me without the arc card.i need something that states i dont need a arc card to get paid. my boss is a total arse,hes arrogent and i think he genuenly thinks you need a arc card to get paid.

nomad-ish · Posted: Sun Jun 27, 2010 3:11 pm Post subject:

Senior · Joined: 31 Jan 2010

Six weeks is waaaay too long to wait for an ARC card. It is probably locked up in a safe (along with your passport), in the directors office. Try to get hold of immigration and see what is going on.

The fact that immi holds your passport for any length of time is a complete joke. Six weeks is beyond ridiculous. I think the longest I had to wait was four days.

Oliver · Joined: 19 Apr 2008 Location: Seoul, Korea

Two weeks max for ARC card. When did you apply for one? 6 weeks after applying is not on. Like other posters say, contact immigration.

My public school wouldnt pay me until I got my ARC Card. Same goes for other Public School teachers that I know.

It's totally daft.

fugitive chicken · Joined: 20 Apr 2010 Location: Bucheon

Why did they "send for it" I've always had to personally go to immi to pick it up and everyone else I know has done the same. Contact immi, that's the best bet.

oldfatfarang · Joined: 19 May 2005 Location: On the road to somewhere.

moosehead · Joined: 05 May 2007

are you in the sticks somewhere? could be why they "sent for your arc" instead of going in person.

at any rate, look on the website here:

http://www.immigration.go.kr/HP/IMM80/imm_05/imm_5040.jsp

go down to the bottom of the page, right hand side, there's a little box, if you click there a site will come up w/immi offices and telephone numbers and a map of Korea you can click on to find your location if you aren't sure.

when you call, just say "English please" until someone speaks to you in English; they may hang up just try again.

FIRST find out what immigration office you need to be registered with - so have the name and location of your school, and where you live (if you know) as much info as possible.

SECOND find out how to get there (taxi is probably best, if so, find out what office, get in the taxi, call the number and hand the phone to the driver), hours, etc. if necessary, ask a Korean co-teacher to borrow 20,000 won so you can go if you are broke (no pay, huh?)

THIRD go in person and see if your director has really applied for your arc or not.

BRING YOUR CONTRACT and some kind of ID such as a driver's license since your school took your passport.

6 weeks is nonsense so at this point your school is either famously incompetent or lying through their teeth - and they have your passport and have not paid you.

anything more they tell you at this point is either going to be a lie to save face (incompetence) or to continue cheating you; both are obviously undesirable.

now, after going to immi you will find out either of the above, so, if no ARC has been applied for, your boss needs to cough up some cash not to mention fork over your passport. you know where immi is so you can apply yourself. just do it and that's that.

afterwards it's up to you how to deal with this swarmy bast*rd Evil or Very Mad

furbyem · Joined: 27 May 2010

its been a week n half since they applied for my card even tho ive been here 6 weeks. every number i try for immo says number not recognised im calling from a mob is there something im doing wrong? does anyone have the number they can post? in seoul btw

Oliver · Joined: 19 Apr 2008 Location: Seoul, Korea

moosehead · Joined: 05 May 2007

pangaea · Joined: 20 Dec 2007

Try looking on this website.

http://immigration.go.kr/indeximmeng.html

I haven't been in this situation so maybe someone who has been here longer can answer this question. What are the consequences of just calmly refusing to teach if management refuses to pay? Also, if your employer is legally responsible for you, what happens if you can't pay your bills (electricity, etc.) because your employer won't pay you?