Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Murph]

I will provide a brief background for those who have not had a chance to read my first post. I wanted to provide a link, but was unable to find the post. I apologize in advance for all of the lettered references to the various schools. I am just going to let them be nameless for now.

In a nutshell I was hired by academy A, and that's the academy that I signed my contract with. I ended up working at Academy B (which wasn't allowed to have an E-2 Visa. I won't say why just to prevent a hijacking of my thread.) The woman who owned the academy where I did my work wasn't allowed to have an English teacher, but she wanted one anyway. She happened to be friends with a lady who started Academy A which was a real English Academy. So together they came up with a half baked to deal to hire me through Academy A, and have me work at Academy B. They didn't tell me this however. I was just passed around like a piece of chattel. As if that wasn't bad enough, it turned out my visa was actually sponsored by Academy C. I had no idea about any of this when I made arrangements to come and work in Korea. Essentially, I was conned into working for Academy B.


When I arrived I did notice that the school I was working at had a different name. It was explained to me that Academy B, is actually owned by Academy A. This was a lie. I decided to go with it since I had worked in Korea before and my previous company had two buildings and that was alright. I ultimately received my ARC. To me this meant that things were fine. I reasoned that an ARC means Immigration looked everything over, and it approved of my situation. After receiving my ARC I still felt something was wrong in my gut, but decided to let it go.

Here is where is starts getting tricking. Academy C which was sponsoring my visa went out of business, and the owner (my boss on paper) didn't tell anyone for more than two months. So, one night I get a phone call from a stranger telling me that I don't have a visa anymore. I rushed down to the school where I actually work, and tried to talk to my boss about it. She just said "Don't worry, it's all okay." I should have quit on the spot, but I decided to wait and see what was up, and if the situation could be salvaged. Eventually they told me that I would have to send my degree back to Canada to have it approved with the Korean Embassy. After that things would be fixed. I went ahead, and did what they asked me to do.

The guy who closed Academy C opened another academy, lets call that one Academy D. He and the woman at Academy B (where I was actually doing my work) wanted to transfer my visa to Academy D. I gave the woman my approved degree and she said she would fix everything. After I finished class I was at my desk and she returned, and said that she had been at Immigration. We had the following converstaion

Boss (Academy B) "Everything is okay now, and here is your contract."

Me: "What contract?"

Boss: "Your new contract."

Me: "I didn't sign a new contract. Why is my name signed here?"

Boss: "Oh, I signed your contract for you."

That's right people. The woman I actually worked for, and that mofo from Academy D entered me into a new contract without asking me or telling me, and my boss forged my name! This is on a legal document that was presented to Immigration.

About two days later my boss came back to me and said "Do you remember when I said everything was alright? Well, it's not. You have to leave the country now."

After all of that crap, they actually though that I would leave, and do a visa run and keep working for them.

I will admit that I have taken more b.s. than I should have. I do believe in finishing a job that I start, and trying to resolve issues internally before any other options are looked at. I was determined to stay there as long as life was only annoying, or unhappy, but these people were breaking laws! I just decided then and there that I had had all the "help" from them that I was going to have. I thought to myself, even if you get a visa worked out with Academy D, you will still have to work in a place that's not sponsoring your visa, is not registered with immigration, and is not allowed to have an English teacher period. I was conned in the first place, and lied to several time (and I am talking bold faced-lies people.) My name was forged on a legal document. There was just no way I could stay there any longer.

The next day (yesterday) I didn't go into work. I went to immigration myself to see where I stood. I was quite nervous and knew that being detained was going to be a real possibility, however I figured better go to them than have something show up at Incheon Airport. As it turned out the man was nice, and just told me that I should leave. He changed my exit date in the system, then he said, and I quote " You have one month to exit the country, but leave soon!"

So here I am in Seoul at a pc bang trying to figure out what to do next. I would like to ask a question. Given what I have told you do you think that I have a visa at the moment? I want to know because if I still somehow (stanger things have happened) have a visa or some sort of connection the man who owned Academy C I want a letter of release before I go. Since Academy C is closed, and I haven't been transfered to Academy D doesn't that mean that I don't have a visa? BUT, if I don't have a visa, then why did the guy at Immigration officially give me a month to leave? I should have asked at immigration, but I was so 'nerved up', and just happy to hear that I wasn't being detained or in any personal trouble it didn't cross my mind. I am not very interested in returning to immigration to ask. I will if I have to, but I am thinking that if I got away yesterday the best thing might be to just stay away and leave. What if the next person I ask is in a bad mood, or asks more questions? As a start I am going to have my girlfriend call Academy D, and hopefully ask the guy tonight. He can't be trusted, but I don't know what else to do.

Also in closing, any recommendations on the cheapest way to Bangkok? I dont' care about transfers and or waiting time, just saving money. Thanks in advance.

[ThingsComeAround]

[Boodleheimer]

you have 30 days to leave.

leave.

(try taiwan. show up, interview at a few places, start work there.)

[lifeinkorea]

I'll tell you my solution before I comment on the particulars of your situation. I left Korea and came to China and studied (student visa), thinking I could get a work visa back in Korea at a later time (which I could still do).

For like 3 million won, you get 3-4 months and can study with a place to live (dorm life though). Maybe some would prefer to leave and re-enter with 90 days. That would have been option 2 if things didn't pan out here.

After moving north and leaving one school, I am happy over the pond. We actually teach Koreans, so I am getting best of both worlds in some ways. If you are saving up to pay for loans though, I don't recommend China since the salary is low here.

Now, let's look at your situation so you don't do this again.