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antsea
Joined: 24 Apr 2010 Location: Yongin
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Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 7:11 pm Post subject: Is it normal to hold onto a passport until ARC comes? |
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I think I understood that my employer wanted to hold on to my passport yesterday. Just wanted to check what the usual situation is. I hope it's not a tactic for their security.
Wanted to know what you think before trying to communicate and causing pita...you know how it is. |
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itistime
Joined: 23 Jul 2010
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Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 7:31 pm Post subject: |
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I had mine back after they copied it
at immi. Was only there for 30 minutes, max.
Not sure who you mean 'holding' it.
Immigration or your employer?
Get your passport back if it's your
employer. Not sure why you would give it to
them to 'hold'.
Anyone else? |
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Quack Addict

Joined: 31 Mar 2008 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 7:32 pm Post subject: |
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My passport (and my diploma for that matter) never left my person unless it was in the hands of a immigration worker. Do not let your employer 'hold on' to any of your vital paperwork. |
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Mr. BlackCat

Joined: 30 Nov 2005 Location: Insert witty remark HERE
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Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 7:58 pm Post subject: |
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People need to start understanding that you should never hand over your passport to anyone other than a certified government employee and have a return date and receipt given. Your passport is the property of your government and it is illegal to just give it away willy-nilly. If you started a new job back home and on the first day your new boss who you've never met before asked you to hand over your passport would you even consider it? Then why on earth would you do the same in a foreign country. Especially in a foreign country?
I'm sorry, I don't mean to sound condescending but this topic comes up twice a month and it just boggles the mind. It's like watching your grandmother type in her credit card number into a pop up to 'verify' it's authenticity. Except by handing over your passport to a stranger you're potentially endangering all of your fellow citizens.
There is nothing your employer needs to know about your passport that a photocopy won't provide. If your employer has your passport and won't give it back tell him you will contact your embassy and tell them he has stolen your passport. Your boss will soon find out how seriously some people take this. |
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jrwhite82

Joined: 22 May 2010
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Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 7:59 pm Post subject: |
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I remember immigration holding onto my passport for a while. I think it was during when my ARC was being processed and it was for a couple of weeks if I recall correctly. This was back in 2007 though. So I can't remember exactly.
Do not let your employer hold onto your passport. Do not let your employer hold onto your original diploma if you have it for whatever reason.
A lot of employers will "hold onto" these documents in the same way that the Iranians "held onto" 52 Americans for a a couple of years in the 70's and 80's.
Good luck quitting if things turn bad. |
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antsea
Joined: 24 Apr 2010 Location: Yongin
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Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 8:34 pm Post subject: |
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I understand what you're saying, but my employer seems fair and noone else has had any problems so I don't want to go round causing friction if they just want to take my passport for some admin or whatever.
I will get it back today though if it's not needed for the process. |
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jrwhite82

Joined: 22 May 2010
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Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 8:59 pm Post subject: |
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antsea wrote: |
I understand what you're saying, but my employer seems fair and noone else has had any problems so I don't want to go round causing friction if they just want to take my passport for some admin or whatever.
I will get it back today though if it's not needed for the process. |
I hear you on not wanting to rock the boat. And I advise you to not rock the boat whenever possible.
But to me, what seems "fair", is allowing someone to keep their own passport because they no one else has any right to hold onto it.
It's your passport man. You NEED it when you live abroad. What if there is an emergency? WHAT IF KIM JONG IL ATTACKS AND YOU NEED TO BE EVACUATED?!?!?!
But seriously, they have no right to hold it unless immigration needs it for a few days.
My first go around my boss "held onto" my diploma. (This was back when they needed originals and I was a green newbie who had no idea what I was doing). Once I learned why they were doing this, I asked for it back politely. His response was, "Why do you need it back?"
So I replied, "Because it's mine, I paid thousands of dollars for this stupid piece of paper and I want it back. Why do YOU need it?"
And I got it back.
But guess how it was returned to me? Folded up with irreparable creases in it. He kept it in a folder in his desk....To me it was destroyed. (I used to have it framed and on a wall in my office) He also reimbursed me so I could order a new one. Apparently, Koreans don't treat a diploma like a prized document that you would ever frame. (Unless you're a doctor maybe). So he didn't know about that. I didn't blame him, but I told him I was upset.
Anyway....no one cares I'm sure. My point is, bad things happen when other people have your stuff and it can make situations worse. What if he accidentally spills coffee on your passport? What if his dog gets a hold of it. What if he loses it? |
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koreatimes
Joined: 07 Jun 2011
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Posted: Thu Sep 01, 2011 9:45 pm Post subject: |
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At one school, they used my diploma as a mouse pad. I don't think they realized what they did because they didn't hand it back to me until I asked for it. They weren't trying to keep it though. I should have asked if immigration would do the same and accept my mouse pad for a diploma. Those are a lot cheaper to get  |
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oujibdelamere
Joined: 31 Aug 2011 Location: Belgium
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Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 5:34 am Post subject: |
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And without your ARC you will need your passport as identification!
Once I was out and about in Tokyo and two policemen came along and asked to see my passport. I didn't have it with me. They took me into a police box and questioned me for half an hour. Put me in a police car and drove me back to where I was staying. They came inside, I showed them my passport and they left. That was all they wanted.
It was pretty ironic because I grew up there from age 13 - 18, never carried my ARC card, never got stopped once. |
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alwaysbeclosing100
Joined: 07 Feb 2009
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Posted: Sat Sep 03, 2011 6:35 am Post subject: |
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antsea wrote: |
I understand what you're saying, but my employer seems fair and noone else has had any problems so I don't want to go round causing friction if they just want to take my passport for some admin or whatever.
I will get it back today though if it's not needed for the process. |
Never Never Never ever.......give your employer your passport.......If they need to make a copy of it they should return it within 30 seconds. Immigration is another story when you get your ARC. |
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antsea
Joined: 24 Apr 2010 Location: Yongin
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Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 5:15 pm Post subject: |
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They are keeping it for a month until I get my ARC. Well I hear what you're saying about not doing this. My western team leader was with me, and when they said they were doing this, he politely quieted everything down and moved me out of the door before I could say anything.
I don't agree with this. I think it is a bullshit policy. However, it is a big company so probably not a decision made in my office.
So I have a choice, suck it up and get my passport back no probs in a month, or kick up a big fuss and be 'that guy' in the office, risk souring a pretty sweet situation and getting on the wrong foot with western colleagues.
So I'm gonna do 1. I'm not saying everyone in this situation should do the same, but what's the sensible choice really? |
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Rutherford
Joined: 31 Jul 2007
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Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 5:31 pm Post subject: |
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If you want to get your passport back without being confrontational, make up some reason that you need it back quickly. Something important but unrelated to your job here. For instance you need to visit the embassy to file tax paperwork due to a death in your family back home. It doesn't have to be believable just an excuse for you to demand it back quickly without making it about you not trusting them. |
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Mr. BlackCat

Joined: 30 Nov 2005 Location: Insert witty remark HERE
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Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 9:41 pm Post subject: |
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You handed over the only document that recognizes you as a citizen of your home country, affording you all the rights and protections implied therein, because you didn't want to upset your boss? The boss making an unreasonable and illegal request? A boss that you have no idea what he is using this extremely valuable document for? Well, who needs basic civil rights and the protection of your home country in a state that is still technically at war with an unbalanced crackpot to the north as long as some old ajoshi likes you, I guess. Good luck in Korea, man. |
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Zyzyfer

Joined: 29 Jan 2003 Location: who, what, where, when, why, how?
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Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 9:56 pm Post subject: |
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Immigration does take it while the ARC application is being processed. You should get both back at the same time.
Otherwise, like others have said, your employer has no business holding on to your passport, and if your ARC is not being processed, you need to ask for it back ASAP. Personally I think they're just claiming a month to leave a wide berth (ARCS take what, 2, 3 weeks?) but you have every right to politely question someone about it. |
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RangerMcGreggor
Joined: 12 Jan 2011 Location: Somewhere in Korea
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Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 10:15 pm Post subject: |
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antsea wrote: |
I understand what you're saying, but my employer seems fair |
If he is demanding you handover your passport for ANY reason, then he is not being fair. Period. |
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