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L_orna
Joined: 29 Sep 2010 Location: Ireland
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 4:56 am Post subject: Can a hagwon withold your degree? |
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We have been teaching for several months now in a hagwon. They have not yet given us back our degrees. I have been told that they should give it back after the visa processing.
Do I have the right to ask for mine back before I finish the contract?
please help  |
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ChrisLamp
Joined: 27 Jul 2010
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 5:06 am Post subject: |
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it's yours. get it back! why the hell did you give it to them in the first place? a notarized copy would have been fine.
do they have your passport too? |
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marsreloaded
Joined: 23 Sep 2011
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 5:06 am Post subject: |
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Normal shady hagwon trick.
They are holding your degree hostage so that you don't leave. They have NO right to hold it, it is YOUR property.
Next time, do NOT hand over your degree to your hagwon owner. Instead allow them to copy it while you are there the entire time and it never leaves your possession.
Visa processing? That sticker in your passport is your visa.... |
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ChrisLamp
Joined: 27 Jul 2010
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 5:07 am Post subject: |
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I wouldn't be surprised if they 'lost' it. |
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L_orna
Joined: 29 Sep 2010 Location: Ireland
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 5:14 am Post subject: |
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I was asked to send the original stamped degree to Korea for my visa. I am now considering leaving the job (they have witheld money on us etc) so will need my degree back to look for another one.
They never mentioned giving it back. I have tried to get another one from home but it is proving quite difficult so I am thinking of just asking for it back. |
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marsreloaded
Joined: 23 Sep 2011
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 5:20 am Post subject: |
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L_orna wrote: |
I was asked to send the original stamped degree to Korea for my visa. |
They lied to you. And this IS your fault since it's plastered all over the jobs forum that you don't need your original anymore.
L_orna wrote: |
I am now considering leaving the job (they have witheld money on us etc) so will need my degree back to look for another one.
They never mentioned giving it back. I have tried to get another one from home but it is proving quite difficult so I am thinking of just asking for it back. |
And this is exactly why they are holding your degree. So that you don't leave and they can illegally possess something that isn't theirs to use as a bargaining chip against you. Demand that you get it back first thing tomorrow. If they refuse tell them to point in the contract where it says they are allowed to hold on to your degree until the completion of your contract.
Don't be a pushover. Hagwon owners get away with things like this, pass it around, and it eventually becomes the norm. |
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ttompatz

Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 5:23 am Post subject: Re: Can a hagwon withold your degree? |
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L_orna wrote: |
We have been teaching for several months now in a hagwon. They have not yet given us back our degrees. I have been told that they should give it back after the visa processing.
Do I have the right to ask for mine back before I finish the contract?
please help  |
Do they have:
a) your ORIGINAL degree or
b) the apostilled copy of your degree?
If <A> then fight to get it back. They have no reason to hold it other than to keep it as a hostage to ensure you don't run.
If <B> then it is gone. Immigration does NOT return them.
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Adventurer

Joined: 28 Jan 2006
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 5:37 am Post subject: Re: Can a hagwon withold your degree? |
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ttompatz wrote: |
L_orna wrote: |
We have been teaching for several months now in a hagwon. They have not yet given us back our degrees. I have been told that they should give it back after the visa processing.
Do I have the right to ask for mine back before I finish the contract?
please help  |
Do they have:
a) your ORIGINAL degree or
b) the apostilled copy of your degree?
If <A> then fight to get it back. They have no reason to hold it other than to keep it as a hostage to ensure you don't run.
If <B> then it is gone. Immigration does NOT return them.
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I would never give my original diploma to anyone. If I were you, I would just in case ask my university for another one in case they won't give it back, do that ASAP. I have a back up original when I once thought a friend had gotten mine lost by sending through regular Canada poste mail(long story). |
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L_orna
Joined: 29 Sep 2010 Location: Ireland
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 6:45 am Post subject: |
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I appreciate the advice, thanks.
Am gonna go ask for it tomorrow. Its either that or jump 50 hoops in Ireland to get another one. |
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Wildbore
Joined: 17 Jun 2009
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 10:33 am Post subject: |
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ChrisLamp wrote: |
it's yours. get it back! why the hell did you give it to them in the first place? a notarized copy would have been fine.
do they have your passport too? |
Real degree = $40 or so from most institutions
Notorized copy with consular seals (Canada) = $65
- $40 for lawyer to make notized copy
- $5 or so for consular fees.
- $20 for express post envelope for consulate to mail back.
He's better off losing the original, as a motorized apostilled/consulate sealed copy is much more expensive and time consuming affair. |
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Died By Bear

Joined: 13 Jul 2010 Location: On the big lake they call Gitche Gumee
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 12:13 pm Post subject: |
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Hope you didn't give them your passport too... |
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comm
Joined: 22 Jun 2010
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 1:19 pm Post subject: |
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Wildbore wrote: |
Real degree = $40 or so from most institutions |
My hagwon lost my original, I got a new one for about $30. Really, I'd rather pay the $30 than do all the work preparing a copy. |
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L_orna
Joined: 29 Sep 2010 Location: Ireland
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 5:39 pm Post subject: |
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I have enquired and the degree alone could cost me up to 100 euros. Not to mention having to get it stamped aswell afterward and all the extras.
I want to give in my notice anyways (30 days) so am considering doing that also if he doesnt give it back.
Afraid of shooting myself in the foot though (he may try to keep some of my last paycheque, but he already kept some of my first paycheque without my permission) |
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myenglishisno
Joined: 08 Mar 2011 Location: Geumchon
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 5:47 pm Post subject: |
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Went to an interview with a hagwon in Dongtan earlier this year. They said they would be holding my degree, passport and ARC card. They said that if I needed any of them, they would send someone to escort me.
I told them to run along outside and play hide and go **** themselves. Amazing they'd try to pull that crap someone who has been here for years.
OP: Tell 'em where to go an snatch your passport back. |
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L_orna
Joined: 29 Sep 2010 Location: Ireland
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Posted: Tue Sep 27, 2011 5:50 pm Post subject: |
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They dont have my passport - they gave that back to me. They didnt give back either (me and my friends) degrees though. We have been planning to give them notice anyways, as I want to play it out as straight as I can from my side though. Is it best I give them written notice if I decide to do it, so that they cant screw me on that one too?
sorry,but Im pretty cautious about this and am afraid of doing something Ill regret |
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