Korean Job Discussion Forums

[awright538]

I got the axe from my hakwon this week. They have no money and a shitty curriculum and can't get kids into their school. Fortunately, my director has been pretty amicable about terminating the contract, and has volunteered to provide my letter of release and a good rec. My question is, while I'm hitting the pavement finding a (better) job, do I need new paperwork, i.e. notarized apostilled docs, or is my visa simply transfered? I'm working on getting the D-10. Any direction would be helpful.

[Troglodyte]

How long have you been working at that school? Is your school closing (i.e. going out of business)?

If you've been there less than 6 months, then you may not get the D10 or even be able to use the LOR if the school isn't going out of business. If you can get the D10 or transfer directly to another school, then you don't need new documents. If you can't transfer, then you'll need to apply for a new visa, which means a whole new set of doc and a trip to Japan.

[ontheway]

[awright538]

I've been there 3 months, and I don't know if they're going out of business. It's a change in ownership. They say they're going to help me get a new job. My main goal is to not have to return to the states and get new docs. I've got 30 days notice from Wednesday. They've also failed to pay me 3 times repeatedly, and are almost a week late on my last salary.

I've had a recruitment company call them for a rec and the recruitment company seems okay with what they said and has pursued me as an applicant. I don't know how to approach them the Korean way to talk about what they're saying, all I know is that it's positive and I don't want to ruin that. Also me nagging them about getting paid may be complicating things.

[plchron]

Step #1 get the d10 and part ways on good terms with your current bosses.

Step #2 Once you have a job, take them to the labor board for monies owed. You have like 2 or 3 years to make claims through the labor board. Definitely try to get the money the friendly way, but know that in the back of your head you can always go the 'government intervention route' at a later date.

[Troglodyte]

I've never myself been at a school that changed ownership but I've met several people who were. In their cases, immigration considered it the same as the business closing. The labor board considered it justifiable cause for firing the teacher, ALTHOUGH if the school is going out of business the employees ARE entitled to advanced notice (in writing), even if it's during the probationary period. It looks like your boss gave you the notice.

If you can set up a job that will start when your current one finishes, it's better to just transfer the E2 visa directly to the next school. Unless you can't find a new job (unlikely if you're here and can transfer) there's no benefit to switching to D10 and then back to E2. If your boss is flexible about when you leave, you can job hunt now and when you have a job offer, ask your boss to make your finish date on the LOR coincide with the start date for the next job. You should be able to find a new job within a few weeks.

Unless of course you want to take a vacation. Then take the D10 route.

[awright538]

Let me know if you know anything about this:

http://www.teachenglishinasia.net/teach-english-korea/new-korean-immigration-laws-march-and-april-2011-10687.html

[Troglodyte]

[leftx47]

In my personal experience, the info on that website is accurate. I was able to transfer my visa from a hagwon to a public school after only working at the hagwon for four months (with a letter of release).

The hagwon did not go out of business and wasn't in serious financial trouble. The public school was concerned this would be a problem, but they talked to immigration and were told there was no longer a minimum time of employment. When I took my paperwork in to do the transfer, the guy who processed it didn't care about the time at all.

[Troglodyte]

[Reggie]

Wonderland is hiring!*











*if you like to change diapers...

[pegasus64128]

[Troglodyte]

[mikeyvinkorea]

YBM in Gangjin is hiring, good school, good pay better hours.

[Joe Boxer]