Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ESLJenna]

Hello,

I will be teaching in Korea at the end of the month. My issue is that my contract says the school will provide me with a ticket before the beginning of the contract. Now my director is telling me I need to buy the ticket and be reimbursed after arriving there.

How should I approach this? I know I should say something, but how do I go about it?

Thanks

[Keeper]

What is the exact working on the contract? Did you point it out to them? At what point in the hiring process are you now at? Do they have your apostilled docs? Do you have the visa issuance number?

[iggyb]

Things get complicated if they have already issued you a visa.

If not, I'd hold out for the ticket rather than waiting for the money once you arrive. Too many people have been burnt this way.

[ESLJenna]

It says exactly that, that the ticket will be provided by the school before I get to Korea. I sent all the documents in, and he just took it to immigration today. I sent him an email pointing it out as politely as I could.

[some waygug-in]

Read through the thread titled, "Immediate Help Requested, Hagwon Issues".

Be careful, you could be next. I'm not trying to be rude, just realistic.

[ESLJenna]

He got my documents yesterday and took them to immigration. As soon as he told me that I would be reimbursed after I got to Korea, I emailed him back saying I thought the contract said the ticket would be provided before I got there. I hope this is ok. I've been so stressed trying to get everything ready, but I don't want to get into a bad situation if I can avoid it. I hope it's just a simple misunderstanding and it turns out ok.

[some waygug-in]

Hope will get you in trouble for sure.

Make certain of everything and I do mean everything beforehand.

[ttompatz]

[ESLJenna]

I might try that, thank you. I will let you know what happens. Thank you for your advice, I will come back later and ask ya'll for more input if there's any problems.

[iggyb]

The problem, I think, is he put the paperwork into immigration already.

I remember back in 2009 when SMOE dropped about 100 of us at the last minute, those who had already been issued visas had issues with immigration when it came to finding another job. I'm not sure how that worked out, because I wasn't one of them.

The hakwon should have enough money to pay for the ticket. If they refuse to do it, I'd have to worry they have cash flow problems - which is a huge warning sign.

[ESLJenna]

Just to be sure

"....will provide one-way trip air ticket to Korea before the beginning of contract "

Just to make absolutely certain, before he contacts me regarding my concerns, that means they will provide the ticket, right? The contract said the school will do that, it's exactly from the contract that was sent to me. I will absolutely stick to my guns on this, I just need to make sure there's no way for this to be interpreted any other way. Sorry to sound paranoid, just trying to be as prepared as possible.

Thanks

[ttompatz]

[ESLJenna]

aah, ok. So could I say,

I'm sorry, I was under the impression the flight was prepaid, because of the contract. I am not able to pay for a ticket there, the reason I accepted the position was because of the prepaid, one way air fare to Korea.

I wasn't going to throw down, but I am not paying for a ticket either. How would you suggest I word it then, since you know these things? I would like to just smooth it over and carry on with the job, if possible.

[ttompatz]

That line of thinking will probably get you a ticket.

.

[ESLJenna]

Thank you, that's what I needed, just to know how to go about it appropriately. I don't want to make enemies, especially before I've even stpped off the plane!

so if I showed you this
"The institute will provide the teacher with private furnished living accommodations and will provide one-way trip air ticket to Korea before the beginning of contract and return-ticket at the end of one-year contract. The teacher is responsible for the monthly the telephone charges and all utilities (internet, electricity, water, gas, phone ..). "

You would believe that means the ticket was provided for before I arrived in the country, by the institute right? Just making sure. So let people save face, but stand up for myself in a non-confrontational way? I really mean what I say here, I took the position in large part because of the prepaid flight. It's a huge thing to me, so I need to navigate this smoothly and quickly, without offending anyone and all the stuff before I've even arrived.