Korean Job Discussion Forums

[butimshy]

Okay.

I started working for an after school program on March 17th. My E2 from my previous hagwon was still valid until March 23rd. On March 22nd I went with my boss to Seoul Immigration and applied for an extension for my E2. My boss basically did all the talking and they took my card and said I would get it back next week (we went on a Friday).

A week goes by and I still don't have my card. I called immigration multiple times and they just said "the transfer isn't finished, you just need to wait".

Today, I get this e-mail:

Hi,
This is ***** at Brown.
You are rejected your visa extension by the immigration.
The law are changed strict, so we can not hire you anymore.
I am sorry to say like this.
So you have to transfer your visa to D10.
It is "looking for the job" visa. and it has 6 months.
you have to find out the other jobs like institute.
I think you can not work in the after school program because the law is changed and please let me know when can you finish in *******.
you should go to the immigration soon and you transfer your visa without waiting #3 counter as your memo from the immigration
the manager's name is Yang Soyoung (양소영)
I am sorry again and get you better job.


Apparently they hired me without knowing they can't hire E2 teachers. They said they had to fire all their current E2 teachers and replace them with gyopos. I've already signed the contract, moved into a new apartment with a 5k deposit, bought furniture, etc.

What can I do? Should I call a lawyer?

Thanks.

[beentheredonethat777]

[ttompatz]

It sounds like the employer is NOT qualified to hire "foreign" staff.

A lawyer will do nothing but lighten your pocket since it is YOU who cannot get a visa and are thus unable to complete the terms of the contract to work for the employer. (the visa is YOUR responsibility and NOT the employer's).

Quickly get a D10 application going (before you turn into a pumpkin and get an exit order or dinged for an overstay).

Find a new job (hagwon or PS job).
Then you can deal with your housing issues (after you get into your new job).

.

[Smithington]

Typical Korean incompetence. One hand not knowing what the other is doing. Getting the facts together at the very last possible moment, and leaving the foreigner in a situation. Typical, typical, typical. Now you even have to move out of your apartment and begin your job search. If they'd given you the correct information up front you could have already found a new job. Now you have to pay for a D-10 and pay again when transferriung it back to an E-2.

How this country ever accomplished anything I'll never know. Anyway, make sure you get paid for the extra days that you worked.

Korea Sparkling.

[augustine]

A very similar thing happened to me at my first AS job in gangnam (Seo-il-f-u). The company split with the school, then I worked directly for the school but had to find a new place since I'd taken the company's housing allowance. They said my job was secure, I threw down a big chunk of change for my new apartment, then a week or so later, out of nowhere, I was given 30 days notice and almost all of the blame.

Here's what I did. Almost all after school programs are doing something illegal to line their pockets. I took the attendance sheets with all of the parent's phone numbers on them, and told them that my gf was going to call every person on there and explain how their kid's school was stealing money from them, unless they found me a new AS job and gave me money for the enormous screw job they were trying to pull on me. And it worked.

I also did a similar thing before that at the first and only hagwon I worked at 4 months in, as well as at the last AS job I had last year. I shredded the last company when things hit the fan, and got them to double the severance and pay me an extra month's salary, on top of the full salary for that month even though I only worked maybe a week or two of it. They were so scared of me that I didn't even know that my last day was my last day until it was over. The company lady walked me to the atm, transferred all of that money to me, and was like, "Ok? Please sign this and never come back". You got it. I'm not a psycho or anything, it just always worked, and I hate being lied to and cheated. Four jobs with three entities and probably around $10k total extorted from the three combined, plus the the extra paid vacation that awarded me. Augustine's fees for denial of health care and pension.

Never went to the labor board and didn't even really know what I was threatening them with most of the time, but they always freaked out and caved. Something to consider if you're still showing up for work there, got a little 3.3% bs in your contract, and are feeling bold. Good luck, that apartment will work in your favor if you're in a convenient location. Don't take no shit.

I'm curious about why they kept your arc though, I did three transfers and never remember that happening...

[Jongno2bucheon]

[radish kimchi]

[Los Angeloser]

[TheUrbanMyth]

[Sesame]

lol I can work for after school companies because im F6. sucks to be you op.

[Lucas]

[Overture1928]

[Stephen Ireland]

From what I gather, it's not exactly true that native teachers aren't allowed to work in After School Programs. I know somwone who works in an after school program and her native teacher had no problem getting a visa transfer.

The new regulation calls for the school to sponsor the native teacher rather than the after school company. I've heard of a case similar to yours at an after school program. They told the native teacher what they said to you but that was basically a lie. Apparently, at the native teacher's previous school there was an allegation of "touching" a girl. Of course, the allegation was dropped but the new school found out and decided not to sponsor him.

Like I said, there are sometimes other reasons for these things.

[watergirl]

Hi

It has always been (well, for awhile anyways) that the public school officially 'sponsors' the foreigner visa in after school programs. (E2 foreigners) that is.
You sign the contract with the after school co. and the PS and you know the co is your employer, but you also sign a contract with the PS and this is the one at immigration.
It is quite strange because everyone seems to know what's going on, but it could be that immigration has started to crack down on this situation.
Just curious, what after school co do you work for?
By the way, I always hear rumours about the potential cancelling of foreigner's ability to work in aftershool programs. I'd say for the last two years I've worked here. But, there are many e2 visas working in after schools now, anyways.

[reminiscink]

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