Korean Job Discussion Forums

[alphalfa]

It's not entirely clear to me the matter of whether or not employers are legally responsible to pay airfare to Japan(usually) for prospective employees to obtain an E-2 visa. I read words like 'should' and 'usually'
in text discussing this issue - "employers should(usually) provide RT airfare ..."

All my previous employers paid for my trip to Japan to obtain an E-2 visa.
I took it for granted they were 'required' to do this. Were they legally obliged to do this?

I ask you because of the following:

In a recent interview I had with Seoul Education Training Insitute(SETI) which is associated with the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, the English language program supervisor told me I am responsible for paying for the airfare TO Japan and they(SETI) will pay for the airfare FROM Japan. I have never heard of such a policy for visa runs.

I suppose I can be extremely naive(some may say silly) and buy a OW ticket to Japan, stay at a hotel, send SETI the address of the hotel, and wait for delivery of a return ticket(or instructions from them as to where I can pick it up) at the hotel. I would be just following what they told they would do!!

It sounds more reasonable to me like - SETI wants me to pay for the RT airfare and they would reimburse half the cost to me. When they would do this was not made clear to me at the time of the interview.

So, what's your take on this matter?

[Grotto]

find another job.

OR

Tell them right up front that you expect a round trip ticket to be provided along with accomodation and a transportation and meal allowance.

[VanIslander]

[the_beaver]

Government and university jobs often don't pay airfare.

[J.B. Clamence]

[Derrek]

My school tried to pull that one on me. I said I wouldn't sign unless they did it. They did it. My co-workers were happy, because they hadn't gotten it paid for before me.

[some waygug-in]

I won't mention the name, but there is a chain franchise that has this worded into their contract:

The school agrees to pay the cost of one visa trip to Japan...yada, yada, yada.......... mosheegi, mosheegee, mosheegi,, blah, blah, blah****************************************************************************************************************************************************************************************the cost will be deducted off the employee's first month's salary.

Read the fine print before you sign.

[alphalfa]

The Seoul Education Training Institute(SETI) has decided to recruit me
to work for them in Sadang Seoul. They have asked for me to meet with them on Monday(Feb 21) to sign the contract and to bring all my original documents.

I have not seen the contract and they will not send me a copy to review prior to meeting them. They told me if I was applying from overseas then a copy can be issued.

Here is what I know about the contract:
working schedule: 10am to 6pm Mon - Fri
students: elementary/secondary school teachers
salary: 2.2mil
visa run: I pay half(actually I pay RT airfare and get reinbursed later..)
security bond: KW 500,000 deduction from pay
housing: dormitory on site

I am not too keen on having to pay the security bond, the cost for the visa run to Japan, and living in a dormitory.

Paying the bond implies a level of mistrust or fear of me not completing the terms of the contract. In my six years here I've never been a 'runner'. Logic would tell me that if I skipped out of (the country) not paying my bills then this current employer would certainly know about it and thus would decline to offer me this position. I am not sure whether there is a settlement fee. If there is one then this would offset the cost of doing the visa run. Perhaps I can negotiate this point.

The dormitory is located in the rear of the main education building so you have to enter the campus grounds to enter the dormitory. I don't like the idea of being 'monitored' - my coming and going alone or with friends. I don't know whether such happens but that's the feeling I have about living on campus.


I have some lingering doubts about these three key issues. I have the weekend to ponder...

last minute advice is welcomed...

alphalfa

[Derrek]

No way no way no way.

Tell them that if they want to hire you, drop the security bond and the visa run pay.

That is about the worst shafting I have ever heard of.

No f-ing way!