Korean Job Discussion Forums

Ribs75 · Joined: 20 Jun 2005 Location: UK

Hi,

I came over to South Korea about three weeks ago on a tourist VISA and landed a job within one week (through an agency) at a Korean National University that I cannot name for obvious reasons.

I hold a UK passport, which means that I have got three months on the tousist VISA, but I was told to start working immediately on the tourist VISA. I was asked to give all my transcripts and documents on the first day of work, so that the E2 VISA application could go ahead.

The problem is this. The university have now said (after one complete week) that the earliest I can go to Japan and get the VISA will be another six or seven weeks from now, as there is a week long Korean holiday.

I am being told not to worry and that the director of the language facility has contacted immigration and informed them that I am working on a tourist VISA. The university tell me that there is no need to rush or worry and that my working on a tourist VISA is not illegal, as the immigration office have been informed.

I know that the university have not even sent my documents away to get the certificate of VISA issuance form yet and are just sitting on it. I am the only teacher there without the E2 and they don't want me to miss any classes due to going on a VISA run. I have even found a replacement teacher who is also on a tourist VISA, but can do my classes for a couple of days. The university refuse to entertain the idea saying that it is 'more illegal' and it is better for me to wait and work illegally until the end of October.

I am really worried and need some advice.

Is what the university are doing legal?

waterbaby · Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Location: Baking Gord a Cheescake pie

Captain Corea · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Location: Seoul

denverdeath · Joined: 21 May 2005 Location: Boo-sahn

It sounds like you've tried everything to try to reason with them. The only other thing I can suggest is for you to ask if the other "legals" will cover your classes for two days. Try to arrange it for a couple of your lighter days or when it's possible for the other teachers. If there are lots of (understanding) teachers, it might be possible. The place should've organized things a little better for you...but what else is new? Immigration may never visit, yet they might show up tomorrow.

lastat06513 · Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2005 6:07 am Post subject:

I think what one of the other posters said summed it up~ they are waiting to see how you teach and how the students react to you prior to letting you get your visa. Thats wrong...
If you're in Seoul, it is a matter of a week and a half to 2 weeks to get your "blue form", but I can understand if you're working in the provinces, immigrations does tend to be slower than the average joe out there.
Where I work, they have a make-up week, where a professor could make up classes missed during the normal semester. You can maybe ask them to make-up the classes prior to going on vacation, that would mean only postponing your vacation by a few days (I don't think that would hurt.)

They need you, so they can make arrangements to help you.

ajuma · Joined: 18 Feb 2003 Location: Anywere but Seoul!!

I'd be highly suspicious of a place that wanted me to work illegally for ANY reason. My uni will ABSOLUTELY NOT let anyone work without a proper visa. I'm not saying that the place will be a bad place to work, but any place that wants you to work illegally may do all kinds of other "illegal" things in the future. If they wanted to see you teach, they could have arranged for you to "demonstrate" for a class or two.

denverdeath has the right idea. Arrange some class-swapping with other teachers. Offer to cover their classes at some specified time in the future (late Friday or early Monday classes would be a good choice). If they have you covered and there is STILL a problem with the admin, RUN!!

ontheway · Posted: Tue Sep 13, 2005 11:16 am Post subject:

My wonjangnim got our "blue form" out here "in the provinces" in 2 days for our last teacher. No one ever teaches in this hogwan without an E-2.

Hurry to Japan. Get your visa.

Ya-ta Boy · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: Established in 1994

In my opinion, Captain Corea is right on the money here. Ask the university very politely to get a note in writing from Immigration that it is OK for you to teach temporarily while waiting for the visa run. I'm not going to make any guesses about ulterior motives to check you out. The big issue is legal or not legal and who is taking the risk.

Good luck.