Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bulgogiboy]

Hey bigblackeqqus,


You mentioned immigration withholding visas when people cut short their contracts a few times. Does that happen alot? Has it happened to anybody you know?

I've never cut short any contract in Korea, i'm just trying to find a reason why immigration would do that to somebody. Maybe they just make up policies on a daily basis according to how much soju they drank the night before and how big their hangovers are???

BB

[UncleAlex]

Until now I understood that "the" official document was superfluous and
one could be released simply by drawing up his own confirmation letter
and having his employer countersign it, as was the successful cases of
mine on two occasions. But I have never heard about any form of letter
no longer being applicable. Chances are that the clerk you had spoken to
was confused or just felt like feeding you some baloney. I have been told
one thing by one clerk only to have him be contradicted by another one. It
seems that these officials are consulting different manuals. I'd speak to
someone else, perferably somebody higher up. Your consulate may even
inquire with higher circles on your behalf. Let's hope the clerk you spoke to
is wrong. Korean legislators are always pulling a fast one to make our lives
more miserable.

[jjk]

Waht exactly needs to be in a letter of release? My finacee and I need one, after 5 years here in Korea- all at the same school

Looking for something in Ulsan/Busan probably...there are some really shocking jobs out there at the moment though!

[white tiger]

spoke to my buddy this weekend; as it turns out, the story is a bit darker than the original i had been given. even though the school did give a letter of release, there's talk of black-listing amongst other things, as both parties felt short-changed...there's some other drama going on as well, so i guess this isa unique case of rejection; not a new "norm" as I was fearing.
Always hidden agendas when it comes to immigration, isn't there? -_-

[bulgogiboy]

I got my boss to phone up immigration. Actually, there has been a change in the law but it's not as dramatic as first thought. Letters of release are NO LONGER APPLICABLE according to Gwangju immigration. If you want to change jobs you need to make a whole new E-2 visa application, but you don't need to wait until your old E-2 visa runs out, it'll be cancelled and you can start afresh as you did initially.

[doublejeopardy]

[beekeeper3000]

yes, this sounds awesome. particularly since i am dealing with this issue right now! can anyone else confirm this? there seems to be a lot to say on LORs.

need a firm answer.

[dbee]

Ya, I'd really appreciate it if someone could give a definitive answer on this LOR issue

[Homer]

[bulgogiboy]

It wasn't just my Gwangju boss who called. I called up my new employer, who called his branch of immigration in another province and they gave him the same answer. So what's one to think? All this lack of certainty is irritating....

[Homer]

[jinju]

On efl-law.org there are accounts of Busan immigration not accepting LORs. The school director has to camcel the visa personally. I see that as a negative step for E2s as seciring an LOR now is useless, they can change their minds and refuse to go to immi to cancel your visa.

[jajdude]

I can't help but think that immigration has few or maybe no hard and fast regulations, but operates on a case-by-case basis, and that different offices operate differently, sometimes significantly so. Some offices or officers may be stricter. Maybe it's like a judge in a courtroom, ya never know for sure.....?

Are most of coming from countries where we expect clear and inflexible laws that are strictly adhered to? It's reassuring to know exactly what the deal is. But I doubt this applies to Korea, where seems things to be more flexible. Sometimes this is not a bad thing either.

Anyway getting straight answers is not easy. Depends on your particular case I suppose.

[bulgogiboy]

Yeah, I agree. It's probably not totally black and white like some of us are used to. It just seems that having both my current and future employers phone up totally different immigration offices and get the same answer means it must be something approaching standard practice. Having said that, another poster said Seoul immigration sang a different tune. If something's national procedure then you'd think it would start in Seoul and filter down, not the other way round. Confusing.

If you're really unsure and need to know urgently(i.e. you are changing job) you should get a Korean friend/or your boss to call up immigration and ask. Or go along to immigration with a Korean helper. Don't just listen to online lawyers or other waeguks giving you all their different experiences, they can make mistakes too. It's the immigration office that YOU are applying to and their policy that counts. If you need to make a totally new E-2 visa application with visa run,new transcripts from your university,etc, then you're going to have to consider the time it takes to do that before leaving your old job/starting your new one.

[jjk]

I have the letter of release all signed from my current employer- post dated for the end of the month when I finish up.

The new job said that they called immigration, and I only need the original degree, sealed transcripts, two photos and a copy of my passport for the E-2. I asked if they needed the LOR, and they said immigration didn't ask for it. I'll be putting it in with the rest of the paperwork though, if they don't need it then they won't use it!

Will they process the visa application for the new job now even though we are still working- happily and on good terms until the end of the month with our current school?