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Allanon
Joined: 01 Jun 2006
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 Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 8:31 am Post subject: Doing visa run questions |
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Hello everybody,
I've been offered a job,however they want me to come to Korea by the 9th of July. They say they will send me a ticket to Korea, then I would go to Japan. They haven't said when I would go to Japan though. I'm wondering if they would have me working BEFORE I have my visa stamped in my passport before going to Japan? I don't want to do that at all? Am I overreacting here?Is it reasonable to do this? They need a teacher "asap", therefore getting my visa in Canada won't be possible. Red flags, or am I being too cautious? Any advice would be very appreciated. |
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Grotto
Joined: 21 Mar 2004
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| Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 8:35 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| I've been offered a job,however they want me to come to Korea by the 9th of July. They say they will send me a ticket to Korea, then I would go to Japan. They haven't said when I would go to Japan though. I'm wondering if they would have me working BEFORE I have my visa stamped in my passport before going to Japan? I don't want to do that at all? Am I overreacting here?Is it reasonable to do this? They need a teacher "asap", therefore getting my visa in Canada won't be possible. Red flags, or am I being too cautious? Any advice would be very appreciated. |
You're right to be worried.
Be upfront with them...tell them that you would be glad to accept the position as long as it is perfectly clear that in no way shape or form will you teach until you have the E2 visa in your passport!
They will most likely tell you lies about how it isnt needed but thats exactly what those are...LIES!
Protect your butt and make sure they know this beforehand! |
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NearlyKorean
Joined: 15 Mar 2003
Location: Phoenix, AZ
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| Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 8:49 am Post subject: |
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| Grotto wrote: |
| Quote: |
| I've been offered a job,however they want me to come to Korea by the 9th of July. They say they will send me a ticket to Korea, then I would go to Japan. They haven't said when I would go to Japan though. I'm wondering if they would have me working BEFORE I have my visa stamped in my passport before going to Japan? I don't want to do that at all? Am I overreacting here?Is it reasonable to do this? They need a teacher "asap", therefore getting my visa in Canada won't be possible. Red flags, or am I being too cautious? Any advice would be very appreciated. |
You're right to be worried.
Be upfront with them...tell them that you would be glad to accept the position as long as it is perfectly clear that in no way shape or form will you teach until you have the E2 visa in your passport!
They will most likely tell you lies about how it isnt needed but thats exactly what those are...LIES!
Protect your butt and make sure they know this beforehand! |
Agreed....Protect yourself....
They could also tell ok you don't have to teach until you get the e-2 visa BUT when you get over here they want you to teach right away because of something unexpected happened. One of the other teachers is sick, 20 students signed up today and we need you or some other bs.
Be prepared to stand firm....Don't teach you have the VISA, be prepared to get your self back home if you need to if you are going to stand firm.
If you have gone through a recruiter, don't believe the recruiter what the recruiter said about what the employer said. Get it in writing if you have to.... |
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Allanon
Joined: 01 Jun 2006
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| Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 8:54 am Post subject: |
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Thank you Grotto,
I was fairly certain that my warning bells were ringing true. I appreciate your feedback greatly. I'll email them immediately explaining my stance on this issue. The problem is: what if I arrive in Korea (after,hypothetically, they email assuring me of not having to teach without the visa) and they insist that I teach upon my arrival? Before I go to Japan?What if they give me the song and dance that it's 'ok' to teach, or they need me to teach? What recourse would I have? Thanks most sincerely for the advice. |
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Allanon
Joined: 01 Jun 2006
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| Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 9:00 am Post subject: |
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| Thanks for your response as well NearlyKorean-you nailed it there just before I posted. Problem still is what to do if that situation comes up. That's all long way to travel (not to mention very expensive) to literally pack up and come back if they don't agree to my standing firm on the no teaching before the visa is stamped in my passport issue. Not sure what to do at the moment. |
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denverdeath
Joined: 21 May 2005
Location: Boo-sahn
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| Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 9:00 am Post subject: |
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| Allanon wrote: |
Thank you Grotto,
I was fairly certain that my warning bells were ringing true. I appreciate your feedback greatly. I'll email them immediately explaining my stance on this issue. The problem is: what if I arrive in Korea (after,hypothetically, they email assuring me of not having to teach without the visa) and they insist that I teach upon my arrival? Before I go to Japan?What if they give me the song and dance that it's 'ok' to teach, or they need me to teach? What recourse would I have? Thanks most sincerely for the advice. |
Uh, they paid for the ticket. You have no Confirmation of Visa Issuance number yet. I think you are the one who has less to lose at that point. Just say no. |
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Allanon
Joined: 01 Jun 2006
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| Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 9:09 am Post subject: |
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| Yes you're right . I was referring to the expense of paying for the ticket coming back(has to be at least a grand?), not to mention the incredible inconvenience of traveling to and from Korea for essentially nothing. Also,I would most likely need to secure some lodging as getting the ticket won't be immediate surely? it just seems like a very big hassle. Thanks for your input. |
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NearlyKorean
Joined: 15 Mar 2003
Location: Phoenix, AZ
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| Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 9:16 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
Thank you Grotto,
I was fairly certain that my warning bells were ringing true. I appreciate your feedback greatly. I'll email them immediately explaining my stance on this issue. The problem is: what if I arrive in Korea (after,hypothetically, they email assuring me of not having to teach without the visa) and they insist that I teach upon my arrival? Before I go to Japan?What if they give me the song and dance that it's 'ok' to teach, or they need me to teach? What recourse would I have? Thanks most sincerely for the advice. |
Very little recourse....Other than to stand firm. There is really not anything legally you could do. Reporting them to immigration wouldn't help because you have not taught they have only asked.
You wil be able to tell them in the email I sent I said I would not teach until I got the visa and you agreed.
I thought after 7 years of being here, things would have improved. However, foreigners still have very little recourse when we have been wrong. Employers have been able to change the conditions of the contract without any consquence.
Legal battles are expensive, as most lawyers here don't work on a percentage. They want to get paid upfront and get paid whether they win or lose. Also others have told me they have had a hard time, finding laywers that will go after a fellow Korean. Many lawyers still don't take foreigner's cases simply because they are foriegners.
There is a labor board, but they are still pretty powerless to enforce any payment requests, no matter how wrong the employers are.
Like I said have enough money to walk away if you need to. You don't have an visa so are not obligated to them in anyway.
I would be interested to hear what there response is.
Best of Luck,
NK. |
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denverdeath
Joined: 21 May 2005
Location: Boo-sahn
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| Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 10:25 am Post subject: |
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| Allanon wrote: |
| Yes you're right . I was referring to the expense of paying for the ticket coming back(has to be at least a grand?), not to mention the incredible inconvenience of traveling to and from Korea for essentially nothing. Also,I would most likely need to secure some lodging as getting the ticket won't be immediate surely? it just seems like a very big hassle. Thanks for your input. |
Get a job with another school if it turns out that this place is far from good. You did plan on being here for at least a full year, right? Any half-decent school will cover your airfare here(and back). Have them re-imburse the crap school. You can live in a crappy love motel for a week or two until you get a better place...and it won't be that expensive. Anyway, go onto the ice expecting to score a goal, not to lose the game...just have a back-up plan, just in case. |
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Allanon
Joined: 01 Jun 2006
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| Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 10:52 am Post subject: |
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| Well said Denverdeath. I suppose I could chance it , try to find another job if the initial job doesn't pan out. I wouldn't be committed to them due to the lack of a visa. Just a bit more hassle. Having a back up plan is always a good idea. Thanks for the heads up,Denver. Good analogy with the hockey btw. |
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alabamaman
Joined: 25 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 1:05 pm Post subject: Re: Doing visa run questions |
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| Allanon wrote: |
Hello everybody,
I've been offered a job,however they want me to come to Korea by the 9th of July. They say they will send me a ticket to Korea, then I would go to Japan. They haven't said when I would go to Japan though. I'm wondering if they would have me working BEFORE I have my visa stamped in my passport before going to Japan? I don't want to do that at all? Am I overreacting here?Is it reasonable to do this? They need a teacher "asap", therefore getting my visa in Canada won't be possible. Red flags, or am I being too cautious? Any advice would be very appreciated. |
I'm glad you asked this question in this forum. It's always good to have contractual language stating, "The employee will work for the employer when the employee has been issued the proper Work Visa from Korean Immigration Officials.." This is contractual language you need for your own protection. Employers have built up quite a reputation for pressuring workers into working while on a Tourist Visa. |
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AliNZ
Joined: 11 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 2:01 pm Post subject: E2 |
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But the Visa runs are so common...
once the Visa issuance has been completed then it's a matter of going to Japan to the Korean Embassy for the E2, isn't it?
Am I missing something.
I thought this was pretty standard practise. This will be my 3rd trip to Korea but have always come with the E2 in the past.
Any coments? |
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Allanon
Joined: 01 Jun 2006
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| Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 7:06 pm Post subject: Re: E2 |
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| AliNZ wrote: |
But the Visa runs are so common...
once the Visa issuance has been completed then it's a matter of going to Japan to the Korean Embassy for the E2, isn't it?
Am I missing something.
I thought this was pretty standard practise. This will be my 3rd trip to Korea but have always come with the E2 in the past.
Any coments? |
Agreed, visa runs certainly are common. And yes, it does seem to be fairly standard practice. I'm not so sure that that is a good thing though. My problem with the visa run is with the rather good possibility of working BEFORE obtaining the visa in my passport. Say if I arrive and they want me to start working the following day? They might say,"You can go to Japan at the end of the week" ,or something along those lines.I refuse to work one iota without a visa in my passport.By the fact that they are in such a hurry for me to be there, leads me to believe that this (teaching prior to visa) may occur. What happened to the former instructor? When asked,they wouldn't let me contact him/her via email!They claimed they were gone. My spidey sense is tingling. |
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AliNZ
Joined: 11 Feb 2003
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| Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 7:42 pm Post subject: |
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I think you are safe in that if anyone is going to be in trouble...it will be the hagwan owner. I wouldn't worry unless the owner repeatedly stalled beyond one week.
Can anyone help with my query?
I'm flying up this week and will do a visa run.
What's best for the run Osaka or Fukuoka?
How easy is it to get around in Japan, to find the embassy from the airport etc.
Is there any site you can recommend on how do to this?? |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Jun 29, 2006 7:47 pm Post subject: |
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| AliNZ wrote: |
I think you are safe in that if anyone is going to be in trouble...it will be the hagwan owner. I wouldn't worry unless the owner repeatedly stalled beyond one week.
Can anyone help with my query?
I'm flying up this week and will do a visa run.
What's best for the run Osaka or Fukuoka?
How easy is it to get around in Japan, to find the embassy from the airport etc.
Is there any site you can recommend on how do to this?? |
Visa run to Osaka:
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=19702
Visa run to Fukuoka:
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=21767
Just read through. It's all in there. They are both easy. Where you go to depends on where you are going from. Down south, (Busan way) most folks take the ferry to Fukuoka and up north (Seoul way) most folks fly to Osaka. |
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