Korean Job Discussion Forums

[chris_J2]

Here's a crosspost from Lonely Planet NE Asia. Does anyone have any definitive answers?

Hi

I'm desperately hoping that someone can help!

I've been working in Korea for the last 3 months legally teaching English with an E-2 visa. Unfortuantely the school that I have been working for has been particularly bad. I advised my Director that I wanted to leave as the school was not appropriate for my career development (I have degree and a CELTA not a babysitting qualification) along withb many other 'issues'. She told me that I had to speak to the recruiter who found the job for me. The recruiter then sorted everything out and they said everything was sorted for me leaving and there wouldn't be any problems with release letters etc. I therefore found a great job in a great school which would conveniently start the week after I had finished the job which I was leaving. Now the school is refusing to give me a release letter and are with holding pay etc all because the recruiter had failed to tell them I was leaving (it's a long story).

Anyway now that I don't have a release letter I cannot legally work for my new employer. Can anyone tell me if I leave Korea and hand in my alien registration card when I leave will this cancel the E-2 visa I am currently on? I will then re-enter Korea latter that day or the following day on a holiday visa and then do a visa run to Japan in a few weeks - once another set of transcripts have been sent - to get another E-2 visa. Is this a viable option for getting around the 'release letter' issue?

I have heard that the E-2 visa lasts a whole year and I cannot work for another employer without the release letter until the current visa expires after a year. But I have heard different opinions on this which are contradictory and am desperately seeking the definitive answer.

All help will be appreciated!

Craigster

My lame response was: "I'd cross post this on Daves Esl Cafe Korean bulletin boards. I've only been in Korea 2 months, but my understanding is that if you quit or get fired, you need to do a visa run to Japan or China for a new E2 visa. I would consider a direct approach to your local Immigration office for some answers, if your former employer is being deliberately obstructive . My immigration office is in Uiejongbu."

[alabamaman]