Korean Job Discussion Forums

Qinella · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Location: the crib

Denverdeath, thanks for your assistance. Here are all the relevant stats I can think to give you:

1. I arrived in Korea on 3/18/05 (a Friday).
2. My first day of work was 3/21/05 (a Monday).
3. My ARC card expires on 3/19/06.
4. My visa expires on 3/15/06.
5. My passport is stamped with this: "ADMITTED 2005 Mar. 19 UNTIL" It does not have an until date, as I would expect.

I've asked my boss when my last day of work is supposed to be, and he hasn't answered. This is my first time living abroad, so I'm not too sure what the rules are. Do I need to stop working on the 3/15/06, since that's the last day of my visa, but be out of the country by the 19th?

Btw, no I was not paid for a full month. My director simply pays me on the 22nd of every month.

Thanks again for your help. Anyone else who knows, please chime in. I'm sure every veteran teacher can help me out, so please do.

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

Okay. Starting to make more sense now. I'm pretty sure that to get severance and anything else that you're supposed to get that you need a full calendar year. That means that your last day of work should be the 21st of March next year. That's assuming that this guy has a history of paying what he's supposed to. I'm not 100% positive, but I'm pretty sure that there's no relevance to what you refer to as your VISA expiration date. Immigration has given you until the 19th to work legally, which is a Sunday. If your boss is a real stickler about the one-year thing, then you will have to make your last day of work as the 21st. If not, then I think your last day should be Friday the 17th. If he wants you to work until the end of the next week, he should pay you for those three extra days. You should NOT work a day after the 19th. You need an extension. Anyway, talk to your boss about his expectations and you should be fine. Just show him the calendar along with your contract and let him know that you want to book your flight so you need to know what date he expects you to work until. Again, it's a bit screwy that you started on the day you did, but maybe that's just the strange way that's been working for your boss over the years. If he tells you that Friday the 17th is fine, then book your flight for Saturday or Sunday and you won't have to get any extensions from immi. Just make sure that you get your pay and severance on that day(17th). Also, make sure that the paperwork is done for your pension before you leave if you're entitled to it and if he's been taking it out of your pay. Your boss seems a bit indecisive. Put the contract and calendar in front of him and highlight the areas. Then circle the date on the calendar and also add the words PAY DAY, SEVERANCE, and PENSION to it while he watches. After that, book your flight. I also think there's a small fee to change your flight, so you don't want to have to do it too often.

The example I gave you earlier was actually for my last visa-run to Osaka. I located the visa in an old passport. Word-for-word it says, "Good for SINGLE journey to the Republic of Korea within THREE months of date here-of if passport remains valid. Feb.27.2002" The immigration entry stamp had "ADMITTED 2002.FEB.28 UNTIL". All that the first date meant was that I had to register to get my ARC no later than three months after it. The second date was only for the day I entered. If I had've left at the end of that contract, they probably would've placed an exit stamp somewhere on that page which would've completed the "until...". The date 2002.04.13 was the date my ARC was processed - the "big" and "professioal" and "stable" place was a bit slow in doing most things. The only thing you have to worry about is getting out no later than midnight on the 19th if you don't have an extension. Get a definite date from your boss and extension if needed and then don't worry about it any more. I also understand your confusion even if others don't. Have a good weekend.

Qinella · Joined: 25 Feb 2005 Location: the crib

Thanks a ton for your help, Denverdeath. Our wanjong is a good guy and shouldn't give me any trouble with the severance. I'll just sit down and have a talk with him asap.

Thanks again - you've been a big help.

tzechuk · Joined: 20 Dec 2004

stumptown · Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2005 10:35 am Post subject:

Sorry, that was the soju talking, not me. My apologies Wangja.

mysteriousdeltarays · Posted: Sat Jul 16, 2005 8:40 am Post subject:

You have to be out on the day your visa expires, Forget the ARC etc. The grace period is just a myth.

Wangja · Joined: 17 May 2004 Location: Seoul, Yongsan

plato's republic · Joined: 07 Dec 2004 Location: Ancient Greece

You've gotta leave the country the day your E-2 work visa expires, basically because you will be overstaying your visa if you don't, which is illegal and leaves you open to a fine. I don't think it's possible to switch over to a tourist visa but as some people have said, you can go to immigration and ask for an extension for travel reasons.