Korean Job Discussion Forums

[piscin]

Hi all,

I'm five months into my new contract, and like many people, have been casually reading ongoing discussion about the new regulations, complacently thinking they had nothing to do with me, that I was secure in my job.

Yesterday, my boss informed me that my hagwon might be closing at the end of next week (convoluted financial problems). So - with March 1st literally on top of us, I find myself in a situation.

What I'd like to know is whether it is in fact possible to transfer my visa from one hagwon to another. Someone else wrote that they were doing something similar and that they need " the new signed contract, business registration, sponsor form, my passport, alien card, and release letter"

If I have another employer ready to take me on immediately, and my boss is willing to let me go, can I transfer without a) doing a visa run, or b) having to go through the whole new process?

If anyone has any info, I'd be eternally grateful.

Cheers,

Piscin

[Ut videam]

Sent you a PM, but the short version is no, you can't transfer your visa to another hagwon because you don't have 10 months in.

Whether or not you'll be able to do a visa run depends on whether you've worked at least a year in Korea on a previous E-2. If this is your first one, you're most likely looking at a trip home for a consulate interview.

Your best option would be to find a public school position. Immigration is apparently not enforcing the 10 month rule for transfers from hagwons to public schools. Thus, you'll be able to transfer your visa without leaving the country. If you do it before March 15, you'll only need a letter of release from the hagwon; no additional documents (background check, health check, etc.) will be needed.