Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jadarite]

I just had a recruiter tell me that even if I couldn't get a letter of release, I could still work at another school if I go through the whole E-2 visa process again by going to Japan on a visa run.

Is this true? Does this mean a letter of release would allow me to work at another school without getting a new criminal check and health check?

If not, then when is a letter of release not needed?

[Cerriowen]

From what I understand... your company owns your right to work here. If you don't get a letter of release, it can be sticky trying to land a new job and get things through immigration. Not impossible, but sticky.

A letter of release will NOT allow you to get a new visa w/o a new CRC and visa run... unless you've been at your CURRENT school for 10 months, and you are switching from a private school to a public school.

Don't know when you wouldn't need one...

[Ut videam]

[Atavistic]

An LOR is NOT required by immigration. It is something new hogwons want to make sure that your old hogwon isn't going to go after you.

I got a new job with a LOR, canceled my own visa/ARC at the airport, went to Japan, came back the next day. Ta da.

This, however, was before the new regs and I was not transferring a visa, but rather getting a new one.

[dcwm81]

When you leave the country, give up your ARC to immigration and tell them that you are finished with that job/visa. When you come back, you may have to explain your leaving to immigration in Korea if you ran, or quit. However, if you are fired, you don't need to worry about a LOR.

[jadarite]

dcwm81,

"When you come back, you may have to explain your leaving to immigration in Korea if you ran, or quit."

"However, if you are fired, you don't need to worry about a LOR."

I guess this question could be applied to both, but my main concern is the first one. If you come back, wouldn't you come back on a tourist visa? Why is there a need for an explanation? Also, does this mean you have to start the whole visa process over again?

Something sounds fishy about just leaving the country and then re-entering the country thinking nothing is going to happen. Or, are you assuming the person re-enters on a new E2 visa instead of a tourist visa? This would still require the visa process to be done over again I think.

[dcwm81]

What I meant about leaving and coming back was coming back on a new E2 visa, sponsored by a new school. If you just come back in on a tourist visa I don't think they'll look twice at you.

I was given information from people who deal directly with immigration all the time. By giving up your ARC you are ending the visa. Thus before immigration gives you another, they want to know why you prematurely ended the previous one. If you left on bad terms, maybe there is the chance they won't give you one. But if your new school wants you, they will cut a deal with immigration or your old school to get it done.

[jadarite]

What if you leave and come back to your old job? I know there is a re-entry thing you can get, but if you don't, what happens? You aren't trying to end it, but simply left the country and forgot to get the re-entry.

Is it a stronger argument to immigration that you couldn't go back to the old school cause when you left, you "forgot" to get a re-entry so you stayed out of the country a month or so and found a new school during that time?

[dcwm81]

You can get a re-entry upon coming back if you are going back to your old school. They give it to you at Immigration in the airport when you get off the plane. You'll pay 30,000 won for it I believe. Otherwise, go get your re-entry before you go at immigration. It'll cost the same.

Your argument of not being allowed back in wouldn't hold because of what I mentioned above.

[Cerriowen]

[Ut videam]