Korean Job Discussion Forums

busan_boy2000 · Joined: 11 Nov 2003

I have since left my job - yeah I just left one day - and am trying to find a new one. Now here is my situation.

This fall when I first got to Korea all green and new I was told I was be going on visa run to Japan (standard). This never happened, various problems with my boss (see other posts) - but to sum it up, I was convinced to come without an E2, once the boss had me working he just held on to my docs and diploma for this fabled visa which never showed up. So 2-3 months later I give up and just leave - somthing I probably should have done the first week. But after harrasing the guy for a visa for so long it seemed like a Lets Go! (haha) situation. I did get my diploma back by the way. I am now about to take a new job knowing the ropes of ESL in Korea and a bit wiser.

My question is this - and kinda hypothetical as well. What if my boss filled for an E2 VISA but never sent me on the VISA run to get it finalized - half a visa if you will. What if he just sat on the confirmation seeing how long he could keep me working illegally? If he did this am I screwed when my new job\employer goes to apply for the visa confirmation (the go ahead) from the ministry in Busan this time around? I only worked 3 months at this old job. (Left - the director was obviously pi##ed - but once I filled the recruiter in about the situation they dropped it and I haven't heard from them since).

Am I worrying about nothing? Should I know from my experience in Korea already that they are not that orgainzed to even notice this when the new school goes to get my visa?

Most places I wouldn't even worry about this but.....

Help!

mishlert · Joined: 13 Mar 2003 Location: On the 3rd rock from the sun

There's no such thing as a half visa. Either you go on the run with the "blue" form and get a visa stamped in your passport, which then is used to get a foreign resident card; you have 90 days to get the card or the visa is null-and-void and the process starts all over again.
So, if you never even went on a visa run, you have no problem starting a new job.
Good luck.

Harpeau · Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Location: Coquitlam, BC

I agree with the above poster. Basically, your only problem might be explaining to Immigration what you were doing for 3 months.

Maybe, if a teacher teaches illegally and chooses to, that's one thing. But a Director who promises an E-2 and then screws you along for 3 months, that's evil.
BTW, could you tell us the name of this hagwon so people know to avoid it like the plague? Thanks for sharing your story.
Best of luck.
Harpeau

Ilsanman · Joined: 15 Aug 2003 Location: Bucheon, Korea

I would not expect the immigration goons to side with you over your director.

I had a similar situation, and I lied about my 1st 3 months. We worried a bit about my E2 visa partially being filed, but it didn't seem to be a problem. Maybe it got put in the trash can and forgotten about.

rapier · Joined: 16 Feb 2003

Sympathies.
I'd hate to be in your situ. now...
If you find a good school, stick with them year after year.. takes a while but eventually you will. Sticking with the same school is better than going throught the unknown perils of risking starting at a new one..

busan_boy2000 · Joined: 11 Nov 2003

OK, a follow up question to this - as my paranoia is getting the best of me. Korea, round one, seriously dented my general trust for people (not to say I'm some rube, but I try to give people the benefit of the doubt).

I know that I was perfectly justified in booting from that job, but since I was only there for a few less than 3 months (2 pay days - I left with them owing me about 3-4 weeks pay). So about enough to cover the plane tickets.

So what I'm wondering. I've heard horror stories of directors fabricating criminal charges with local authorities about delinquent english teachers on this board. I'm wondering, based on these accounts on this forum, the general corruption of Korean police and government (and society) , if the ministry of justice will do a background\criminal cheack on me when I apply for this visa in a few weeks.

I'm just considering the scenario that my old school told the police I ripped them off, so arrest this guy if he passes through immigration again. (I know that if he got involved with the police he would have to admit (eventually) to employing an illegal for the whole period - maybe).

So will immigration notify my new boss\recruiter about any criminal complaints and\or not issue a visa? Remeber, I never had an E2 - thats why I left.

Will they issue the visa and wait for me at the airport upon returning? So they can sneakily get me.

Or would my old director have to be nuts (which he wasn't - just a little stupid when it came to my visa) to go the police and say he was 'ripped off' by his illegal teacher for plane tickets and recruiting fees (even though I left him enough money - in owed pay - to more than cover the round ticket)?

I would think that if this guy did anything I would havee heard about it by now - its been nearly a month. I must be crazy to be going back to Korea - but I had a plan to spend a year, and dammit, I'm going to fisnish out my year in Korea.

mishlert · Joined: 13 Mar 2003 Location: On the 3rd rock from the sun

Those stories you heard are just that, stories. If any of them are true, then something tells me that the teachers were legal. Now, you were not working there legally so he would never lose face, and possibly his business over this.
Besides, you did the right thing, and he even thought he will never admit it, he knows that what he did and said were wrong. At the end of the day he got his money back for the ticket, and then some, and you left a bad situation so everyone is happy.
No worries.