Korean Job Discussion Forums

[lokk]

I was recently fired from my hagwon, but I'm working until the end of February because they gave me a nice incentive ($$$). They said they'll give me a letter of release when I'm done, but do I really want this?

Basically what I want to do is stay in the country for another month or two on my E-2 visa. My boss doesn't know any of the regulations or what happens after my contract is officially terminated.

-Does my visa get canceled?
-How soon do I have to leave if it does get canceled?
-Can I get my pension?

Thanks for any answers, my boss doesn't know anything.

[nautilus]

They fire you at 9 months then get you to stay for another 1 or 2?

In other words they've done the classic firing at the 11 month mark...just in a disguised fashion.
If you're going to stay that long then should demand 90% of your severance pay.

[gay in korea]

I think what s/he was saying was that they are fired soon, but the visa doesn't expire for a few months and what they would like to do is just stay in korea for a few months on the E2 even though they aren't working.

Assuming my interpretation is correct, I'm afraid I don't know the answer to help.

[wonkavite62]

As far as I can see, your visa is only good until a little while after you leave the hagwon. When I was last in Korea, I was told my visa would be valid only up to 2 weeks after I'd left the job, and received my release letter.
If you want to stay longer in Korea, you need either to get another job, or leave Korea and come back on a tourist visa, or short-term visa. In Japan, you keep the visa even if you leave the job early, but this isn't Japan. You should check with the Immigration office, or ask at your consulate in Korea or else check the Korean Embassy's website.

[lokk]

Thanks for the reply wonka, I'll definitely have to check with the immigration office, as my hagwon has no clue.

[lifeinkorea]

The usual process I know of is that you get a new job while you are at your current school. Then, you transfer everything and change location before you leave your current school. I have done this 3 times, and I never had a gap between contracts. Actually, it's 4 because of this. One school got upset I wasn't taking their calls while teaching at the school I was finishing at.

I wouldn't wait until after you leave a hagwon to get a new job. You are just asking for trouble if you do. Look for a new school now if you intend on staying in Korea. Get your paperwork in order (which won't be much if you are just transferring visas).

[broken76]

There are several different possibilities on what can happen depending on the circumstances. Is the school closing down or are they letting you go to reduce staff?
If the school is closing down your Visa should be terminated as the school closes. You can get another position in Korea without any problems and without needing to get your docs together or leave the country. When a business closes down they receive a Report of Closure form. If you take this to immigration with a contract for a new position they will do a Visa transfer regardless of how long you've been on your Visa. If you are not planning on staying in Korea to work the Visa is effectively terminated on the last day of business as you are losing your sponsor. Immigration will most likely give you some leeway if you go in and ask for an extension.
If the school is merely downsizing simply ask your director to not cancel your Visa. As long as neither party cancels it it will continue to exist. If you are planning on going to a different position the 10 month mark is the key. 3/4 of your current contract need to be finished in order to do a standard Visa transfer. This would mean that your current Visa is transferred to a new school. New documents aren't necessary and everything is usually completed in country. If you aren't planning on working again simply ask your director to keep your Visa alive.