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Colorado Couple
Joined: 01 Dec 2009
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 Posted: Tue May 18, 2010 4:49 pm Post subject: 3 months at Hagwon, wanting to leave.... |
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So we are a couple currently teaching at a hagwon. We quickly came to realize that the director's husband is, well, an asshole. He is very aggressive, confrontational and unreasonable. He tries to find a hidden, negative meaning in many things that we bring up with them. Basically, our work environment is very uncomfortable and we dont really want to feel like this every day for the next 9 months. In addition to that, we've been moved to differing schedules, so he has a morning schedule and I have an afternoon schedule. Which is fairly inconvenient when A) You come over as a couple and B) You live in a studio where eating dinner, sleeping, etc. basically need to be in sync without pissing off the other.
So I'm needing some advice. Is it worth trying to get out of this situation to pursue another job? Would we need a release letter? According to immigration, they say as long as we can get sponsored by another employer, we wouldnt need a release letter signed. Does this sound right? Basically said we'd have to do a Fukuoka run or whatever.
If anyone has had a similar experience, please share with us. We feel stuck between a rock and a hard place. Thanks a lot! |
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Quack Addict
Joined: 31 Mar 2008
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Tue May 18, 2010 9:47 pm Post subject: |
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| I would contact a recruiter and go from there. Look at the jobs forum on Dave's and contact one. Good luck. |
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musicmunky
Joined: 05 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Fri May 21, 2010 2:29 am Post subject: |
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| lots of jobs out there...have a look, hope u find something |
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Troglodyte
Joined: 06 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Fri May 21, 2010 4:52 am Post subject: Re: 3 months at Hagwon, wanting to leave.... |
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| Colorado Couple wrote: |
Would we need a release letter? According to immigration, they say as long as we can get sponsored by another employer, we wouldnt need a release letter signed. Does this sound right? Basically said we'd have to do a Fukuoka run or whatever.
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Did someone at the local immigration office actually say this to you? If so, then you're set. This rule seems to change all the time. A few years back it used to be that E2's couldn't switch jobs without finishing the first contract or a LOT of bureaucracy, but it seems to have changed quite a bit. Since I've returned to Korea I've met several people who have switched employers after half a year and heard of others who have done it with less time. It all seems to depends on what province/city/area they are in. It seems to me that there is no set in stone rule and it's up to local immigration office to decide. It does seem that they favor people switching from hogwans to public schools.
If you have a letter of release from your current employer then it's a LOT easier to switch employers. Then you can transfer your visa over to the new school and completely avoid the visa run to Japan. If your boss (or boss' husband) is a jerk then they're likely not going to want to give you the release letter. But those are usually the same people who are scamming you on something else like taxes, pension, health insurance. If you know that they are, then you can use that as leverage to get the release letter, but don't expect it to be without a big confrontation.
Out of curiosity, what province/area are you in? |
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isisaredead
Joined: 18 May 2010
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| Posted: Sat May 22, 2010 7:37 pm Post subject: |
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as far as i know, you really need a letter of release.
if you didn't, this kind of scenario would happen all the time: someone hates their current job, finds another one, gets "sponsored" by the future employer, leaves the current job.
this doesn't happen at all - at least not to my knowledge, after being here for a few years.
when i left my hagwon halfway through the second contract, i needed a letter of release, even though i had another job to go to. |
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UncleAlex
Joined: 04 Apr 2003
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| Posted: Sat May 22, 2010 10:28 pm Post subject: |
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An immigration counselor told me back in February that one has to work for 9 months in order to be eligible for a release letter and E2 visa transfer. Your employer must give his consent in writing before your visa transfer can be issued. Try to stick it out for 6 more months or resign and teach English in another country: Japan or Taiwan are okay financially. The Immigration hotline is 1345. All the best!  |
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Troglodyte
Joined: 06 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Sun May 23, 2010 3:44 am Post subject: |
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| UncleAlex wrote: |
| An immigration counselor told me back in February that one has to work for 9 months in order to be eligible for a release letter and E2 visa transfer. Your employer must give his consent in writing before your visa transfer can be issued. Try to stick it out for 6 more months or resign and teach English in another country: Japan or Taiwan are okay financially. The Immigration hotline is 1345. All the best! |
I think that it depends a lot on which province you're in and whether you want to transfer to a PS or a hogwan. (It seems that public schools are preferred.) Most immigration offices probably won't let you transfer at 3 months, but if it's worth asking them. |
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VanIslander
Joined: 18 Aug 2003
Location: Geoje, Hadong, Tongyeong,... now in a small coastal island town outside Gyeongsangnamdo!
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| Posted: Sun May 23, 2010 3:57 am Post subject: |
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two distinctly different options
if you quit, you need a letter of release from the employer; used to only be valid from 9th to 11th month but these days stories vary (good luck! getting an employer you quit on to give a release letter)
get yourself fired at any point and your employer will be legally required to cancel your e-2 visa at the immi office within 14 days, after which you can simply re-start the e-2 visa process again from scratch |
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Troglodyte
Joined: 06 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Sun May 23, 2010 4:36 am Post subject: |
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| VanIslander wrote: |
two distinctly different options
if you quit, you need a letter of release from the employer; used to only be valid from 9th to 11th month but these days stories vary (good luck! getting an employer you quit on to give a release letter)
get yourself fired at any point and your employer will be legally required to cancel your e-2 visa at the immi office within 14 days, after which you can simply re-start the e-2 visa process again from scratch |
Good points.
I had completely forgotten about the getting fired option. OP, if you go that route, make sure that you get it in writing, and check with immigration to make sure that you're boss notified them that you were fired and that your visa was cancelled. |
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UncleAlex
Joined: 04 Apr 2003
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| Posted: Sun May 23, 2010 6:38 am Post subject: |
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| Troglodyte wrote: |
| UncleAlex wrote: |
| An immigration counselor told me back in February that one has to work for 9 months in order to be eligible for a release letter and E2 visa transfer. Your employer must give his consent in writing before your visa transfer can be issued. Try to stick it out for 6 more months or resign and teach English in another country: Japan or Taiwan are okay financially. The Immigration hotline is 1345. All the best! |
I think that it depends a lot on which province you're in and whether you want to transfer to a PS or a hogwan. (It seems that public schools are preferred.) Most immigration offices probably won't let you transfer at 3 months, but if it's worth asking them. |
Immigration is a federal matter, not provincial. |
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Troglodyte
Joined: 06 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Sun May 23, 2010 11:18 am Post subject: |
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| UncleAlex wrote: |
| Troglodyte wrote: |
| UncleAlex wrote: |
| An immigration counselor told me back in February that one has to work for 9 months in order to be eligible for a release letter and E2 visa transfer. Your employer must give his consent in writing before your visa transfer can be issued. Try to stick it out for 6 more months or resign and teach English in another country: Japan or Taiwan are okay financially. The Immigration hotline is 1345. All the best! |
I think that it depends a lot on which province you're in and whether you want to transfer to a PS or a hogwan. (It seems that public schools are preferred.) Most immigration offices probably won't let you transfer at 3 months, but if it's worth asking them. |
Immigration is a federal matter, not provincial. |
True, but the rules are interpreted and enforced on an provincial level.
The fact that some people HAVE been able to transfer their visa's after 6 months (and some even sooner) shows this. As far as I know, the law also doesn't make any distinction between switching from a hogwan to a hogwan and switching from a hogwan to a PS, BUT people switching to a PS seem to have more success at it. The guys at the local immigration office seem to be the ones that are making the call about what passes and what doesn't.
Same story with the mandatory interview at the Korean consulate in your home country. That's the law. That's the way it's supposed to be. BUT some people have received first time E2 visas at the Korean consulates/embassy in Japan (without an interview even).
It pays to be nice to the guys at the immigration office and to bring them a box of cake or those little juice bottles. |
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lifeinkorea
Joined: 24 Jan 2009
Location: somewhere in China
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| Posted: Sun May 23, 2010 2:49 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| as long as we can get sponsored by another employer |
It's not that simple. There is a new rule floating around which says you can transfer after 6 months. It used to be 9 months. I was going to do this in March, but I decided to come to China. I didn't test the waters.
Since you are a couple, I don't think it is a good idea to tell the hagwon owner you both want to leave. They have to get 2 more teachers then, and it will be at their convenience, not yours.
I suggest you work at 2 different schools, one gets an apartment (they make sure the school sends photos and all). Then, the other asks for some housing allowance instead (if you want to save money) from the second school. This way, when crap like this happens you both aren't tied to one employer.
You could even offset the months, so one starts a contract 4-6 months before the other. If anything happens, you have money coming in and the other person can leave and re-enter on a tourist visa.
Bottom line, you put yourself into this situation, don't do it again. |
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UncleAlex
Joined: 04 Apr 2003
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| Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 6:47 am Post subject: |
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| Troglodyte wrote: |
| UncleAlex wrote: |
| Troglodyte wrote: |
| UncleAlex wrote: |
| An immigration counselor told me back in February that one has to work for 9 months in order to be eligible for a release letter and E2 visa transfer. Your employer must give his consent in writing before your visa transfer can be issued. Try to stick it out for 6 more months or resign and teach English in another country: Japan or Taiwan are okay financially. The Immigration hotline is 1345. All the best! |
I think that it depends a lot on which province you're in and whether you want to transfer to a PS or a hogwan. (It seems that public schools are preferred.) Most immigration offices probably won't let you transfer at 3 months, but if it's worth asking them. |
Immigration is a federal matter, not provincial. |
True, but the rules are interpreted and enforced on an provincial level.
The fact that some people HAVE been able to transfer their visa's after 6 months (and some even sooner) shows this. As far as I know, the law also doesn't make any distinction between switching from a hogwan to a hogwan and switching from a hogwan to a PS, BUT people switching to a PS seem to have more success at it. The guys at the local immigration office seem to be the ones that are making the call about what passes and what doesn't.
Same story with the mandatory interview at the Korean consulate in your home country. That's the law. That's the way it's supposed to be. BUT some people have received first time E2 visas at the Korean consulates/embassy in Japan (without an interview even).
It pays to be nice to the guys at the immigration office and to bring them a box of cake or those little juice bottles. |
When exactly did these people transfer their E2 visas after 6 months or sooner? I know for a fact that a couple of years ago I could transfer my E2 visa upon 6 months in my contract, but in February 2010 I was told that it's 9 months without any qualifications. All the regional offices must abide by federal government legislation following one manual. And all clerks must as well. The finest cake from Paris Baguette won't make any difference. I've been told more than once: "Sorry, but I have to follow the rules." |
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Troglodyte
Joined: 06 Dec 2009
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| Posted: Tue May 25, 2010 11:19 am Post subject: |
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| UncleAlex wrote: |
| Troglodyte wrote: |
| UncleAlex wrote: |
| Troglodyte wrote: |
| UncleAlex wrote: |
| An immigration counselor told me back in February that one has to work for 9 months in order to be eligible for a release letter and E2 visa transfer. Your employer must give his consent in writing before your visa transfer can be issued. Try to stick it out for 6 more months or resign and teach English in another country: Japan or Taiwan are okay financially. The Immigration hotline is 1345. All the best! |
I think that it depends a lot on which province you're in and whether you want to transfer to a PS or a hogwan. (It seems that public schools are preferred.) Most immigration offices probably won't let you transfer at 3 months, but if it's worth asking them. |
Immigration is a federal matter, not provincial. |
True, but the rules are interpreted and enforced on an provincial level.
The fact that some people HAVE been able to transfer their visa's after 6 months (and some even sooner) shows this. As far as I know, the law also doesn't make any distinction between switching from a hogwan to a hogwan and switching from a hogwan to a PS, BUT people switching to a PS seem to have more success at it. The guys at the local immigration office seem to be the ones that are making the call about what passes and what doesn't.
Same story with the mandatory interview at the Korean consulate in your home country. That's the law. That's the way it's supposed to be. BUT some people have received first time E2 visas at the Korean consulates/embassy in Japan (without an interview even).
It pays to be nice to the guys at the immigration office and to bring them a box of cake or those little juice bottles. |
When exactly did these people transfer their E2 visas after 6 months or sooner? I know for a fact that a couple of years ago I could transfer my E2 visa upon 6 months in my contract, but in February 2010 I was told that it's 9 months without any qualifications. All the regional offices must abide by federal government legislation following one manual. And all clerks must as well. The finest cake from Paris Baguette won't make any difference. I've been told more than once: "Sorry, but I have to follow the rules." |
I've met 2 people who did it within the last year.
If you read through the old posts on this forum, you'll find other people who have done it. I'm quite sure there was also a guy a few months ago who transferred after being employed less than the 6 months.
If the people at the OP's local immigration office said that they can transfer, then most likely they can. |
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rollo
Joined: 10 May 2006
Location: China
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| Posted: Wed May 26, 2010 3:47 am Post subject: |
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| Why not honor your contract, tough it out, it will get better and you will eventually sort out the difficulties. Unless you have a job that you absolutely know is better, stick it out. If you are paid on time and not being financially cheated then all the problems you listed can be worked through. I worked in hagwon hell and I know it is brutal some days, but try it a day at a time and who knows it might even become fun. |
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