Korean Job Discussion Forums

[dmeryl]

HI,
Need help asap please.
My situation with Letter of Release LOR:
I ended a contract with a private institute(hagwan) recently (in Gwangju) and got a new position at a National Univ (in Jinju). The current E2 visa doesn't end until end of October.

However, the Univ. position does not start until Aug 23 and it is only June. The Univ wants the LOR asap-just got offer on Monday but called my referral 2x for letter.
My hagwan is happy to give letter but we don't know what to do about the dates as I am planning on staying in Korea in June and then want to leave and travel in July and return in Aug.

If I leave and come back, what will be my status with new E2 visa if I give LOR? Do I still have to go to consulate in another country or is this like a transfer of visa status?
Do I need a copy of LOR to bring to immigration myself or my previous employer?

Neither institute or univ. seems to know what the process in this situation.

Any assistance would be greatly appreciated at the earliest convenience.

Debra

[bliss]

On your letter of release, you should ask for your hagwan to state your release date as being August.

I don't know any other way to go about it as I'm sure the date of release and starting the new job should be almost continuous.

[dmeryl]

Yeah, thanks.
I have to come that is the best way.. but IF my hagwan wants to be responsible for that time is the next challenge. I will have to see.

[BUSTAK]

Take it easy! Don't be scared. Teachers are spreading rumours or misinfo about the dreaded "LOR" and they need not dread it.

Employees and employers are using the term "LOR" incorrectly.

the LOR is a document required by immigration of the employer to inform immigration of the last date of employment, however the job ends. That is, it is an immigration document. It goes from the employer to immigration. The key thing for immigration is the last date of employment. The actual date of the last date worked, as stated by the employer officially, is the key to determining the extent of the visa and the exit date.

In any case, the immigration allows a grace period, some time for you to prepare to leave or change employers. Where you are getting a new job, the new employer should supply immigration with the necessary document signalling that you are being hired with them. Universities have a special document for this purpose and they know what it is. Anyway, the point here in this paragraph is that the information from the new employer to immigration will help smooth over any gaps or contradictions in the timeline of the paperwork.

In cases where the employees resigns and thereby ends the contract early, the employee should write a letter of resignation and keep a copy for the authorities. In addition, the employee should request a LETTER OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT from the employer he's leaving. That is a letter addressed to the resigning employee in reply to the letter of resignation that states the date of the last day of work and the terms of the separation.

This letter of acknowledgment is helpful to clarify the situation for immigration and even the new employer. It is security in cases where the employer is uncooperative or angry of the employees resignation, and may be inclined to refuse to agree to the resignation and refuse to give immigration the LOR. In cases like those, though, it may be difficult to get a letter of acknowledgment. However, you are a free human being in that you can leave a job when you want to. It is best to be polite, considerate and follow the process. If the employer does not agree to the resignation, just provide your letter of resignation to immigration and explain the circumstances. Best to go to immigration with a new contract in hand too, so that it becomes a matter of how to document you for the new contract.

Best of luck. Just go to www.freedteachers.org for further assistance if you wish.

Barbara
FREED

[PatrickGHBusan]

A surprisingly objective, rational and calm bit of advice there Barbara.

Well done.

Now if you guys could just drop the shrill Human Rights crusade tone along with the workers of the world unite against imperialism chant...you could be one heck of a resource for Teachers in Busan and elsewhere by just doing what you just did: provide factual advive that is free of drama and calls for revolution.

Again, well done.

[ontheway]

[dmeryl]

Thank you all for your input and information. Still unclear about a couple of things:

1 - Which immigration office do I need to go to with paperwork, LOR, etc.. the city I am leaving (Gwangju) or where I will be working in Aug. (Jinju)?

2-Besides LOR, what do I bring with me to immigration office.. a letter from new employer with contract?

3- My new univ already has most of my paperwork, diplomas, CBC, etc. If I were to go abroad to a Korean Consulate to renew my E2 visa, what exactly would I need to bring with me there?

4- I gave my new employer a copy of my "bill of health" from my last health check up in Nov. Should it be still valid if it is still under a year old?