Korean Job Discussion Forums

[gymrat780]

Okay, so I arrived in Korea on Friday and my boss did not like my demeanor (said I didn't look like I was a nice person) from the beginning and said many times that I wouldn't be right for the job.

Anyways, I haven't been fired yet, but it's inevitable and right now I was told today that I would be put through an "evaluation" week even though the decision already seems to be made. The kids seem to like me from my actual teaching today and my encounters with them on Saturday and Sunday, and the staff seems to like me as well, it's just the boss who hates me.

Anyways, what are my options? If he lets me go from the contract can I easily get another job since I have a 13 month E2 visa?

Please, this is very urgent and I am panicking. Here I was thinking I had a position for one year and I haven't even gotten past the first day.

[liveinkorea316]

That's a terrible situation.

If you do get fired you can definately look for another job. You will need a letter of release as far as I know. What you need to do is find the nearest Immigration office and tell them you are fired. In the best case scenario try and keep good relations with him even if he decides to let you go and then he will come with you to the immigrations office.

This is all important because you actually cannot work for anyone else until your current Visa is cancelled or expires. If your boss is willing to properly inform immigration with you then you can be clear to get another Visa.Problem then might be providing the paperwork necessary for the next Visa. You do have to provide it all over again as far as I know and the criminal record check is going to be your longest wait in that case. However given the short space of time since your last application you may be able to get this waived.

There is a rule about not being able to change employers within 6 months but as far as I believe this only applies if you leave of your own accord.

[joeteacher]

Legally your boss has to give you 30 days notice before he can let you go (Someone correct me if I'm wrong). Check and make sure that's on your contract . Even if it isn't, you're still protected by law. So don't freak out too much, you'll have plenty of time to find a new job and get your visa switched over. Good luck.

[WadRUG'naDoo]

Who paid for the plane ticket? If hope he did. If he did, you owe him sweet fudge all. If you paid, he better pay for it.

[gymrat780]

He explained that he will keep me to the end of the month, and give me some pay.

What I am specifically worrying about is the visa process and how hard it is to switch it over? I don't even have many of my documents so I will truly be screwed as all I have are transcripts, 1 passport photo, and my original degree.

I just got the damn visa 5 days ago for christ sakes.

[caribmon]

When you get the police check you need to make them give you 2 of them that are original. Otherwise you have to reorder. Once you register yourself and get your alien registration card you just turn it in at the airport to leave and go through the wonderful process of visa-getting.

Just go to immigration and ask them what to do because the process changes all the time. My info is 5 months old so it could have changed by now.

[gymrat780]

So you think I'm going to have to resend in all my documents?

[meaghan]

[CentralCali]

Dude, your boss is broke. You're going to get absolutely nothing. The "evaluation period" is pure hokum. It's a carrot to keep you working there for free. And at the end of the month, he's going to simply close shop.

Best bet: Fly out of the country. Go work somewhere else for someone honest and solvent. If you want to come back to Korea, reapply for a visa after the waiting period (ttompatz can hook you up with information on that).

Please tell us that you, not your boss, have your passport and diploma in hand.

[ttompatz]

OP:

Bad news for you is that you are screwed. It is even worse if you paid for your own ticket on the promise of getting reimbursed after you arrive here (another case of "left at the airport syndrome").

You have no standing with the labor board (still considered to be within the 6 month probationary period).

You do have standing for a civil suit (breech of contract) to recover "out of pocket" expenses but getting blood out of a stone is difficult and there are no punitive damages to seek (you're not in the states) and you probably don't have the cash to begin a lawsuit in a foreign country anyway.

OPTIONS:

IF you have (or can quickly get) a complete set of new documents....

LEAVE at your earliest convenience. You are not going to get paid for your time at that hagwan anyway.

Catch a ferry to Japan. Tell the officer at passport control to cancel your visa on your way out of the country. MAKE SURE the visa (in your passport) is stamped CANCELED!.

Return on the next boat and get a 90 day tourist stamp on arrival back in Korea.
Begin your job search again - smarter and wiser.

If you do not have a new set of documents you are SCREWED (for work in Korea).
Get a new set ASAP. Your old set is gone and immigration won't return them and won't let you transfer (unless your boss formally goes bankrupt).

You will need a new CRC and a certified (KCUE or apostilled copy) of your degree.

It is almost time to panic. There are choices but time is not on your side and your choices are limited.

Do you have any emergency cash available to you?
Do you have folks at home who can assist you (either cash or getting documents)?
Do you have a place to stay or the money for a goshiwan (cheap room).
Where in Korea are you?

.

[iwillteachyouenglish]

Maybe he/she really does have an unfriendly face bahahahaha

OP, please post your photo.

[Troglodyte]

I've heard of people transferring their visa with under 6 months, but from what i've heard (ya ya it's all second hand info) immigration doesn't let you do it. I've even heard of them refusing to let you transfer with less than 9 months.

There are two main things that I'd be interested in hearing about that may also be important to the OP's situation.

Question 1. Can the OP get another E2 without an interview? Obviously it won't be his first E2 but since he didn't finish the first, will immigration make him go home? Has anyone else been in that situation?

Question 2. If the OP cancels his visa (or if his boss does) and he leaves the country, can he actually get another E2 before the current one (or the first 6 months of his current one) would have expired? I remember quite some time ago being told by other expats that they couldn't get another E2 until the time on their original had expired (the whole 12 months). I understand that this has decreased to 9 or 6 months, but is it now possible to just leave, cancel the visa at the airport and then come back to job hunt for a new position and actually get another E2? Anyone have experience in the last couple years leaving before 6 months and successfully getting another E2 right away?

My advice to the OP is this. Be polite with your boss. If he's going to fire you, say that you understand his position. If he's not going to pay you, then tell him that you'd like him to make up for it by giving your a letter of release and going with you to the immigration to help transfer your visa to another school. You may even get him to give you a good review with the excuse that the school is downsizing or going bankrupt or whatever so that you don't have a hard time applying to another job. If you're in Seoul, then you're lucky because there are plenty of schools there that will hire you (if you have your docs or can get a transfer). They like people who can do an in person interview. If your boss doesn't want to give you a LOR then point out to him that you don't intend to leave Korea and that it will cost you a lot to do a visa run to Japan. If necessary you can imply that you may recuperate that cost by going to the labor board to complain, but leave threats as a last resort. And definitely don't file a complaint until your are officially at another employer.

[gymrat780]

[gymrat780]

[northway]