Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bassist33]

So my school is closing at the end of January. They are being great about the whole situation and letting us keep our apartments and visas through the end of February. They are also helping us all in finding jobs and doing visa transfers.

I have decided to take a short vacation then head home for a couple weeks. I would like to return one of the last days in February and start a new job then or on March 1st. Do you think that this would be possible? I was told that as long as I was back and got my visa transferred before it was cancelled, I should be fine.

Also, I have to send out for my FBI CBC. I have read that as long as I return with the new check within a certain amount of time of my visa transfer they should accept it. Our in-school recruiter told me that I wouldn't even need a CBC with a visa transfer. So, which of these is true?

If all else fails, I'll just take a bit more time off back home and start a new visa with a new school once my CBC comes in, but it would be nice to interview in person and check out my school here. Also, I would like to keep my savings on track. Any answers are greatly appreciated!!

[Troglodyte]

If you have a multiple entry visa then you can go out of the country for as long as you like. That's not a problem. The problem will be you school going out of business. When you make the visa transfer, your school has to still officially be employing you. No more than 15 days between your current job finishing and your next one starting. If you're school is going out of business, then immigration may find this out when you transfer. So if they go out of business in January and you're looking to transfer in March you could be in some trouble for overstaying your ARC validity period. Once you're no longer employed, you're obligated to report this.

If you're here already and can do a visa transfer, you can get a lot sweeter jobs than applying from abroad. More money, fewer hours, other perks. Since you don't need a flight over (only a flight home) you can even negotiate a 6 month contract. Maybe you can even find a place that will hire you in January and give you a month of unpaid holiday in February so that you can travel. If you're already here, it saves them a lot of money and waiting time. They can basically get you set up and working as soon as your current employer is willing to release you. Visa transfer fees are very little. Less than 100,000 Won and they take a couple days to process (maybe up to a week in Seoul). For that alone schools will negotiate with you.