Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Lupin the Third]

Hi,

I hope that someone can help me with this.

It was successful with my first interview at a school, I signed the contract and send my documents to them.

However, I have recently received some negative feedback about the school regarding their vacation time and the living conditions of the apartment.

Is there any way to get out of the contract? The start date is on the 1st of July so I am still in my own country.

I still very much want to go and teach in Korea, but I am afraid that if I break the contract it might ruin my chances of working in Korea.

[YTMND]

[Lupin the Third]

Hi,

Thanks for your reply.

1. Vacation time is only 5 days during the summer holidays. When I asked about this, the recruitment agent told me that the school was flexible and would allow a few days other than the summer holidays. However, I spoke to a previous teacher and they informed me that outside of the summer holidays you would not get any other leave.
2. I asked for the photos of the apartment and the recruitment agent replied that they my request was too trivial to bother the director of the school with. The director did however send me pictures of the school which looks very professional. A previous teacher also informed me that the apartment does not have any air conditioning.
3. Working hours are great though; 2:40 pm to 10:00 pm.

My experience with the agent so far has been good but the recent information regarding the vacation time and not being able to see pictures of the apartment has placed a lot of doubts in my mind.

[YTMND]

[ttompatz]

Bottom line:

IF they have your documents (rather than just a signed contract) and have applied for the visa confirmation number you are screwed for 90 days.

Kimmi will NOT issue a new visa confirmation number while one is outstanding (they expire after 90 days) and will not cancel it (while you are abroad).

Your documents are gone (k-immi won't return them and a new visa application will require new documents again).

.

[ewlandon]

sending him photos is a waste of their time since he already signed the contract and sent them paperwork.


You're pretty stuck unless you want to cancel the contract and get all new originals of the paperwork (i.e. wait another 5 months) then you shouldnt have any problems. You're better off going. If the apt sucks tell them you want a different one. If they wont, look for another job. Get the other job to pay for the plane ticket that you will owe the first job then quit. You shouldnt have any problem finding another job if your reason for quiting is that you got here and the conditions were bad and the school was not reasonable in working with you.

[Lupin the Third]

Hi,

Thanks for everyone's feedback.

I guess my only options are either to follow through with it or to postpone my plans for the next three months...

This will definitely teach me to do my homework more thoroughly in the future.

I am still waiting for my Visa though, they said that it would take about two weeks, it's been a little longer than three weeks already with no feedback yet.

[ttompatz]

[ontheway]

Is this the same school you posted in the Contract Review Thread on June 5, 2012? The 5 weeks vacation and no A/C makes it sound the same. If so, try to cancel this contract before you come.

Here's what I said then:

[Lupin the Third]

@ Ontheway. Yes, it is. When I posted the contract for review, I already signed it and was looking for a second opinion. Like I said, I really should have done my homework more thoroughly, so feeling really foolish.

Is it at all possible to cancel the contract without having to wait an additional 3 - 5 months? I do have extra sets of notarized and apostilled documentation as a back-up.

I have send my CV to a different recruiter and got a job-offer with a different school. The contract is loads better and I luckily avoided the same pitfalls of the current one.

[ontheway]

If your documents haven't been submitted to Immigration yet, then you could tell the school that you have some kind of emergency and have them hold off on filing. It's possible, if it has been as long as you indicate, that they haven't even filed the documents.

If you're stuck and your documents have already been filed and you get your Visa Issuance Number, then some posters would advise to come ahead and take the chance that either the school will turn out to be OK, or you can leave after a few months and find something better.

If you have a VIN and don't come on that visa to that school, then you'll have to wait three months to apply again to a new school, as Ttompatz has indicated - and perhaps have little or no income for that time period.

Some places that underpay you and rip you off on taxes and benefits are still enjoyable places to work.

It's a tough call and depends on your situation.

[YTMND]

I wonder what would happen if you arrived in Korea, and then stayed at a hotel for a week. Just don't go to the school, don't contact them, anything. Would they cancel your visa?

The half baked scheme would be to go to immigration and ask for a D-10 (eventually). You would go and say you thought the contract was later, but since they cancelled the visa, would immigration be willing to overlook any 90 day restriction?

[sojusucks]

[Troglodyte]

[sojusucks]