Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Sireno]

I'm looking for constructive advice here. I realize I got myself into a bad situation and it's my fault, though I'm trying to look past this and get on to fix it and move on.

I had looked at this thread for some information already.
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=223556


I just started working at Direct English Pagoda with split shifts. I can not do it. It's too hard and stressful with the hours and commute.

I had planned on working for 4 months and returning home to begin graduate school in the Fall. My significant other is also in Korea so there's extra reason for me to be here. I see myself with 3 options at the moment.

Option #1: I stay in Korea and study Korean for the Summer. I would need to leave the country and come back to change visa statuses? Or maybe I can find a nice person at immigration to let me change statuses?

Question:
1) If I quit and leave that day would I be able to cancel and change my visa upon leaving Korea and come back on a D4 quickly and easily?
2) Or, could I leave and come back and study on a tourist stamp for the 90 days?

Option #2: I quit and go back home.

Option #3: I negotiate something with my boss about working part time. This would enable me to stay here, on an E2, and study.
Q: Would my employer allow this at all?

Any other ideas for me? I appreciate constructive and positive advice. Thank you.

[sluggo832004]

I just got an interview with pagoda.

A friend recommended them to me. Says its a great gig if you want to teach adults.

Is it really that bad?? Ive applied to Wall Street and Pagoda so far.

[Sireno]

[Troglodyte]

Option #1: I stay in Korea and study Korean for the Summer. I would need to leave the country and come back to change visa statuses? Or maybe I can find a nice person at immigration to let me change statuses?

Question:
1) If I quit and leave that day would I be able to cancel and change my visa upon leaving Korea and come back on a D4 quickly and easily?

- You might not have to leave the country. Since you're changing visa types, you might be able to do it in Korea.

2) Or, could I leave and come back and study on a tourist stamp for the 90 days?

-Yes. Plenty of people study (short term courses on language, art, cooking, etc.) on a tourist visa or during the visa-free period. In fact, if you apply for a study visa for such a short period of time, immigration might even point out that option.


Option #2: I quit and go back home.

Option #3: I negotiate something with my boss about working part time. This would enable me to stay here, on an E2, and study.
Q: Would my employer allow this at all?

-Without knowing your employer, it's hard to tell. If you make it to his advantage (i.e. he's got a definite financial advantage to doing it) then it's possible.


Any other ideas for me?


-Slight variation on the plans you've already come up with: You could go to another country for the summer and study something there. If you're interested in picking up some language skills, Japanese or Mandarin might be useful to you in the future. I suspect you're from the States or Canada. If so, you could give Mexico a try for a few months and learn some Spanish. In a lot of countries it's easier to get short term and part time work than here in Korea. Stay at a youth hostel, work part time, study part time.

[Ruthdes]

[Sireno]

Thanks for the advice so far, I appreciate it.

I should verify that I can change my E2 visa to a student visa if need be ASAP. Who can I call to ask about this? Do I need to go into an immigration center to ask? Which one does it need to be?

Another concern is that I don't yet have an ARC, will this be a concern? I came here with the E2 visa in my passport about 2 or 3 weeks ago. I took the medical test, but not sure if my school has the results yet. So I have not yet even applied for the arc.

Thank you.

*Edit*
Another question is about quitting/leaving. If I leave without giving proper notice as stating in the contract, will it effect me entering the country later? Either as a tourist or for getting a work visa later? I don't have an ARC yet so how could I cancel it at the airport?
The basic question is: Can my employer do anything to cause problems for me later on here?

[Aine1979]

Your school should definitely have the results, I got here on 10th March, had my medical on 13th, was at immigration on 15th and got my ARC on 29th. Although the owner organised and paid for everything and also took us to immigration, I couldn't imagine your results would take over 3 weeks when ours took less than 48 hours.

[randall020105]