Korean Job Discussion Forums

justin moffatt · Joined: 29 Aug 2006

I was hired by a recruiting company in Korea to work for a large Korean company. The recruiting company was run by two westerners and one korean. I felt more comfortable because the westerners assured me that they were honorable and trustworthy. (red flag I know) Shortly after signing the vague and "gentlemanly contract", the conditions of employment changed. I won't get into the details (since a lawsuit will probably ensue) but hours increased drastically and the recruiter soon asked me to engage in illegal activities (opening overseas accounts, etc). I respectfully submitted my two weeks notice as was previously agreed and requested to cancel my application for a E7 visa. They agreed reluctantly, asked me to get things in order for my replacement and I completed my duties. After finishing the agreed term, they refused to pay me for work completed and refused to cancel the E7 application. As a result, I have lost two university positions and am unable to get employment elsewhere because immigration will not cancel the application without the employer attending to the office (even though I have an e-mail from the employer claiming they would cancel it). My questions are:

1. What can I do to cancel this visa application?
2 What is an E7 visa? I searched on the immigration website, limited information.
3. What can I do to warn others about this shady company?
4. How can I get my monies owed?

Any advice or information would be extremely helpful. Thank you.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

justin moffatt · Joined: 29 Aug 2006

In response to ttompatz:

1. I had left overseas, however, they could not process my documents in time. Therefore, the company stated that my E7 application had been submitted but not processed, I was instructed to go overseas again to process the application. I shortly resigned thereafter. However, I had engaged in employment duties for two weeks before providing my two weeks notice.

2. Thanks for the website. Very helpful and useful.

3. I will post all information regarding this employer after the issue has been dealt with. I am concerned about not being paid and cancellation of the application by the employer.

4. I had returned to Korea, and was informed that I would have to leave again to process the E7 visa. However, as I understand it, I was legally entitled to work since I already had an active E2 visa that had not been cancelled by my previous employer. I was instructed to attend to immigration with my previous employer to cancel my previous E2 visa.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

justin moffatt · Joined: 29 Aug 2006

Thanks for the encouraging reply. Very Happy

 Let me clarify a few points. Immigration messed up and processed an application for the E7 visa when my E2 visa had not been cancelled. The evidence seems to show that the company had an inside person at immigration that they pay under the table to process visas. In fact, the company freaked out when I went with my previous institution to immigration to cancel my previous E2 visa. At immigration, I also requested to cancel my E7 application. Immigration indicated that they would contact my previous employer. My previous employer was not happy. I had followed procedure exactly as requested by immigration. They even provided me a vacate order to which I complied with and came back to Korea. The immigration officer that I dealt with originally claimed that �the previous employer has to cancel the application in order to process any new work visas with any new employers�. The previous employer has refused to cancel it, thereby preventing me from obtaining any new employment. In fact, while overseas I was waiting for my new work visa with a university to be processed. However, the previous employer (although had agreed so by e-mail numerous times) did not cancel the E7 application. Therefore, I could not process the new work visa and was jobless upon returning to Korea.

I contacted the Migrant Workers office and requested them to act on my behalf to get the previous employer to cancel the application as they had agreed to. My previous employer claimed that they would cancel the application. To date, the application has not been cancelled. As a result of the inaction of the application cancellation, I have been unable to gain legal employment and losing potential income by the day. As you mentioned, obtaining legal counsel is expensive, and with no income, almost impossible.

One last point, I obtained a letter of release from my previous institution which I provided to the company. Unfortunately, with new immigration regulations this is not enough to cancel an E2 visa anymore. The previous employer must go down with the employee to immigration together to cancel the visa. Just imagine now how much control the employer has over employees.

Hence, my request for help on this matter, which I much appreciate.