Korean Job Discussion Forums

[TinTin]

Hello,

I have recently been handed notice at my job. Its 8 months into the contract. I'm not unhappy to leave.

I need some advice. The boss has promised to give me a release letter and I have had one drafted using some samples placed on this forum. My contract terminates 30th December. I have a new job lined up, which wants me to start 1st Jan. I understand I have to leave the country after my old job has finished within 14 days. My question is this:

Can I exit the country, say to Japan, get a new visa and come back? My boss has said he can make the official end of the contract a few days earlier if I need to do so to get the new visa. Can the new employer start the visa process while I still have a currently valid visa? Or do I need to start the process after this visa expires, which will mean I sit around doing nothing for a month in January?

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

TT

[polonius]

your new employer cannot start the process until you have gone down to immigration with a letter of release, and are released from your current visa. Tell your new employer once you have done it, then he/she can go down and start processing your new visa. It should take about 5-6 business days to get your new Visa issuance number. So, you should have enough time, with the 2 week window.

[TinTin]

My current employer has given me the rest of December off work after Christmas (paid) to sort my visa out for my new job.

Should I go to immigration with him and the release letter say on the 12th and get the visa cancelled, fly to Japan for the visa run on the 26th?

If I cancel my visa now does that mean that I am not officially working at my present job anymore and so technically am illegal for the last week?

If my release letter says I finished on the 12th and my director decides not to pay me at the end of December will I have a leg to stand on with the labor board?

I guess nothing is simple when it comes to Korean immigration...

TT

[Ya-ta Boy]

The easiest thing is for the two employers to get on the phone with each other and with Immi and work out the smoothest process for everyone. You shouldn't need to be the one running between the three of them acting as the messenger.