Labor dept ...then fired!

[luvadog]

Looks like I won't be adopting another animal any time soon. I heard rumors today at work that I was going to be let go tomorrow. I had complained about not getting my health insurance since I started 5 mos ago and not getting my deposit reciepts so I could send money home. Then I asked for a release letter because I had another job offer who would give me what was promised in the contract. Then I got the labor dept to come out last fri night. Well, I found out you have no say in Korea and if you try to get your hokwon to keep their end of the deal, they fire you. I'm determined to stay here but me and Toby BOTH might be homeless for a while.

[mischief]

Were you able to get your letter of release? I hope things are working out ok for you and Toby. What's happening now?

[alibuch]

Yeah unfortunately hagwons can be a dirty business... it seems to be luck of the draw on if you end up at a good one or not. I actually know like 2 people who've been fired lately.
I think though that if they fire you, you can just take the other job offer you had. The biggest issue will be having to do a visa run though because you can't be issued a new E2 visa in Korea... which might bring up more issues since there are new visa regs. :(

I hope everything works out for you.

[mischief]

Before the new E2 regulations, I know it was possible to get your visa issued in-country for Jeju-do, on Jeju-do. I think it is because Jeju is a self-governing province. Not sure if that is still possible now, but if it is and you want to come to sunny Jeju... It was 15 degrees (celcius) yesterday! Not bad for just out of winter!

[luvadog]

Thanks . I have JUST figured out how to get on this and see your responses. I have been looking at the posts and stories. Very interesting.

[alibuch]

Wow! I'm sorry to hear that you're going through so much crap. It's horror stories like that that made me second (third, fourth, etc) guess my decision to come here. Fortunately, I've been lucky and the only problem I have had is not being compensated fairly for intensives, but I can't complain but so much.
It's great that the labor guy is helping so much! I hope you get this sorted soon! :)

Best of luck.

[luvadog]

Thanks Alibuch. I was thinking this would be a smooth job but I was hired by a woman and then her brother took the job from her and they haven't spoken since September. He doesn't even know where she is, maybe in New Jersey he said. Sweet guy, hey? He's a sleezeball and I wouldn't have accepted the job from him. But I was in the States when all this took place. They were a month late in getting my visa too. So I lost a month's work.

[luvadog]

No, Mischief. Labor officer says...go to work and stay where you are. But something's gotta give. I'm bored just hanging out. But today was kinda busy collecting evidence. He's gonna be surprised. I wanna see the look on his face when he sees all the kids' statements I got.

[mischief]

Hi luvadog! I've only heard of public school teachers who were going to work on Jeju-do getting their visa on the island. I don't think it would work if you were planning of working somewhere on the mainland, and unfortunately I'm not sure if the new regulations have changed it for the public school teachers too.

But if the POE wanted you here, I'm sure they'd get things done.

It's too bad your boss wouldn't give you a letter of release. It must be weird going to school, but not teaching classes (that's right, right?). I can imagine it would be boring, and I hope things get resolved soon for you. Being in limbo is not very fun!

Best of luck, and keep us updated, if you would!

:)

[luvadog]

Thanks so much for the information. Every little bit counts. These days, one has to be a lawyer to survive.

I really wanna stay in Daejeon where I have a good support system. So I'm checking out some apartments tonight so I don't have to deal with hokwons anymore.

Even if I stay for a while on a visitors' visa, I want to continue studying my art. Does anyone know any rule changes on going out of the country and back as a visitor? 30 days? 90 days?

[mischief]

I think the length of the visitor's visa changes on what country you're from. I think the U.S. gets 30 days, and you can renew for another 30 at immigration. I believe Canadians get 90 days on their tourist visa. Not sure about other countries.

I know there are a fair number of people who have been in a somewhat similar position on Dave's ESL Cafe, if you haven't already gone there. If you don't mind wading through it, or trying to use the less than stellar search function, you might come across some good information. Although sometimes it's conflicting!

[luvadog]

I signed up with Dave's Esl Cafe and there was so much off the wall stuff that I couldn't find anything on the legal issues. But I'll look again.

I did find out from Immigration that they will notify me by phone if he reports me. He hasn't yet...as he so viciously threatened. When he does, I'll file the complaint and she said I'd just come down to the Im office to change to a G-1 status. I understood her to say I didn't have to leave the country provided I was staying here to fight the case.

I've found a yr old pup I want to adopt but I'm gonna wait until I get into another apt. She's been in a cage for 8 mos and maybe I can bring her "home" with me part-time and see how she does with Toby.

[alibuch]

Dave's is just a cesspool of negativity. haha

If you're American, you can stay for 90 days on a tourist visa. For Canadians, it's 6 months. Other than those two I have no idea.

[luvadog]

This is a special case but the immigration director said if I file a complaint against my school, I go in the office and change to a G-1 status (visitor.)

Can someone tell me how to start a new thread?

[mischief]

Hi luvadog.

Ooops, looks like I might have been wrong on the length of times there. It has been a while since I looked into the visitors visa, so sorry about the misinformation. There's lots of that on Dave's ESL too :confused:


If you want to start a new thread, chose which forum section you want the thread to be in (ie, "Cats", "Dogs", "News and Issues", "Happy Tales", or "Other Questions and Chat", etc.)

Once you've clicked on what forum section you want, at the top left, just above where you see the first of the thread titles, you will see a button marked "New Thread"

Click "New Thread" and voila!

I hope I explained it ok.

Good luck! :)