Had a meeting with work today and it looks like I’ll be here in sunny Suncheon for another 6 to 12 months …
My current contract is up this April and I was hoping to extend just for another couple of months until June to buy some more time and save some more money before plotting just what I want to do next.
But, it seems with the new Visa regulations you’re not allowed to extend your contract for such a small amount of time and may not be able to extend for 6 months either. I was able to do so in the past so this is either the result of the new more stringent Visa restrictions, or just a convenient excuse from work. Either way, I’m not too concerned as I had expected as much and am fairly comfortable with this as I was considering staying another 6 months anyway as I haven’t saved much money and with the current economic situation, I’m comfortable with my job and working as it may be difficult to find good work back home.
Work said they’d talk to Immigration about the possibility of me being able to extend for six months but said they were not certain whether Immigration would approve of this. If that is the case, I’d have to sign a new 12 month contract for Immigration’s sake, whereby I was guaranteed that I’d be able to finish up after six months. I’d definitely have to get some confirmation of such in writing as no doubt there’ll be some pressure come October for me just to complete the full contract. Though, I’ll play it by ear, maybe by then I might actually want to stay on, otherwise I’ll be firm with my decision to cut out in October.
The other option was finishing up my current contract as it is in April. But, for me, it wasn’t an attractive option as I haven’t got much savings at the moment and am reluctant to go home to the potential of months of job seeking with shitty part-time work in between, or getting into the whole rigmarole and bs that’s now involved in getting a new work Visa in Korea. Most of the Visa amendments I approve, I just wish we didn’t have to go through the whole rigmarole after each contract, that the Visa was more flexible and that Immigration would keep our records on file, which I’m dubious as to whether they do!
My boss is perplexed as to why she’s finding it so difficult to find new teachers despite worsening economic conditions in the West, one not so small factor involved in this is the Korean Government’s, and society in general’s, restrictions and xenophobia when it comes to anything remotely foreign. The weakening Korean won against the Euro, US and Canadian dollars hasn’t helped the situation either ..
Nevertheless, this is quite good for me as although I complain as much as the next dude, it is pretty comfortable here, I’ve got good friends here and a steady source of income with the ability to save. With the global economy going the way it is at the moment, it seems this will be a rarer commodity for many folks in the next couple of years. I’ve just got to count my blessings that I have the options I have available as most people don’t.
Posted by elcanguro76 
