Korean Immigration has recently implemented new policies on the E2 visa requirements, such as requiring medical records, criminal records, and interviews at overseas Korean embassies. This is a very fluid situation and there is a general opinion that the execution of the policy will continue to be refined. As a result, we cannot guarantee that our information will be current, to the moment. If you wish for the latest information and safe guidance, we please encourage you to contact Rowan at ESL-Planet, who is always at the forefront of industry changes and helping teachers get good jobs.

Part of a series on ESL in Korea
Chapter One- The Job
Chapter Two- Before Coming to Korea
Overview Are you employable? Compensation and benefits How much can I save? Private lessons When do schools hire? Job hunt advice How to check out the school before deciding Schedules Employment process Contracts Salary Accommodation Airfare Proof of onward travel Vacation and National Holidays Severance bonus Medical Insurance Taxation Know your expatriate taxation Tax issues for Canadian expats Pension National Pension Offices Visa Sponsorship Alien Registration Card Immigration Visas Visa application form Multiple entry visa Visa expiration Permission to work a 2nd job Letter of Release Visa run Fukuoka visa run Osaka visa run Surviving and succeeding as a teacher in Korea Teacher training KOTESOL Teaching resources Classroom games Legal matters English-speaking lawyers throughout Korea Labor Board Labor Standards Act

When working in Korea, there is always the chance something could happen which may prompt you to want to change employers. Whether for good reasons or not. The process is the same, regardless. If you want to change employers and/or terminate your contract with your current employer to look for other work, you will need to get a Letter of Release (or sometimes referred to as 'LOR') from your employer and present it to Immigration, in order to have your current work visa cancelled. You will not be able to be sponsored for a new visa from your future employer, until that LOR has been issued and the old visa has been cancelled.

If you are in a difficult situation and your employer has violated your contract and you want to leave, however they will not give you the LOR, then you can contact your local Labor Board and ask them to facilitate. If the employer has legitimately violated the contract and labor laws and will still not issue a LOR, despite the Labor Board's requests on your behalf, then the Labor Board can attest to this with Immigration and free you from the contract and visa without your employer's involvement.

Once the LOR has been issued and the visa has been cancelled by Immigration, you will have 14 days to leave the country.

[edit] Sample format of LOR

[edit] Letter of Consent to Release Foreign English Teacher

• Name of Teacher:

• Nationality:

• Passport No.:

• Address:

• Telephone No.:

• The above-person has been working at our school/academy from __________ to _______________ in the position of Foreign English teacher. We hereby give our consent to release this person from our employment and/or transfer the said person to work for another English school/academy.

• Dated: _____

• Name of English Academy/School/University-
• Address of School-

_______________________________ Representative signature

• 도장 stamp

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