Dear Dr. Spilchuk…
October, 2009
Should I be paid while waiting for the school to solve my Visa problem?
Dear Dr. Spilchuk,
I found you at ISR and I am full of joy to see somebody can help me. I hope I am lucky enough that you can read my email for support. My situation is this: I was not paid for August and September of 2009. This was because my visa application was delayed.
I received all the documents then started the visa application. Unfortunately, I have been waiting for 4 months and then got the working visa. There is nothing said in the contract about it, so I am not sure whether I should request the salary for August and September or not when I was not teaching. Meanwhile, my English is not as good as the native English speakers so I do not feel confident to have the debate with our director who always says no to any cost.
Thank you again for your support.
Regards,
Kim
Hello Kim,
Where are you located? Give me some more details about your experiences with this school so I can assist you.
Sai gian,
Barbara
Dear Dr. Spilchuk,
I am so excited to hear from you. I am in —– International School. My school director’s name is —–
.
Thank you for being a volunteer to support me.
Regards,
Kim
Hello Kim,
Are you actually working now and not being paid? Are you being asked to work with no Visa and is that why they are not paying you? These are two critical questions that I need to know the answers for in order to help you.
Best,
Dr. Barbara
Dear Dr. Spilchuk,
I got my visa on Oct. 27, 2009. The school started to pay me from October, but my school director won’t pay me for August and September while I was waiting for the visa and having difficulties in my home town. My contract says, the valid date is August, 2009.
Regards,
Kim
Hello Kim,
My best advice to you is to let this go. You were in your hometown awaiting Visa approval and not working at the school, it appears, for August and September, 2008. The school only began paying you once you received your work VISA and were relocated for work. While the red tape of getting the Visa is problematic, the school’s decision to begin to pay you AFTER you received your Visa and AFTER you relocated was the ethically correct decision for the school administration to make.
Best,
Dr. Barbara