evilharo wrote:
> Any sound advice takes the legal and cultural background of the country into consideration. If you can't even name the country you are in we can do
> nothing more than wishing you the best. Maybe the guys at reddit can give you better advice: https://www.reddit.com/r/Internationalteachers/

Thank you for this @evilharo. I don't want to run foul of the moderators by naming the country, and also want to remain under the radar. Also, people are underestimating the cost. If it were as cheap as they think, I'd simply ask a relative/friend to send the paltry amount and leave. Disclosing the exact amount might A) expose the country and B) make the people here who think I am 'faking' think I am paving the way for solicitation of funds. The one thing you will never see on this thread is me asking for funds. (Come to think of it, if someone is so sleazy as to invent a new user name asking for funds in this matter, let me state categorically for the record, report them to the moderators, do not send them a dime, because that is something I would never do.

The cultural thing I am working on. There is the pull, shall we say, to fix this. It's really just a money squabble among the owners.

Will check out the reddit. Not a member, but at least I can read. I know one person who knew one person who worked at an Embassy, but so far, no luck in contacting that person. No doubt if I were a Kardashian, they'd take steps, but I'm not.

@Sid, you wrote:
I don’t know whether you are faking all this, or simply unwilling so far to take the advice given, but I don’t see what else anyone can do for you until you decide to act.

There is no reason (unless I was mentally disturbed) to be faking. Notice I haven't named the school or the country, or asked for any appeals for money. The day will come when this thread closes and the only thing I can guarantee--there will be no appeals for money.

You are right about the Embassy is not there to help citizens. It's there for geopolitical purposes. A person whose aspiration is to work for the Embassy has clearly drunk the Kool-Aid on that one. They are the ones who advised me togo. I suppose the one exception would be if I had a personal relationship with someone in the Embassy. Unfortunately, I don't.

As far as leaving, I keep coming back to the same question; how do I get out of the airport? Some ideas that have been bandied about are my family wants to embarrass the school by calling them and asking them to pay whatever fees are needed to leave properly. Some in my family have suggested they might message those who have replied a school social media, to see if there is a parent among them, so the school will take action before the embarrassment gets out of hand. Their reasoning is, the school can't blame me, as I can't control what my very worried family may do There are some who say a doctor should confirm I am under severe stress, thus I should be allowed out for health reasons.

The latest I have heard is be patient, there are some advocates for you among the owners who are not happy with my treatment, and they may be willing to assert themselves in the next few days, and pressure the owners to pay any exit fees that would be incurred, and possibly pay for the flight. The flight payment would be an added bonus, but I would be more than happy if they just escort me the heck out the airport, no questions asked.

I have had multiple conversations suggesting this school is a no go. I agree. I can't imagine an outcome that this school offers anything remotely resembling a quality education, and my guess is the school will soon shut down, unless the owners resolve their differences and bring in quality people. I won't be one of them. So, it comes down to this?

How do I leave the country? Doctor's note attesting to stress? Family threatens to create a public relations nightmare, and then I, the cooler head, suggest let's just resolve this peacefully for the good of the school? How? What other leverages can I bring to bear, as the Embassy seems to be of little help?

PsyGuy wrote:
> No its: (A) It doesnt make sense; (B) The story keeps changing.
> First the IS is broke, then the IS is broke but the owners arent, then its the IS isnt really broke its two owners arguing over who should pay your
visa renewal. That still doesnt make sense because the cost of that isnt very high.

Again, PsyGuy I get your skepticism. If this was a completely closed forum, I'd tell you the exact location and give you the exact details to make it all clear. It is simply not a matter of a couple of hundred dollars. If it were, I'd be long gone, because I'd pay myself.

> Then theres the story of your own coin. Its not even the middle of the month and you cant afford to feed yourself and first it was a friend and
then a relative that sent you some emergency funds, but how did you make it to the end of the month the last month and the month before that?

I barely made it, that's how. Friends here helped out. Family helped out as well. The major issue isn't here; the major issue is I don't make enough to save anything to send home.

>If the IS can afford to absorb your housing they can afford the visa renewal.

The housing doesn't cost them a dime. It's an asset they already own. What they don't want to do, is dip into the school's funds to pay. And it's like it's the principle of the thing to the owner with the pull to fix it. The other one should be paying, because that one wanted the expat. Yet the other one is so disgusted with things, that owner is not willing to spend anything anymore. Which means now the one who could have fixed things, is suddenly on the hook for things like staff salaries, which now makes them even less likely to want to help. It's almost like they are transferring their aggression on the other owner to me. Fixing my visa is, in their eyes, like letting the other one get away with it.


>. The embassy wont help and wont escort them out and half the parents want the LW to stay and they would be very upset about the LWs mistreatment.

Actually, all the parents would want me to stays--of course, nothing is ever 'all' but you get the point. If nothing else, they have lost a good number of students. It would signal to them that the school is not serious in committing resources. My understanding is at least a couple of parents know my situation. If the school did not address it, and something happened to me as a result. I think they would be very upset and cause a ruckus. It might be enough to even cause more withdrawals, which is why I believe the school doesn't want to out and out cut me loose.

> Now the IS apparently would swoop into the rescue if anything bad happened with immigration.

#1 for the reason stated above, to avoid bad publicity. #2 there are some on the periphery of the ownership group who are not happy at my treatment. If nothing else, they would take action to at least get me out of the country. My understanding is, they haven't acted on that, because they actually would like me to stay. I have been told by some in the know that those people are getting fed up with certain things, as far as how money is being spent, and may start directly involving themselves in affairs and one of them would be making sure I am treated well.


> This is just a prelude to a solicitation for donations, if only some generous people were to help the LW out with their fines and their costs
they could go to the airport and leave. The LW is adamant that they are going to stay put until someone comes to their rescue.

Not at all. Not in the least. Are you talking about soliciting from here? How? The thought never crossed my mind. #1 I would think this site would instantly shut me down if I did. #2 It's nowhere as cheap as you think, but in a worst case, I would appeal to family/friends. Yes, on point of principle, I do think the school should step in. If I were independently wealthy, I'd probably step in, but I am not at this point. At some point, I think they are going to, if only to save an embarrassing situation on down the road. I haven't even hinted that I would ask for friends/family to step up, because then I'm pretty sure they would immediately seize on that to exploit me further. The problem is, I'm not dealing with one person. If I were, I'd know where I'd stand now, and if it were a hard no from them, I'd start appealing to friends/family for funds.

Again, when people told me the Embassy will help you out, if you were employed by a school and then they didn't do what was required. They apparently were wrong. I could see if I just was wondering about and suddenly decided I want to go months later and asked them to help, why they might say that was on you. But if I essentially overstayed due to a false promise, I thought they'd at least call, but some pressure on them and at least escort me out. I imagine if I had 30 million Instagram followers they might have done so, but not for just a plain ordinary teacher it seems.

Again (I can't emphasize this enough) I didn't come here to solicit any funds at all. Just wondered if anyone had gone through this, or if there are some strategies to use with the Embassy that cause them to take action. I've got two friends who will gladly book a flight home, no questions asked, because they think I am wasting my life here. It's the getting out at this point.

Maybe one day when I am safely out, I will give all the details and it would make perfect sense, but this is in no way shape or form any time of solicitation for funds. Simply solicitation for advice.

sid wrote:
> There’s no way to leave at the airport without a passport.

The passport I have. Actually the school does, but if I request it back, I don't think they are going to deny it. One side of ownership was going to 'fix things' until they found out the cost; now they expect the other side--the side who wanted an expat to come on board-- to pay. It seems it's almost the principle of the thing. As if it were only $10 they'd still demand the other side pay. Of course if it were only $10, I'd gladly pay.


> You have a place to live, good. Why are you relying on money from relatives to eat?
They barely pay me enough to pay for food and the like. A relative sent me money just to have a little cushion.

> If you have a passport, do you have enough money to leave?
No, not really. That's the problem.

sid wrote:

> Even if magically they resolved it (they won’t), you’d be stuck in a school on the brink of disaster, working for unethical people who have already
> conned you out of your previous stable existence, out of a promised raise, and into a situation that could result in your arrest for immigration
> violations. Nothing suggests your life will improve if you stay hitched to these people.

@sid, I agree

> You don’t have to wait for the visa in order to leave. If the school is holding your passport, or claiming that the government has it, go back to
> your embassy and have them issue an emergency passport because you “lost” yours.

> Get out.

How? How do I get past the airport? They actually would be happy for me to stay just a bit longer, and pull the right strings to fix the visa, it's just that the people with the pull are angry with the other owner who wanted an expat, and now that owner won't pay because the owners are squabbling among themselves.

I am in limbo. It would be an embarrassment for parents to find out, so they will make sure nothing happens as far as it being reported. But they aren't willing to take the step for me to up and leave. I have even told them I am more than happy to leave (the side that doesn't want expats at the school) and I am more than willing to provide a 'cover story' (i.e. I have to go home immediately and tend to a gravely ill parent) so that parents won't start asking questions.

But if there was a way to just leave at the airport...?

Thank you for writing @sid

@psyguy,

Thank you. I fully understand your skepticism, as some things I have been vague about due to fears of my safety. I reported these to the Embassy, and they said contact the police. I asked how I can report the same people who deliberately mislead me about the visa--as they know full well I won't report them due to the visa? The Embassy in essence said good luck.

Re: I concur fully with @Sid, who wrote it better than I did. On top of all that, its not even a job worth fighting for. They arent paying you enough coin to live off of. The massive bonus is never going to materialize.

@psyguy I agree. How do I get out of the airport is the question?

Re: @Sid Where I disagree with you is being able to leave. First, ff they have an overstay and their current visa isnt valid they may not be able to leave until they resolve that overstay. This may involve a fine or a period of detention and the LW doesnt have the coin likely to pay whatever the fine or penalty is, the LW can barely afford to eat.

To clear up a thing or two. The school provides housing/utilities. That's why, with the little coin I got from a relative, I am able to eat. What I don't have is the money to pay fines. They actually have the pull to fix this--very easily. It's just that those who have the pull did not really want an expat on board, and are expecting those who did to pay for it. And the one who wanted the expat on board is squabbling with those who didn't, and isn't willing to put any more money into the school as a result.

It's just a situation of total limbo. In one way, as long as I don't try to leave, I am perfectly safe, because anything that happens those with the pull would immediately spring me. But as @Sid pointed out, it's no longer worth fighting for. One of the owners is convinced that if they simply take all the school fees they have collected, and 'advertise' the school, the school will magically double in size over the course of a term. I have never heard of a school doubling in size in the middle of a school year, but somehow they are convinced. (Have either of you? Seems like a terrible thing to bank on.)

The thing is, how do I get out of the airport? There is a chance--eventually--somebody will come around and pay for it. Too many people assured me "the Embassy is your friend" and if I simply explained how I was kept under false pretenses, they would surely escort me out. Maybe there is some magic word I don't know, but that was not the case.

I know parents are the 'nuclear option'--I have heard that at least one knows about the situation, and my guess is would speak out if approached. It's a total, complete last resort if all options fail.

What I am hoping is, they will simply pay to get rid of me, and I have assured them if they do, I will go in the least controversial way (ex: I have to return home immediately to tend to ailing parents)

Will they see the wisdom in that? I don't know, but as of now, I don't know how to get out of the airport.

sid wrote:
> Very strange situation and I have similar questions to PG, which in itself
> is all the odd. Anyway
>
> Get your ducks in a row to cut loose from the school. Whatever's going on,
> they apparently have neither the ability nor the resources to keep you
> afloat.

That's the problem! If the visa was sorted, I'd simply go. I have offered this multiple times. (One group wants me to stay; another wants me to go--the problem is neither want to pay to renew things.)

> they apparently have neither the ability nor the resources to keep you
> afloat.

The school doesn't. But the owners could write a check in a heartbeat. I'm trying to get them to see the wisdom of them sorting it out once and for all in a way that isn't a scandal for the school. I do believe multiple parents would be quite upset at the treatment I have been given. With a long list of promises that have not been kept to them, it might actually be a deal breaker. This is not an option I want to explore unless every single option is off the table. What smart schools do when there is not a meeting of the minds, they come to an agreement with the expat, come up with a mutually agreed upon story (ex: she is having to leave at this time to care for her ailing parents) that doesn't bring disrepute to the school.

[quote=PsyGuy post_id=63367 time=1665636641 user_id=68047]
First, there is no countries visa renewal costs that are in any way significant to an IS that it would require funding from an investor. If an IS cant pay that fee, they cant keep the lights on. So either the IS is so broke that staff are walking out the door with whatever they can carry or the IS doesnt want to renew your visa and they delayed you purposefully to create an overstay and using your overstay to make their problem immigrations problem.
[/quote]

All of the above are true. Except for the the cost has become quite high now to renew. They want my 'presence' for a marketing tool, but because they think they have me over a barrel, they can treat me anyhow until they finally decide to kick me loose. (i.e. when the numbers finally improve) They have the pull to fix the immigration problem; they are arguing over which owner of the school should pay for it, leaving me in limbo.

It seems with the precarious state the school is in, the one 'nuclear option' might be to get the parents to appeal on my behalf, that they resolve this. For some it would be an absolute deal-breaker, as this would be the final straw to remove their children from the school and the threat/shame of that might force them to spend the money. That's an absolute last resort on my part, because there is no turning back. Trying to get them to see the wisdom of they just spend the money, and my resignation is announced is the least controversial way possible, such as 'returning home to take care of ailing elder parents'. It gets me out of their hair, doesn't hurt the school, and then the owners can fight it out among themselves--won't be my problem any more.

By PsyGuy,

This is no scam. I'm actually a bit scared to post too many specific details on a public forum, so I am being a bit vague. I'm actually dead broke, because the 'salary' is no where near what a proper school would pay. (I was promised a huge bonus when the school reached a certain number of students--I stupidly believed them)

A friend sent some emergency money, that's how I am eating at this point.

I thought I was going to be able to go to the Embassy, explain they employed me under false pretenses, say I want to leave the country, and they would help escort me out, as I did not deliberately overstay, I relied on a false promise. Perhaps I didn't use the right words, (or honestly I simply don't know) but to my disappointment they said there was nothing they could do.

@PsyGuy, are you a member of the site? If so, is it worth paying the $29 to go on the 'Members Only' forum? I would probably feel more safe given context/details there as (I admit this episode has me psychologically rattled) if there are members there who are familiar with this stuff.

Thank you for your reply.

Hi,

Don't want to name the school or the country. (There have been threats made) Long story short, the school said renewing my visa was 'no problem' then, they said 'just waiting for funds' then they said 'please delay your summer travel' due to the cost involved. As best I can piece together, at one point there were willing to renew it, but A) they grossly underestimated the costs, and B) they thought an investor was coming on board, but it fell through. Now they claim they are broke.

What can I do, as I have on money of my own to deal with this?