Hi all--
I got a job teaching ESL (english as a second language) in South Korea starting Feb 20, 2012. (ah! yay!) I'm in management at a restaurant chain currently and have been working toward another promotion recently.
Without getting into a whole lot of detail, the process for going abroad is nearly complete..I just signed my contract yesterday and emailed that to them, and the last of my documents for my visa are supposed to arrive in the mail on Tuesday. After that, I send all my paperwork to Korea to get my visa. (Yes, that's the condensed version..)

I was originally thinking I'd give them a month's notice since I know they really like me and I don't want to completely piss them off. Or: after I get the visa in the mail? Should I give a hint at all, or just wait it out?

My family said to wait until it's completely official. Which, after you sign the contract, it's official and you're locked in with that school unless something goes wrong with the visa.

Thoughts?

I just want to make sure I'm on the right path with this. I'm feeling a bit anxious holding back this big secret..but I know jobs can treat you different or start cutting hours if they find out that you have a new job, and I can't have that. I'd also like to have a week or so prior to my departure that is work-free (me-time and time to finish wrapping things up here).

Thank you!

Edit:
I also got word that they're working on sending me to another store (again--just got moved 2 months ago) to help them out around Jan 20.
Not sure if that changes your advice, but thought I should include it anyway.

I think you'd better tell them what's going on. They will probably want to send someone else to the new location in January since it seems they'd only have you there for a week or so before you left. I would wait to give official notice until closer to time, just in case something does go wrong with the visa process, but at least let them know what's up so they have time to cover their bases and you leave on good terms. You never know when you might need a reference.

I agree with your parents, wait and give them their due notice when you have the paperwork in your hand.

^Well, the thing is..the visa itself takes a few weeks to be processed. I just feel like I'm getting down to crunch time here and I basically am split between both of your responses.

One day I feel like I should follow Arak's advice and then Hummingbird's as well. I just know that this is basically going to come out of nowhere, so I just want to make sure that I get it right. :-/
Maybe I could wait til I send all of my paperwork off? That should be Tuesday, and I'll know then that all of my documents are ok for processing.
I'm also really nervous about this. I know I shouldn't be because "I'm expendable" and all that, but..yeah. :-/

It depends on the work place. You really can't go wrong by giving just 2 weeks notice or in your case waiting until you have your visa, as that is what is deemed acceptable. Depending on the environment you may choose to notify them earlier. They really can't give you a bad reference for giving the minimal notice. Before I moved my boss knew what was going on because we were very close and I knew she was going to be sad so I told her I had made plans and gave them a tentative date range. Once I had my plans set in stone I told them the exact date, which was still 4 weeks away. I knew I wasn't in trouble of losing my job earlier or getting my hours cut because I had been there for 4 years and I can honestly say I got along with everyone I ever worked with. If the environment where you work is not so friendly, I would wait until you got everything set in stone.

At one time I would have said that you should consider yourself a professional and give professional courtesy to employers in this sort of situation. I no longer think that.

I agree with your parents. Wait until you have signed the contract or, much more important, have THEIR signature on the contract.

Thanks for all the replies.

As far as the workplace culture, I know they like me, and I've been with the company for over 3 years, just got a raise..that sort of thing. I just think they'd be upset because they're under the impression that I'm hoping to move up in the company...not out.

I've always thought the standard two weeks notice is fair in the working world. When you were hired, did you get an employee handbook that detailed when you should give notice of your resignation? Find it, read it, go according to it. I bet it's about two to three weeks.