Korean Job Discussion Forums

HamuHamu · Joined: 01 May 2003 Location: Seoul

When I left Korea last week, the exiting officer stamped the blank page across from my work visa to cancel it, and then he chose a SECOND page to stamp me out of Korea (Why, I don't know. They've never had to stamp me with two seperate stamps when I've left before, but, it is what happened).

Now, I have a return ticket to Korea for about 3 weeks time, and I have only ONE blank passport page left. At the passport office here in Canada, they would not issue me a new passport becuase I still have a blank page left, so it's not considered "FULL." I argued with them (on the phone) and they sent me some declaration forms to claim why I need a new one and said I would "possibly" qualify for a new passport because if the situation.

So I was all set to pay the "urgent" fee of an extra $72, plus the $36 fee for getting a new passport when I don't "really" need it, plus the regular passport fee of $92 Twisted Evil

when I realized that my BIRTH CERTIFICATE is in freaking KOREA (didn't think to bring it home with me... Confused

) so the whole thing is out, as the passport office will not budge on that one one bit.

SO, my question, IS -- can I enter into Korea with only ONE blank visa page? I will be entering as a tourist, then getting my blue paper, then dong a visa run. I suppose I wil have to delay that visa run until the passport office in Seoul can process me a new passport there...but how long does that take?
Anyone know -- I'm worried of being denied entry at Incheon, or being denied exit in Ottawa because I don't have room for a new visa stamp.

Zed · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Shakedown Street

Korean stamps aren't big. Make sure that you watch the immigration officer like a hawk to make sure they don't hit your last page. Same when you go for your run to Japan (especially there). You can get your work visa on that last page. Come back to Korea. Get your ARC. Then go get a new passport. Unless you have a trip planned for within 2 months of coming back to Korea you will be fine.

But watch that immigration officer. That's the only way you'll be in trouble.

I got a new passport in December so when I left Korea there wasn't a single stamp in it and what do you think the officer did? She stamps the observation page. 43 other pages to stamp and she gets the one she's not to stamp.

By the way if you fill your passport really quickly you can get a 48 page one for less than $10 more than a 24. just ask.

andrew · Joined: 30 Jan 2003

*****

pet lover · Joined: 02 Jan 2004 Location: not in Seoul

Do I need my birth certificate to get a new passport or pages sewn in? I have NO blank pages left. Embarassed

And I have NO CLUE where my birth certificate might be. My parents used to keep it for me, but they've moved from city to city three times since I came to Korea and they don't know what happened to it (and lots of other stuff).

Zed · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Shakedown Street

Zed · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Shakedown Street

meagicano · Joined: 02 Jan 2005

petlover, which province are you in? Ontario currently (well, as of late January) has an irritating backlog - you're probably looking at six weeks minimum, and that's if it's being shipped in province. The government refuses to budget on the birth certificate thing, so people who had lost theirs and didn't bother to get it replaced are being forced to do it. It's the only acceptable form of ID right now.

pet lover · Joined: 02 Jan 2004 Location: not in Seoul

Ooops....guess I should have mentioned that I'm from Down Under Canada.....

Zed · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Shakedown Street