Korean Job Discussion Forums

alecng · Joined: 24 Jun 2003

I got a job offer in Korea last week, I accepted it. I sent all the documents (signed contracts, passport copy & diploma) to my future employer. But the immigration office refused to issue me a visa, simply because my middle name on diploma says "Hon To" and the one in my passport says "To".
Now, my employer said the only way if they are going to hire me is that if I change the name on my passport. I talked to the Canadian immigration and passport office, they said I can't change the middle name on my passport. Even I apply for a completely new passport, it still wouldn't change, unless I changed it on my driver's license. (My driver's license has "To" on) What should I do? Is there anything I can do other than changing the name on my passport?

TECO · Joined: 20 Jan 2003

Get the school you received your diploma from to cut you a new certificate with the name "To" on it.

It'll obviously cost you to get them to do this and you'll have to provide ID.

I've done something similar and I just had the school cut me a new Diploma.

Good luck.

alecng · Joined: 24 Jun 2003

Thanks for you advice, I asked my university about diploma amendment. But it takes 6 to 8 weeks for the process. My future employer simply can't wait any longer without a foreign teacher.

canuckistan · Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2003 3:39 pm Post subject:

Since when have little details like paperwork ever stopped hagwons from having you working the day after you arrive?
You could probably just show up on a tourist visa and be working while you're waiting for the new dip to arrive.

casinoman · Joined: 12 Sep 2003 Location: seoul

I had a problem similar to that. Basically my Canadian citizenship card has my Korean name on it as that is my legal name. However, my passport just has my "Canadian" name on it (the name my parents gave me when they immigrated to Canada). Anyways, the Ministry of Justice required a document from the Canadian embassy here that stated when I became naturalized. Theses Ministry of Justice guys had a problem with the fact that the name on my citizenship card and my passport differed. Luckily I had my BC driver's licence with me and that had my full name on it. So they accepted that. Can't you see if you can get a document like that from somewhere in Canada? Basically this document will state that "This letter certifies that x with citizenship card # and passport # is a Canadian citizen...blah blah..." I assume if you were born in Canada it would differ and state birth certificate # or whatever. See if you can go that route. Or see if you have some other government issued ID (provincial or federal) that has your full name on it. Hope this helps,

BTM · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Back in the saddle.

Sorry to hear that. Dear lord, I loathe immigration departments, everywhere they exist.

This is the fourth or fifth time I've heard about this sort of thing happening here, recently. Halfwits (immigration, I mean). Wish there were something that could be done, but I guess some wrinkly old turd up the ladder somewhere handed down an edict, and they're all enforcing it madly, regardless of how cretinous it is, and we're left to somehow ascertain through our Foreigner Psychic Powers the hoops we gotta jump through.

Welcome to Korea.

(Yeah, I'm feelin' a bit of the righteous grumpiness today. Sue me. Laughing

)

waterbaby · Joined: 01 Feb 2003 Location: Baking Gord a Cheescake pie

Similar thing happened to another poster, Eamo. Here's a link to his thread & related stories.

Denied an E2 Visa because of my middle name!

Emma Clare · Joined: 24 May 2003 Location: Anseong, sung, song.

I had exactly the same happen to me! My degree cert says 'Emma Wood' But on my passport it reads 'Emma Clare Wood'. Immigration just wanted a letter from my University stating that they had awarded my degree.

In the end immigration issued clearance fo my E2 without any such verification (fax not working, email on the blink) and said they'd wait for my ammended degree later. I've already got my E2 by a week ago. Interesting that they refused to let you do the same.

itaewonguy · Joined: 25 Mar 2003

welcome to korea!
many more stupid things to come!!

Confused Canadian · Joined: 21 Jan 2003

Went through the same thing about a month ago. All I had to do was go to the Canadian Embassy in Seoul and pay 42,500 won for a piece of paper saying something to the effect of....

I, John Doe, am in fact the same person as John James Doe, as stated on my univeristy degree.

Had to wait about half an hour for the consul to free up 30 seconds to sign the paper in front of me....

My school gave the letter to Immigration, and 1 week later....voila, E-2 VISA in hand.

Confused Canadian