Korean Job Discussion Forums

[gajackson1]

Heya -

I don't exactly like this to be my first post back after being away from the boards for so long, but it is of importance . . .

ReedTea & I are supposed to be making the Osaka run tomorrow or Thursday, but I may have hit a snag:

EXACTLY what documents are necessary to drag along now to get the E-2???

I have my original diploma here; we will have the 'blue papers' and stamps; know we need photos (but how many & what size?), reference letters, resume, valid passport w/over 6 months left and space for the stamp, & copies of passport.

Anybody who has done this recently, please respond.

Our concern is the transcripts - they did not need them here in Mok-dong to issue the blue papers, but I don't want to hit a snag there. I have notarized copies on file here in Seoul, in Masan, in F u k u o k a, and in Osaka (from my last jobs). However, I do not have any here, & it would be too late to secure them now.(C has hers)

Thanks in advance -

G.

(FYI - C & I are both fine; we just got a beautiful new apartment here & got back from a short road trip. Our visa 'run' will actually be a 3-day mini-vacation, instead of the rushed 1-day turnaround)

[Patong Dong]

Hey,

I just did this last week and since you have your blue papers all you will need is a photocopy of your passport, for photos they have a booth in the consulate, 2 photos if you have them. There was no need for transcripts or diploma as your blue paper takes care of that, pretty simple really.

[gajackson1]

Thanks for the quick reply -

We have just revised our travel plans; we'll go Sat morn, spend sat & sun goofing off, and then treat Monday like a relaxed '1-day run.'

I knew about the photo machine from last time, but wanted to be sure that nothing else had changed.

Great news!

G.

[mack the knife]

Ga,

Where have you been?

[FierceInvalid]

Gajackson,

Did the run today. Just for the record, you might want to bring some small (Yen) change with you, or get the photo before hand. Something was up with the photo booth today and it wasn't accepting either 500 yen coins or 1000 bills - it only took 100's (3 photos cost 450 yen). There was fair mass confusion as everyone was lining up to get change from the counter people, they didn't really want to give it, etc. Don't know if they'll get it sorted by the weekend.

As mentioned before, you only need your passport (I used the original, as did everyone else I saw), the blue form, the form you fill out there, and only one passport sized photo - oh, and the money, which is still 5400 yen for Americans and 6000 for everyone else. Make sure you have yen, they don't take anything else.

[eamo]

[gajackson1]

thanx, Laddies ~

We just put together the 'go-to' packages for each of us & confirmed hotel; we have all sorts of other paper crap for backup, & will follow up here after we get back.

Regards,

G.

[rapier]

Just for your info: i got back from osaka yesterday. My 3rd run, it was a simple formality.
TIPS:
Get the rapide express from kansai to namba (Blue train with round windows). You must book a seat at the station first- its faster than the other train.Normal train cost:980 Yen. Rapid: 1400 yen.

Unless you make it to the consulate early in the morning, the visa desk (no.10) opens at 1.30pm.Fill out your form (she'll provide you with one when asked,) and submit it with a phot, your passport, and the blue form from your employer. you'll be able to pick up your new visa from 4pm onwards.
First morning flight Seoul- osaka: Asiana leaves at 10 am. Try to check in about an hour and half before.
Last evening flight Kansai- incheon: 7pm.

Flight changes: if for any reason you need to delay/ change your return flight time, I found asiana very reasonable in allowing very late chnges to your schedule for no extra cost. Just talk to them at the check in desk.

[K-in-C]

Bon Voyage!

Hugs to both of you,

Katelyn

[gajackson1]

For anyone who was curious, we did make it there and back in a 2-day run. Some things have changed, and for anyone who wants to make it a 2-3 day trip, we would have lots of extra advice.

In any case, the majority of the info above is correct. Our flight WAS supposed to be 'no changes,' but we got the tickets switched no problem. We had lost our hotel reservation, and found out that the morning of, our hotel was booked up.

The flight was short & smooth, and we booked a twin room with breakfast buffet at the Riva Nankai (the hotel across from the consulate/embassy; it used to be the Holiday Inn).

Caught the Rapid-a express train in to namba station, and walked over to the hotel. Nice place, great weather, and good value beer/sake vending machines on each floor. No pool, but a workout room, and the rooms were spacious with a decent view & good bathtub in the bathroom.

changed clothes, & over to the embassy. The application only had to be partially filled out (but maybe because we have been here awhile, & have a file already). Christina wants you all to know that the pic machine there is 450 yen, but gives no change for a 500 yen coin. Also, it will flash TWICE for the 3 pictures - don't move until AFTER the second flash.

Paid for our stamps (5400 each for multiple re-entry) - again, see above - no won, no dollars. Only cash, only yen. , & handed over 1 pic, passport, app & blue paper. For those who are curious, I didn't submit my transcripts or other docs to anyone at any point - here or there. Guess, again, they had a copy in my file.

We told Ms. Bak there was no rush - we could pick them up the next day. She said thanx, but we could grab them around 4, if we wanted.

For those who are on the day run, there is a coffee shop/cafe called Tully's across the street from the consulate, and right above that is the famous Pig & Whistle pub. Good places to kill time.

Or, head directly back behind into Ame-mura. If you make it to the park, there is a great building 2 to the left of the McDonalds.It is grey in color, and set slightly back from the rest. If you take the elevator to the 8th floor, you have some cool shops to check out - a rad hairstylin place, a sexy clothing/gear store/head shop (Hello Kitty vibrators & mushroom products on hand), a custom clothing store, a record shop, and a store called Rainforest.

Rainforest is a pet store, only they stock frogs, lizards, toads, snakes & scorpions. Definitely cool place to check out.

If you would like a good, cheap meal instead, & don't want to check out the Doutonbori arcade, head out the embassy and turn right, heading back towards Namba station.

Right after you cross the river, you will see an orange sign for a place just on your right Yoshinoya something or other. Can't miss it - it is right on the corner with the light; a 2-storey place with counter-dining only upstairs and downstairs. You can get a GREAT set lunch (rice, beef, salmon, miso, vegtables & tea) for under 500 yen.

After that, we caught a nap & long bath, then headed out for the evening. Sadly, we were trusting LP for our map & places to go.

Sufffice to say, the places on the map weren't where they 'should' have been, but we got locals to hook us up. We were out with Brazilians, a Canuck, Japanese, & some Eastern Europeans til the wee hours - great time. (they still make/sell Zima in Japan! Puhahahahaha!)

Joyous Japan Link, Japanzine & Kansai Scene are all local clubbing rags with great English maps to cool places to hang out. You can find them in places you would expect to - clothing record & kitsch stores. The whole area is one big red-light district - C & I had sore necks in no time from all the head turns. But you will want a good bar or club to actually sit down in and meet folks.

The 2nd day was pretty lazy - late breakfast buffet, relaxing, walking, shopping, and the return trip back. Note for the stamp-full passport types: The new visa is like the Vietnam ones: it takes up 1 WHOLE page, as a laminated-cloth sticker. You need to have 1 page completely free for the stamp~sticker!!!

As a side note, there are now banks IN the airport that will exchange won for yen at a decent rate - look for the Resona bank in the airport.

We had a blast. If you have the money or inclination, you should definitely shoot for a 2-day run. Also, I HAVE seen a 7am-ish flight occasionally offered, if you can deal with it that early.

Regards,

G.

Anyone looking for good places to go or any other questions, feel free. I am going to try to do a pictoral version of this on my site in the near future.