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biggpoppa
Joined: 14 Jul 2007 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 4:16 pm Post subject: should i be concerned yet? |
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i posted this in the travel forum, but it hasn't yielded me a response over the last few days, hopefully i'll get a little bit more info from you guys...
i have my ticket booked to leave for korea on sunday the 26th...it has been 8 days since I was told my visa issuance # would be coming in 7 to 10 days...i know liberation was this week, so i'm just wondering when i should be expecting the issuance # and if i should start to worry. i live right by the consulate in toronto, so i can go in person to get my visa which i think means they can process it the same day or close to it???
just wondering if i should have any concerns yet or anything? i've sent an email to my recruiter about the issuance #, so they know i'm ready and waiting...
thanks in advance |
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cruisemonkey

Joined: 04 Jul 2005 Location: Hopefully, the same place as my luggage.
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 4:19 pm Post subject: |
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Yup, you should be concerned... I hope you can change the ticket date without a penalty. It takes five working days to process a visa application (at least it does in Vancouver). |
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biggpoppa
Joined: 14 Jul 2007 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 4:22 pm Post subject: |
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i was told by someone that if i can go in person to the consulate, the process is much faster, or am i going on false hope? |
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oskinny1

Joined: 10 Nov 2006 Location: Right behind you!
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 5:18 pm Post subject: |
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If you do the visa run to Japan it only takes 3 hours, so I'd imagine it would be the same for Toronto. Call and ask them. |
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biggpoppa
Joined: 14 Jul 2007 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 5:39 pm Post subject: |
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thank you skinny for the partial relief; i'm calling first thing in the morning... |
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OiGirl

Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: Hoke-y-gun
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 5:57 pm Post subject: |
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I can drop off a visa application in Washington, D.C. and get it back the next day. |
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biggpoppa
Joined: 14 Jul 2007 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 6:13 pm Post subject: |
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well this is making me feel slightly better, hopefully its the same procedure in Toronto... |
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mumblebee

Joined: 26 Jun 2004 Location: Andong
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Posted: Wed Aug 15, 2007 6:36 pm Post subject: |
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I got my visa in Vancouver in one day in 2004...I just came back the following afternoon. This was back when we still had the 'blue papers' though... |
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anf1984
Joined: 03 May 2007
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Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 3:15 am Post subject: |
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I had a similar problem right before I left... my recruiter had booked my flight and by the time I got my issuance number there were only 4 working days between when I went to take stuff to the consulate and when I was leaving.... I ended up going into the consulate first thing in the morning the day before I left and begging them to process it that day.... the woman was like "It hasn't been enough time" blah blah blah... but in the end she made it happen.... although, she made me wait ALL day for it... but if you actually live in Toronto it won't be so bad (other than you know, the stress of it). Just suck up like crazy and don't get angry and they'll make it happen.... very stressful though! |
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davehere22
Joined: 06 Jun 2007 Location: seoul
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Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 4:55 am Post subject: |
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I received a call last week saying that its likely that i will not have my visa issuance number before i come to Korea on the 23rd. They said if I don't, they will send me on a visa run to japan.
So looks like i am heading to Japan now as the Korean Consulate here in Ireland takes 3-4 days to process a visa. |
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polonius

Joined: 05 Jun 2004
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Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 5:26 am Post subject: |
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davehere22 wrote: |
I received a call last week saying that its likely that i will not have my visa issuance number before i come to Korea on the 23rd. They said if I don't, they will send me on a visa run to japan.
So looks like i am heading to Japan now as the Korean Consulate here in Ireland takes 3-4 days to process a visa. |
I am sure that you are aware, but you can't legally teach in Korea until you have the visa in your passport. Although it is rare for people to be spot checked randomly, but it's certainly not a route I would take. Enjoy your time in Japan, but don't work without the Visa. |
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Mr. BlackCat

Joined: 30 Nov 2005 Location: Insert witty remark HERE
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Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 5:34 am Post subject: |
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There is no 'official' one day processing at the Toronto Consulate regardless if you come in person. However, like most things Korean, if you get a friendly person and plead and plead your case, then things might work out for you. I went in person right before Christmas and needed my visa before the holidays. They told me it was 5 working days, but I only had 3. What do you know, I called on that 3rd day and desperately begged for it and POOF! they told me to come down and get it.
The five days are just office time. If they want to they can move you to the front of the line. Just get your ducks in a row and act like a innocent little foreigner desperate to enlighten the fragile minds of Korean princes and princesses.
Good Luck. |
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davehere22
Joined: 06 Jun 2007 Location: seoul
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Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 6:06 am Post subject: |
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polonius wrote: |
davehere22 wrote: |
I received a call last week saying that its likely that i will not have my visa issuance number before i come to Korea on the 23rd. They said if I don't, they will send me on a visa run to japan.
So looks like i am heading to Japan now as the Korean Consulate here in Ireland takes 3-4 days to process a visa. |
I am sure that you are aware, but you can't legally teach in Korea until you have the visa in your passport. Although it is rare for people to be spot checked randomly, but it's certainly not a route I would take. Enjoy your time in Japan, but don't work without the Visa. |
I'm not supposed to start until the 28th of the month and theres five new teachers starting so it looks like we're all going to be sent to japan a day or two after I get to korea. I wouldn't chance working without the visa. |
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biggpoppa
Joined: 14 Jul 2007 Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 6:31 am Post subject: |
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i just finished talking to my recruiter and she is pressing the school for my visa issuance...if not they are going to pay my way to japan for a visa run...however, i only have a one way ticket right now, she told me not to worry about only having a one way as they will cover the other segment?? can i actually get into korea without the return ticket?? or is she talking about something i'm not understanding here... |
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davehere22
Joined: 06 Jun 2007 Location: seoul
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Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 6:57 am Post subject: |
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biggpoppa wrote: |
i just finished talking to my recruiter and she is pressing the school for my visa issuance...if not they are going to pay my way to japan for a visa run...however, i only have a one way ticket right now, she told me not to worry about only having a one way as they will cover the other segment?? can i actually get into korea without the return ticket?? or is she talking about something i'm not understanding here... |
yeah you can get in on a one way ticket. I called the consulate here in ireland and they told me that if i dont get the issuance number in time just to go into korea on a holiday visa and then go to japan. there is no restrictions on getting into the country |
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