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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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Funky Chunk
Joined: 29 Sep 2007
Location: Haebangchon, Seoul
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 Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 2:09 pm Post subject: Don't Want to do a Visa Run |
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When I come to Korea, I plan on bringing my dog with me. I'd rather not get there and have to leave him alone in a new place while I fly to Japan to get my visa taken care of. With a bit of research, I've found that the closest Korean Consulate to me is in Atlanta. Upon further research, I've found that quite a few trips from FL to Seoul have stops in Atlanta. According to the consulate, they can have your visa for you the next day, provided that all the forms are submitted properly. So I'm thinking this:
Why not mail the docs to the consulate with a note that I'll pick up the visa in person on such and such date. Take the 20 minute drive from the airport to the consulate during the 5 hour lay-over in Atlanta, have lunch with my aunt, and jump on the plane to Korea with my visa in hand.
However, I don't want to suggest this if it'll get my employer's panties in a bunch. So, do you think the school will go for this? Are there any holes in my plan that I've overlooked? Any advice would be appreciated. |
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aarontendo
Joined: 08 Feb 2006
Location: Daegu-ish
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| Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 2:22 pm Post subject: |
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Most jobs don't want you to do a visa run I think.
One problem though...at least when I went to the Seattle office. You must drop off in the afternoon, and pickup in the morning the next day. Also, from what people have been saying the process has been taking much longer these past couple of months or so. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 4:57 pm Post subject: Re: Don't Want to do a Visa Run |
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| Funky Chunk wrote: |
When I come to Korea, I plan on bringing my dog with me. I'd rather not get there and have to leave him alone in a new place while I fly to Japan to get my visa taken care of. With a bit of research, I've found that the closest Korean Consulate to me is in Atlanta. Upon further research, I've found that quite a few trips from FL to Seoul have stops in Atlanta. According to the consulate, they can have your visa for you the next day, provided that all the forms are submitted properly. So I'm thinking this:
Why not mail the docs to the consulate with a note that I'll pick up the visa in person on such and such date. Take the 20 minute drive from the airport to the consulate during the 5 hour lay-over in Atlanta, have lunch with my aunt, and jump on the plane to Korea with my visa in hand.
However, I don't want to suggest this if it'll get my employer's panties in a bunch. So, do you think the school will go for this? Are there any holes in my plan that I've overlooked? Any advice would be appreciated. |
-You send your docs to the school.
-They get you a visa confirmation number from the immigration office in Korea.
-They send you the number (usually via e-mail).
-You take the number along with your passport, extra passport photos and money to the consulate.
-You fill in an application, pay the free, give them the photos and your passport.
-You go shopping for a day.
-You return the next day and get your passport with the visa in it.
-You get on a plane and come to Korea.
-Your visa gets activated when you pass through immigration on arrival in Korea.
Doing a visa run adds $1000 in expenses to the cost of getting you here. Most places do not do visa runs for people hired OUTSIDE of Korea.
They do visa runs for people hired from INSIDE Korea because visas are only issued at consular offices outside of Korea. |
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Funky Chunk
Joined: 29 Sep 2007
Location: Haebangchon, Seoul
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| Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 5:10 pm Post subject: Re: Don't Want to do a Visa Run |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
Doing a visa run adds $1000 in expenses to the cost of getting you here. Most places do not do visa runs for people hired OUTSIDE of Korea.
They do visa runs for people hired from INSIDE Korea because visas are only issued at consular offices outside of Korea. |
I realize this. The last time I accepted a position they wanted me to begin working right away, so they flew me to Korea, and then flew me to Japan a couple of days later for a Visa run. The company I am considering wants to do the same thing. My plan would eliminate the extra cost of flying to Japan. |
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PGF
Joined: 27 Nov 2006
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| Posted: Sat Oct 06, 2007 7:10 pm Post subject: Re: Don't Want to do a Visa Run |
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| Funky Chunk wrote: |
When I come to Korea, I plan on bringing my dog with me. I'd rather not get there and have to leave him alone in a new place while I fly to Japan to get my visa taken care of. With a bit of research, I've found that the closest Korean Consulate to me is in Atlanta. Upon further research, I've found that quite a few trips from FL to Seoul have stops in Atlanta. According to the consulate, they can have your visa for you the next day, provided that all the forms are submitted properly. So I'm thinking this:
Why not mail the docs to the consulate with a note that I'll pick up the visa in person on such and such date. Take the 20 minute drive from the airport to the consulate during the 5 hour lay-over in Atlanta, have lunch with my aunt, and jump on the plane to Korea with my visa in hand.
However, I don't want to suggest this if it'll get my employer's panties in a bunch. So, do you think the school will go for this? Are there any holes in my plan that I've overlooked? Any advice would be appreciated. |
What I did was drive to Atlanta so that I was at the Korean Embassy when they opened their doors. It was a 6 hour drive from my house. I gave them all the paperwork and they told me to come back 5 hours later to pick up my visa.
If you are not too far from Atlanta, I suggest you do the same. It's simple and you do not have to try to explain sh6it to a Korean half way around the world that barely speaks English.
The consulate is in the heart of Atlanta's financial district, btw. Easy to find. While you wait you can check out the big aquarium that's four blocks away.
PM me if you have questions about this. |
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jbpatlanta
Joined: 02 Jun 2007
Location: Daejeon
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| Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 12:33 am Post subject: Re: Don't Want to do a Visa Run |
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| Quote: |
| Why not mail the docs to the consulate with a note that I'll pick up the visa in person on such and such date. Take the 20 minute drive from the airport to the consulate during the 5 hour lay-over in Atlanta, have lunch with my aunt, and jump on the plane to Korea with my visa in hand." |
I'm from Atlanta and I would suggest you give yourself 30 minutes to 1 hour to drive from the airport to the Consulate. If traffic is bad you will need more time for the drive, depends on what time of day you get there. If you need to go fast taek MARTA. There is a stop right beside the consulate.
When I went there they had a policy of drop it off by 10:00 and pick it up at 4:00. I used that consulate two times. Both times I dropped my passport off in the morning and picked it up that same afternoon.
Good Luck[/quote] |
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jangsalgida
Joined: 11 Jan 2006
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| Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 12:59 am Post subject: |
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I had a short 2-3 hour layover in Los Angelos, my sister went there to meet me before my flight to Korea. She brought her 2 young boys with her whom I had never met. We ate at McDonalds and before I knew it, it was time to get on the plane. I checked in, but the line to go through security was really long.
The airline(Asiana) knew I wouldn't make it, so while I was standing in the back of the line an employee grabbed me and put me in the front of the line. I made it, had the employee not done that I would've missed my flight. |
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Bibbitybop
Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 4:34 am Post subject: Re: Don't Want to do a Visa Run |
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| Funky Chunk wrote: |
| ttompatz wrote: |
Doing a visa run adds $1000 in expenses to the cost of getting you here. Most places do not do visa runs for people hired OUTSIDE of Korea.
They do visa runs for people hired from INSIDE Korea because visas are only issued at consular offices outside of Korea. |
I realize this. The last time I accepted a position they wanted me to begin working right away, so they flew me to Korea, and then flew me to Japan a couple of days later for a Visa run. The company I am considering wants to do the same thing. My plan would eliminate the extra cost of flying to Japan. |
Until you had your visa, you were working illegally. If they don't get you a visa first, you are running the risk of getting a bad job or being screwed. |
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Funky Chunk
Joined: 29 Sep 2007
Location: Haebangchon, Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 5:50 am Post subject: Re: Don't Want to do a Visa Run |
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| Bibbitybop wrote: |
| Funky Chunk wrote: |
| I realize this. The last time I accepted a position they wanted me to begin working right away, so they flew me to Korea, and then flew me to Japan a couple of days later for a Visa run. The company I am considering wants to do the same thing. My plan would eliminate the extra cost of flying to Japan. |
Until you had your visa, you were working illegally. If they don't get you a visa first, you are running the risk of getting a bad job or being screwed. |
I didn't do any work until I had the visa. I flew in late on a Saturday, hung out Sunday, did my run Monday, began working Tuesday. |
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valkyrian2
Mod Team
Joined: 15 May 2007
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| Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 8:12 am Post subject: Re: Don't Want to do a Visa Run |
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| Funky Chunk wrote: |
| Bibbitybop wrote: |
| Funky Chunk wrote: |
| I realize this. The last time I accepted a position they wanted me to begin working right away, so they flew me to Korea, and then flew me to Japan a couple of days later for a Visa run. The company I am considering wants to do the same thing. My plan would eliminate the extra cost of flying to Japan. |
Until you had your visa, you were working illegally. If they don't get you a visa first, you are running the risk of getting a bad job or being screwed. |
I didn't do any work until I had the visa. I flew in late on a Saturday, hung out Sunday, did my run Monday, began working Tuesday. |
and what year was that again? |
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Atavistic
Joined: 22 May 2006
Location: How totally stupid that Korean doesn't show in this area.
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| Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 2:12 pm Post subject: Re: Don't Want to do a Visa Run |
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| Funky Chunk wrote: |
However, I don't want to suggest this if it'll get my employer's panties in a bunch. So, do you think the school will go for this? Are there any holes in my plan that I've overlooked? Any advice would be appreciated. |
Yes, there are some holes.
* Atlanta Traffic, which is so bad it deserves to be capitalized.
* Any mistakes in the application or slow down of the process or any other numerous things that can go wrong on your end.
* Any mistakes in the application or slow down of the process or any other numerous things that can go wrong on the consulate's end.
* A delayed plane.
I would suggest you call the consulate, because I think they can mail the thing back to you IF YOU ARE IN THEIR JURISDICTION. |
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OiGirl
Joined: 23 Jan 2003
Location: Hoke-y-gun
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| Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 3:05 pm Post subject: Re: Don't Want to do a Visa Run |
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| Atavistic wrote: |
| I would suggest you call the consulate, because I think they can mail the thing back to you IF YOU ARE IN THEIR JURISDICTION. |
I have had problems getting the Atlanta consulate to mail things back to me.
Another issue with this idea is that you might have trouble with trying to get to Korea on a one-way ticket without a visa. If the airline is going to check and give you grief, they can and in my experience do check on the first leg of your trip.
OP, where do you live that you can't make a 1- or 2-day drive to the consulate beforehand? |
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Bibbitybop
Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 3:27 pm Post subject: Re: Don't Want to do a Visa Run |
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| OiGirl wrote: |
| Atavistic wrote: |
| I would suggest you call the consulate, because I think they can mail the thing back to you IF YOU ARE IN THEIR JURISDICTION. |
I have had problems getting the Atlanta consulate to mail things back to me.
Another issue with this idea is that you might have trouble with trying to get to Korea on a one-way ticket without a visa. If the airline is going to check and give you grief, they can and in my experience do check on the first leg of your trip.
OP, where do you live that you can't make a 1- or 2-day drive to the consulate beforehand? |
I solved this problem when I came to Korea on a tourist visa and one-way ticket by purchasing a Korean Air ticket to Tokyo. I was able to refund it after I flew for 30,000 won. |
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Funky Chunk
Joined: 29 Sep 2007
Location: Haebangchon, Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 3:54 pm Post subject: Re: Don't Want to do a Visa Run |
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| OiGirl wrote: |
| Atavistic wrote: |
| I would suggest you call the consulate, because I think they can mail the thing back to you IF YOU ARE IN THEIR JURISDICTION. |
I have had problems getting the Atlanta consulate to mail things back to me.
Another issue with this idea is that you might have trouble with trying to get to Korea on a one-way ticket without a visa. If the airline is going to check and give you grief, they can and in my experience do check on the first leg of your trip.
OP, where do you live that you can't make a 1- or 2-day drive to the consulate beforehand? |
I live about 500 miles from the closest consulate. I'd rather not drive there if I can avoid it simply because I hate driving, and I'm broke. Plus the idea of driving to Atlanta, only to fly there a couple of days later seems silly to me. I realize that I may have no choice, but I'm going to try to avoid it if at all possible. |
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Atavistic
Joined: 22 May 2006
Location: How totally stupid that Korean doesn't show in this area.
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| Posted: Sun Oct 07, 2007 3:59 pm Post subject: Re: Don't Want to do a Visa Run |
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| Funky Chunk wrote: |
| OiGirl wrote: |
| Atavistic wrote: |
| I would suggest you call the consulate, because I think they can mail the thing back to you IF YOU ARE IN THEIR JURISDICTION. |
I have had problems getting the Atlanta consulate to mail things back to me.
Another issue with this idea is that you might have trouble with trying to get to Korea on a one-way ticket without a visa. If the airline is going to check and give you grief, they can and in my experience do check on the first leg of your trip.
OP, where do you live that you can't make a 1- or 2-day drive to the consulate beforehand? |
I live about 500 miles from the closest consulate. I'd rather not drive there if I can avoid it simply because I hate driving, and I'm broke. Plus the idea of driving to Atlanta, only to fly there a couple of days later seems silly to me. I realize that I may have no choice, but I'm going to try to avoid it if at all possible. |
So then ask the hogwon (hogwon?) to get a ticket from Atlanta and take a Greyhound bus there a few days beforehand. |
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