Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jdog2050]

So, I had a feeling this would happen.

I finally get the ball rerolling on a new job. The woman/hagwon owner takes my docs to immi...they fckin' marked my record because of an accidental overstay.

The chicago korean consulate only gave me a single entry visa, instead of a multi-entry 1 year visa. Why, I don't know, my contract and whatnot were for a year. At a level, it's certainly my fault for not looking over my visa completely, but at that point, it was my third time getting a visa, and the whole process had become pretty automatic, ya know?

So, I go to take a trip to thailand in February, go to immi in the airport (mind you, I'd left the country in the summer with no hassle), and the guy notes that I'm wayyyyy overstayed. I explain that it's a mistake, he says it's fine, notes my passport, and I'm off...I even came back into the country.

GREAT THING THAT HE DIDN'T TELL ME THAT I WOULD BASICALLY HAVE A CRIMINAL RECORD BECAUSE OF IT.

Someone else started a thread about it, it freaked me out, and now it's coming true.

The woman I talked to (awful english) blathered something about having to just wait two weeks...but someone mentioned in the other thread having to have an interview with your nearest consulate.

Overall, I swear to god, if my girlfriend wasn't there, I would NOT be going back. So much damage done to this country's reputation because of people just not saying what the deal is in any situation until the last possible minute.

[yeremy]

Jdog, sorry to hear it. Assuming things, especially about visa's, can be risky in Korea. Korean officials do not have to help you or explain anything to you until you ask. In their view, ignorance is not an excuse. I hope it works out for you.

Once I came to Korea for a short trip with only a round trip ticket. I realized I didn't have a proper visa while in the middle of the Pacific Ocean at 30 some thousand feet. I felt pretty stupid. When I got to ICN, I half expected to be sent home on the next plane, but they gave me a two week visa without any problems because I had a roundtrip ticket.

[Ramen]

Perhaps you should marry your girlfriend and get an F visa.

[Hanson]

[jdog2050]

I just got off the phone with my girlfriend who spoke to the hagwon owner. Apparently they're laying down the law because I overstayed 6 F'IN DAYS (don't even know why it's six days since the whole issue that started it was that I overstayed by like 9 months). Now, everyone in the situation actually knows it's not my fault/it was a slight mistake, but...bureaucracy. So, my visa process is being held up 2-3 WEEKS

So, these are my options:

1. Go back home and chill with my parents for 3 weeks (and wanna strangle myself) because getting a whole new apartment and job here in portland is not worth it.

This is good because it's free. At the same time, if something ELSE crappy happens, then, that's another 3 weeks wasted.

2. Go to Korea, live with my GF, take privates, wait for the issue to resolve, fly to japan for visa

This is good because it'll allow me to be active and make some scratch--also, I have to move out of my apartment in Portland which is what's really putting the fire under my ass. But it's bad for the same reason as number one...if anything goes wrong, it's another 3 weeks wasted.

Any advice? Options?

[ttompatz]

[jdog2050]

[esetters21]

I take it that you are American by your previous posts. How did you only get a single entry visa? Did I get lucky 2 years ago when my visa got stamped and allowed me multiple entries?

I can feel you, as I am getting ready to go through a similar situation. My contract expires at the end of this month, but my school is going to take the necessary steps to extend my sojourn til the end of July.

Good luck!

[jdog2050]