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Bibbitybop
Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Location: Seoul
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 Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 5:12 am Post subject: My E-2 situation |
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Calling ttompatz, paging ttompatz. There's a round of beers waiting for you in the lobby.
Anyone else who can clarify this is welcome to the lobby, too.
I got my first E-2 visa in another Asian country and went to the Korean consulate myself. After one year, I re-signed with my employer and extended my E-2 visa.
Now I'm changing jobs. I'm planning on submitting all my documents (EVERYTHING I need to get a visa under the new rules) at the immigration office in Seoul before heading back to the USA for a vacation and to get a new E-2 Visa.
Things I need clarified:
If I submit my documents to immigration in June or July, do I get a Visa number quickly, or do I get it later in August when I'll be traveling?
When I get a new Visa in the USA, do I only need to submit my passport and visa issuance number? Or are there other documents, like the documents I will have already submitted to the Seoul immigration office?
Since I have already been an E-2 holder and have not broken any Korean laws, I will not need to have an interview, correct?
Finally, I can do everything in the USA by mail and not physically visit the immigration office, correct?
Cheers. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 5:21 am Post subject: Re: My E-2 situation |
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| Bibbitybop wrote: |
Calling ttompatz, paging ttompatz. There's a round of beers waiting for you in the lobby.
Anyone else who can clarify this is welcome to the lobby, too.
I got my first E-2 visa in another Asian country and went to the Korean consulate myself. After one year, I re-signed with my employer and extended my E-2 visa.
Now I'm changing jobs. I'm planning on submitting all my documents (EVERYTHING I need to get a visa under the new rules) at the immigration office in Seoul before heading back to the USA for a vacation and to get a new E-2 Visa.
Things I need clarified:
If I submit my documents to immigration in June or July, do I get a Visa number quickly, or do I get it later in August when I'll be traveling?
When I get a new Visa in the USA, do I only need to submit my passport and visa issuance number? Or are there other documents, like the documents I will have already submitted to the Seoul immigration office?
Since I have already been an E-2 holder and have not broken any Korean laws, I will not need to have an interview, correct?
Finally, I can do everything in the USA by mail and not physically visit the immigration office, correct?
Cheers. |
This is confusing on so many levels. Let me understand.
You have had an E2. You have NOT broken any rules and have no black mark in your file.
You will have all the necessary documents for your new visa application before you leave on your holiday.
Point of reference: YOUR NEW EMPLOYER has to submit your documents to immigration for the issuance of a new "visa issuance number". You CANNOT do it for them.
It takes 4-10 WORKING days to get a visa issuance number from immigration.
I don't know for certain about the CURRENT consular requirements in the US (they tend to vary depending on the clerk at the window) but NORMALLY you only need to present your:
passport,
application,
photo,
visa confirmation number
visa application fee
to obtain a new visa (since you are a repeat applicant with a previously clean file).
This WOULD be the case in a 3rd country (ie: Japan) but all bets are off at the Korean consulates in the states. The Chicago consulate has been acting like fools and being very difficult on applicants of late.
You do NOT need an interview (you qualify for the exemption) and yes, you should be able to do it all by mail or courier service.
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DongtanTony
Joined: 22 Feb 2008
Location: Bundang
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| Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 5:26 am Post subject: |
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I may not be the seemingly jaded omniscient one known as ttompatz...but I think I can help.
My girlfriend and I are going through this same scenarios as we speak.
Once your documents...including CHRC, diploma (apostille, affidavit, or clearance by the KCUE attached), self health check form...yada yada...it sounds like you know what you need....once those have been submitted to immigration for visa sponsorship...it could be as quick as four business days...or as much as ten...before you receive your visa sponsorship number.
The quicker you submit your materials for sponsorship...the quicker you will receive your sponsorship number.
We graduated in Maine...had our first visa issued through Boston....had our second issued through Fukuoka...when we called Los Angeles, where her uncle lives and she thought she might be spending some time....they said mailing your passport would be fine. Her family lives in Pittsburgh...New York City has jurisdiction there....same story. We called Boston as well because we have history with that office...same-same.
What you'll need to include: Passport, visa issuance number, visa application form, photos, payment, and self-addressed prepaid return envelope.
They will have your information in the system once you have your number issued.
Still...I'd call your representative consulate yourself...to get the story straight from the horse's mouth.
Good luck. |
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Bibbitybop
Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 7:12 am Post subject: |
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ttompatz and Dongtan Tony, great news from both of you, thanks.
ttompatz, you are correct about my situation.
I'll be contacting the Korean Consulate in Houston, TX, they have jurisdiction in my neck of the woods, and I'll report their statements and answers here later.
Anyone else, feel free chiming in. |
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polonius
Joined: 05 Jun 2004
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| Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 7:37 am Post subject: |
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Isn't it possible for you to simply transfer your visa over to the new school, provided that you have worked there for 10 months. If that is the case, why not simply transfer your visa, and save yourself the headaches involved in going to the Korean embassy.
You would need to make it clear that to your school that you are indeed going home for a certain amount of time. I extended a teacher for another campus, and we saved the hassle of him having to do the visa thing all over again. The end result is that you will have to extend again one more time before your year contract is up. 1 year - vacation time, will leave some time left over to complete the full year. The question then becomes, do you trust the new place of employment.
I don't believe that you can get a new visa issuance number if you are currently under a visa, but I might be wrong. |
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Bibbitybop
Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 7:47 am Post subject: |
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| polonius wrote: |
Isn't it possible for you to simply transfer your visa over to the new school, provided that you have worked there for 10 months. If that is the case, why not simply transfer your visa, and save yourself the headaches involved in going to the Korean embassy.
You would need to make it clear that to your school that you are indeed going home for a certain amount of time. I extended a teacher for another campus, and we saved the hassle of him having to do the visa thing all over again. The end result is that you will have to extend again one more time before your year contract is up. 1 year - vacation time, will leave some time left over to complete the full year. The question then becomes, do you trust the new place of employment.
I don't believe that you can get a new visa issuance number if you are currently under a visa, but I might be wrong. |
That was my first route. From what I understand, immigration won't extend the visa (which involves changing employers) until the final day of my current contract. I will be on vacation and out of Korea 2 weeks before the end of my current contract. I'll be gone when they can/will extend it, and since it won't be noted in my passport, I won't be allowed back into Korea on my E-2. |
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polonius
Joined: 05 Jun 2004
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| Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 7:57 pm Post subject: |
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| Bibbitybop wrote: |
| polonius wrote: |
Isn't it possible for you to simply transfer your visa over to the new school, provided that you have worked there for 10 months. If that is the case, why not simply transfer your visa, and save yourself the headaches involved in going to the Korean embassy.
You would need to make it clear that to your school that you are indeed going home for a certain amount of time. I extended a teacher for another campus, and we saved the hassle of him having to do the visa thing all over again. The end result is that you will have to extend again one more time before your year contract is up. 1 year - vacation time, will leave some time left over to complete the full year. The question then becomes, do you trust the new place of employment.
I don't believe that you can get a new visa issuance number if you are currently under a visa, but I might be wrong. |
That was my first route. From what I understand, immigration won't extend the visa (which involves changing employers) until the final day of my current contract. I will be on vacation and out of Korea 2 weeks before the end of my current contract. I'll be gone when they can/will extend it, and since it won't be noted in my passport, I won't be allowed back into Korea on my E-2. |
You can get a letter of release on which the current school can let you go of your current visa on a specific day. I will ask my assistant if transferring a visa is a one day process, and doesn't require leaving your passport. That way, you can be released and get your new visa at the same time. |
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Bibbitybop
Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Wed May 28, 2008 8:15 pm Post subject: |
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| polonius wrote: |
| Bibbitybop wrote: |
| polonius wrote: |
Isn't it possible for you to simply transfer your visa over to the new school, provided that you have worked there for 10 months. If that is the case, why not simply transfer your visa, and save yourself the headaches involved in going to the Korean embassy.
You would need to make it clear that to your school that you are indeed going home for a certain amount of time. I extended a teacher for another campus, and we saved the hassle of him having to do the visa thing all over again. The end result is that you will have to extend again one more time before your year contract is up. 1 year - vacation time, will leave some time left over to complete the full year. The question then becomes, do you trust the new place of employment.
I don't believe that you can get a new visa issuance number if you are currently under a visa, but I might be wrong. |
That was my first route. From what I understand, immigration won't extend the visa (which involves changing employers) until the final day of my current contract. I will be on vacation and out of Korea 2 weeks before the end of my current contract. I'll be gone when they can/will extend it, and since it won't be noted in my passport, I won't be allowed back into Korea on my E-2. |
You can get a letter of release on which the current school can let you go of your current visa on a specific day. I will ask my assistant if transferring a visa is a one day process, and doesn't require leaving your passport. That way, you can be released and get your new visa at the same time. |
I like your idea, but it won't work. As mentioned, visa transfers can occur in about 30 minutes. It's a relatively painless process. The issue is that immigration won't process an extension in advance, I will be on vacation when the current contract runs out and my employer will not and can not give me an earlier release date. It's a public school position, through a government office, and I would be losing my severance pay, paid vacation and free flight if I "quit" early, even though I would simply be on vacation and they wouldn't be missing any work from me. |
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Bibbitybop
Joined: 22 Feb 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Thu May 29, 2008 7:11 am Post subject: |
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The Korean Consulate in Houston said if you are authorized to get a new E-2 visa in a 3rd country, you are exempt from the interview and can get your visa through the mail in your home country.
Immigration officers in Seoul said getting it through the mail in the USA was not possible, despite what other posters said already in this thread and what the Korean Consulate in Houston said today.
If anyone is confused about "3rd country," what it means is that the immigration office in Korea will issue you a visa issuance number. At the same time, they will tell you if you must return to your home country for an interview and new E-2 visa OR if you can get your visa from another country (3rd country). Getting the 3rd country approval exempts you from the interview if you do get the visa from your home country.
I called immigration at 1345 today. They were super helpful and kind. |
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