Korean Job Discussion Forums

[raketbaler]

Does anyone know how to renew a passport in California quickly? I had my interview with the Consulate yesterday, she said there wouldn't be a problem with the date it was issued (July 9. I booked my flight for June 10th and now they're telling me I can't get the visa because my passport expired.

[ajuma]

Look in the phone book or call a travel agent to find out about "expedited" service. It'll cost you a bundle (like $700 or so), but it might be worth it to you.

[aerialsimulacrum]

Does the passport copy you submit have to show validity for the whole length of the visa you're applying for?

I will be applying for an E-2 in July of this year and hope to be in Korea by August. My passport expires in September. I need to know if it is better to get my passport replaced before applying for the visa, or if I can just wait until I am in Korea to do that.

[raketbaler]

[ajuma]

[yoja]

To renew a US passport, you can check the information found here: http://travel.state.gov/passport/get/renew/renew_833.html

Expedited service is going to run you an extra $75 or so, including next-day delivery fees. Look toward the bottom of the page, under #4 for info on expedited service.

On the website above, you can search for the nearest post office to you that handles passport processing. If you have additional questions, I would suggest contacting them rather than well-meaning strangers on a message board.

I was recently told that right now there is not a lengthy wait (around 2 weeks turnaround time) for passport processing time, but I have no way of knowing how true that is. I've noticed that sometimes people who have no clue about anything tend to make up crap and think they're doing the world a favor by trying to pass it off as gospel truth.

[raketbaler]

[yoja]

You may want to confirm with the SF passport agency (if you haven't already) that you can indeed walk out with a new passport the same day.

You also may need a day or two of processing time to get the Korean visa in said passport before you're allowed to board the plane.

Better to be safe and double check. Although from my experience, the Koreans I worked with didn't seem to mind changing my ticket multiple times each time a snag came up (that could have been prevented with just a smidgen of foresight and advance planning). No, better to live in the moment and take things as they come. I'm not judging, I'm just sayin'.

Anyway, good luck and hope it all works out smoothly!

Welcome to Korea (soon)!

[raketbaler]

[ajuma]

[raketbaler]

I'm only going to have to pay $135 for an emergency passport. I can't imagine having to pay that much.

[yoja]

Ajuma,

I'm sorry--I can see now how you could have gotten that message from my post--but that was not my intention. I wasn't referring to you.

Actually, I was referring to the woman who told me that. She was quite chatty and told me that it "recently" took her grandfather only 8 days to renew & receive his passport. Five minutes later she was still talking and she mentioned that her grandparents were dead. But she did hold a position where she would be far more likely to know than I would, so I really don't know how long it takes. I've been home for a few months (getting ready to go back), and it surprises me that I'm as irritated with the people here as I ever was with "those Koreans." I still find it super annoying how many people from my own culture that I've dealt with are like that--from "customer service" people to my boss, my sister, and everyone in between. Nobody here at home wants to admit that they don't know something--it's the white person version of saving face, I guess. But anyway, that's my issue and it's really not relevant, nor interesting.

It's been a couple of months since I've been lurking on Dave's, and for the record, in the past when I was here more often, I enjoyed your posts and thought you gave good advice. You even helped me out once or twice when I was a newbie.

I didn't mean to discredit you in the slightest. I apologize.

PS that would totally suck, to lose your passport in the midst of travel like that--plus having to pay those kinds of fees--that's outrageous!

[tommo123456789]

I went to the post office and got a new passport, with photos, expedited service, overnight there, and back to me.. cost was like 175.. it took a week to 2 weeks to get it.. if you're renewing.. i would think it wouldnt take that long..

in my opinion though, i wouldnt want to leave my country without a passport that's good until i return.