Korean Job Discussion Forums

[TBirdMG]

OK,

So my employer received my documents for the purposes of getting the E-2 visa issuance number. She told me it will take 3 weeks, and so I won't receive it until early August.

As she wants me in Seoul no later than August 30 for a September 1st start date, that leaves me, realistically, 2 weeks in which to procure the visa in passport from the closest consulate. I am a previous E-2 holder, so in theory, I don't have to apply in person, but we know that's going to be at the discretion of the consular officer's mood du jour.

Anyways, everything seems really tight and last minute if it really takes 3 BLOODY WEEKS to process an immigration number. And as the contract stipulates that I will be "refunded" for purchasing my own 1 way ticket, it's going to be a doozy if less than 14 days advance purchase. And I most certainly am not going to buy it until I have the visa in hand.

Does it really take 3 weeks for the issuance number, or is my potential employer yanking my chain? If so, Taiwan and Japan are looking that much better....I hate Korean last minute crap...

Thanks in advance.

[poet13]

When I came to Korea, my employer processed the visa number in maybe 4 days. He or she MAY have a legitimate reason, so I wouldn't get too excited just yet. You're a step ahead of the game if your bullshot radar is already so highly tuned.

[bobbybigfoot]

I just got my Visa number. Took 6 business days. I made my application at the Korean Embassy today (Monday). I had to beg and plead to have my VISA ready by Friday. I showed the woman my plane ticket for Thursday. Didn't matter. Fully booked, she said. So I was forced to change the ticket. Last year, the embassy took 3 days, and probably would have done it in 2 days with a little pleading. Now they are insisting on 5 days. Add on extra days if you aren't applying in person.

[Bibbitybop]

See my thread from 2 weeks ago in this forum called "getting a new E-2 visa sucks."

Korean immigration said 10-14 days for the issuance number.

[jdog2050]

[plynx]

my new employer submitted my documents to immigration on monday, july 7 and i received the visa number today, july 14 (stateside). 5-6 business day turnover. i had a cancelled visa to contend with and they still issued my visa number within a week. i have no idea where these places are getting the three week timeline (my friend was also given this ridiculous wait), unless they aren't submitting your papers in a timely fashion. as for my particular consulate, the last time i spoke with them, they said that the processing time to get the visa stamped (stuck) in my passport was the same as usual (1 day if you go to the consulate yourself, add a few extra days if you're mailing it in). [note: if it matters at all, i'm a repeat offender as a previous E-2 holder.]

[TBirdMG]

Thanks for the comments. As my documents recently arrived in Seoul, my employer stated that she would submit them to immi in the next few days. So I doubt the 3 week processing time it's a matter of having a black mark...

..although something that worries me a bit is the fact that recently I found my old ARC from years past in a shoebox. Nobody ever said anything about submitting it to immi when leaving the country, so I held onto it as a keepsake. This was before the days of pension and the like.

So I wonder if that'll show up.

Anybody know if there's an equivalent to a statute of limitations on immi/visa records? Expunged after X years or anything similar?

Thanks in advance.

[ttompatz]

There is no expunging of records and they don't care about your old, expired ARC.

[icicle]

I have heard 10-14 working days as the normal processing time ... and that things can easily make it longer than that. The actual timings can be different depending on which immigration office the request is being processed through ... the volume of work they have at the time the request comes in (so there are slower times of year) ...and how many national holidays there are in the processing time. I have twice got an E2 visa and both came back in the 10-14 working days ... That is not much under the 3 weeks you are talking about being told it would take as 15 working days would be 3 calender weeks. It can definitely be faster for some lucky people but that doesn't mean there is something wrong or suspisious in something taking a few days longer to be processed or as in your case only taking what is normally reported as the normal processing time.

And expecting that you will have a couple of weeks to organise your departure afte getting the visa issuance number is actually something of a luxury. It is not uncommon for people to leave within a day or so of getting the visa in their passport. I did it in under a week from getting the visa in my passport last time. (But I was planning towards knowing that this was likely ... )

[tob55]

Normally, it takes between 3 - 7 business days. I have helped a number of people find jobs and worked as simply the person introducing parties (no money given to me for recruiting purposes, because there is no need from my point of view) The people from the public schools get all of the documents together, process them at Immigration, then Immigration sends them verification of the "e-number" via email, which is then sent to the new hire via email to take to their home consulate to be processed. Easy and those taking three weeks are probably really busy or else don't know what they are doing in the first place.

This is my personal experience as someone who helps others find places to work, but as I said I am not a recruiter. I do this as a labor of kindness for people who want to come and work in this country. I find satisfaction in knowing that every person I help is one less person being screwed by the numerous recruiters who see only money as the motivation to do their job.

[yingwenlaoshi]

A week or less for me, I think. Just recently.