Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Caerus]

So I haven't gotten my VIN yet. I'm supposed to start on March 2nd, and they want me to fly out there by Feb 25th. I haven't made an appointment for an interview at the Toronto consulate yet, and I live in Manitoba. I know I have to do a phone/IM interview I think, and still mail my documents to Toronto. Given mailing time of around 4-6 business days there and back, plus the time it takes them to process it, is there even a chance at all I'd make it there before march?

[egrog1717]

Sorry bud, but if you're going through the Toronto Consulate you're pretty much screwed... At least in my experience...

They're going to want all of your documents, then have you in for a face to face interview (which they'll book ifor about 3 weeks from now...)

Then it takes 3-5 business days to have it issued... I met a guy who lived in Vancouver but went to school in Ontario and had to go through the T.O. Consulate because of it... He had to live out of a backpack for almost a month waiting for his stupid interview...

[megandadam]

wow.
i am sort of in the same ocean, but definitely not the same boat.
if you absolutely have to go through the TO consulate, then you may in fact be screwed.

i am supposed to fly out of here around the 25th. we got our VIN's last week, applied in person for our VISA's on friday (13th) and at that time booked our appointment for tuesday (17th) at 3pm (they told about 5 other people the same time )
so, after that, it should be about 5 business days if i am lucky, which puts it at about 20th or 23rd. then we have to go pick them up (9-430pm not too bad but still more time off of work). and we can't really say what time we can book our flight tickets either, because we don't want to shaft the school or re-book an expensive ticket.

so, while i feel i am stressed about it, it's probably no where near what you are feeling (or should be) right about now, sorry to say.

1. are you sure there isn't a consulate closer to you?
2. if so, id suggest calling the consulate and seeing if you can do a phone or webcam interview because it is supposed to be face-to-face (unless this is not your first time e-2 VISA but seems unlikely)
3. if not ok, it might be possible but you'd have to be prepared to possibly fly/drive here and stay for a couple weeks (which you don't really have)
4. at this point, you should be sending everything xpresspost/priority mail. you will need to be prepared to spend some serious resources from what i can tell.

shit, i am glad that i'm not where you are but nevertheless i am feeling stressed. good luck!

[MissMaggie]

I'm in a similar boat, I was supposed to be there on Feb 23 for training, but I still haven't gotten my visa issuance number. luckily, I'm only 4 hours away, so it only costs me about $70 a trip to go back and forth to Toronto by car. I feel sorry for the people in Manitoba who have to use the Toronto consulate...

At this point I'm basically just sitting here waiting for someone to tell me to hop on a plane.

[LeChuck]

Go through the Vancouver consulate! I live in Saskatchewan, and since it is all but impossible (read: I can't afford it) to fly out to Vancouver just for an interview, the people there were kind enough to point out that I could simply record a video interview of myself and mail it to them.

Follow this link and the instructions on the page: http://can-vancouver.mofat.go.kr/eng/am/can-vancouver/visiting/visacategories/index.jsp#e2

Good luck!

[Caerus]

Well this really sucks....

I can't use the Vancouver consulate as the one in Toronto holds jurisdiction over Ontario and Manitoba. I'm going to call them tomorrow morning to see if it's possible to not have to go in person. I had heard from other people that you could set up an MSN/Webcam interview, but I don't know for certain.

I'm guessing that I am screwed time wise regardless though.... If I can't schedule an immediate interview after I get my VIN, then I'm pretty sure there's no way my documents can be processed in time taking into account mailing as well.

I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do now then. Do I need to renegotiate my contract with the school? There's no way I can work if I'm not even there yet...

[cruisemonkey]

[Mdvl_lady50]

I'm in a similar situation, only stateside. It's been well over a week, and no VIN yet. I've already spent a small fortune in fed-exes, overnight mails etc., for the previous documents that had to go here, there and everywhere. Hopefully, it will come soon via email. I am lucky in one respect. My consulate is in LA, CA. I live in Arizona. Because of that, Korean Consulate in LA has told me that I can set up a phone interview as soon as I get my VIN. I'm supposed to start March 2nd, but then decided a few days ago not to stress out about it too much. I've done everything on my end in a timely and expensive fashion.

[toonchoon]

[lille]

Count me in to the pity party as well! My documents arrived in Korea on January 23rd, and I'm still waiting for my VIN. A pal of mine was supposed to start on February 1st and is still waiting for an interview at the Toronto Consulate.

I wanted to leave within the week, and I'm pacing circles 'round my suitcase already. .

[egrog1717]

[megandadam]

i just don't understand why it would take so long to get the VISA after having all the req'd docs. processed in korea. i mean, to me, it should only take a couple days after the interview to get the VISA.

all it would take is some communication between the koreans in korea and the consulates worldwide.

pipe dream maybe?

[lille]

[egrog1717]

[lille]

OP, if you're still having trouble getting a timely interview in Toronto, try Ottawa. I just called them this afternoon and they told me that they're happy letting applicants hop jurisdictions so long as the applicants schedule an interview in person and come back for that interview in person.

It sounds like a nuisance, but I might try it out if Toronto's too backed up when I get my VIN.

..That is, if I ever get my VIN.