Korean Job Discussion Forums

Lexiloo555 · Joined: 24 Jul 2010 Location: Gyeonggi-do, South Korea

I went to the Suwon Immigration office today to apply for my ARC and the immigration officer told me that the Boston Korean Consulate messed up my Visa. From what I can understand (because no one could speak English there) the consulate (in Boston) marked my Visa as E-2-2 and in the box that says "type" it has a big M (meaning multiple entry)... However, the immigration official said that they made a mistake and marked the visa as an E-2-2 (which is a single entry visa) instead of a E-2-1.... I am so scared and confused as they confiscated my passport for 3 weeks and said (in broken English) that they would "fix it". I am now without a passport and unsure about my visa status. Please help me someone... should I call the US Embassy??? I am kind of freaking out a bit as I do not want my visa to be canceled

Hawkeye Pierce · Joined: 22 Jan 2010 Location: Uijeongbu

Your passport is the property of the U.S. government. If it has been taken from you, you are well within your rights to contact the U.S. consulate in Seoul to find out exactly what happened.

That stated, it doesn't sound like they are going to deport you or any other such problem. Unless something else happens, relax and have a drink. Ask your Korean co-teacher to call and find out exactly what happened. Sounds like they mistakenly issued a multiple entry visa instead of a single entry visa which will deprive them of some small amount of revenue if you were to leave the country for a holiday and want to return. If they issued you a single entry visa, and are now upgrading you to a multiple entry visa, then it is to your advantage to have them fix it!

Lexiloo555 · Joined: 24 Jul 2010 Location: Gyeonggi-do, South Korea

I think that I will call the US embassy tomorrow, just to be safe. Thank you for the reassurance! Just a bit scared with them taking my passport and not having it for a couple of weeks.

broonie30 · Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 4:43 am Post subject:

Sounds like absolutely nothing to worry about. They will just change your application, visa in passport and their own records to show that you are now on a single entry, or multiple entry visa. Just a small detail, no need to worry about anything being cancelled. They have usually kept my passport for up to a week just to be awkward and put a small multiple re-entry sticker in it.

I have been here 3 years and have had many problems with Korean Immigration along the way. One thing I have learned though is if you look worrried, they love it and thrive off of that bit of power over you. Sadists that work at Immigration! Relax!

interestedinhanguk · Joined: 23 Aug 2010

Confiscated? Then call the embassy.

Willingly handed it over? Wait it out.

interestedinhanguk · Joined: 23 Aug 2010

Already posted in General forum and Off-topic forum.

valkyrian2 · Mod Team Joined: 15 May 2007

cross posted and answered here:
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?p=2464884&highlight=#2464884

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