Korean Job Discussion Forums

michpottier · Joined: 03 May 2010

Hey All! I am leaving Korea after 5 years of a great experience. However, I just wanted to ask averyone out there if they have ever had a good or bad experience dealing with the Canadian Embassy in Seoul? The reason I ask is purely out of curiosity. I have personally just wrapped up getting my common law fiance a visa for Canada and it was a nightmare!
The whole building is a mystery to me, since it is about 8 floors and quite large, yet Canadians only have access to the lobby and a bit of the basement. I have also NEVER met anyone who has ever worked there, even though aside from the basic clerical staff all the staff are Canadian citizens. Has anyone ever met someone who worked there, or knows someone? The last time I was there I saw some Canadian staff entering the building, and they were actually quite young. It just seems very strange to me that there is such a large facility can barely process a visa in less than 6 months to a year, does little or nothing for the Canadian expat community here (unless they are wealthy investors), and never intermingal with the immense Canadian population in Korea (around 20,000 at last count).
Any thoughts or experiences?

Thanks!

viciousdinosaur · Joined: 30 Apr 2012

"Common-law fiance" - dude come on. How hard is it to just get married. It takes a couple hours. And it saves a hell of a lot of trouble in getting PR for your "wife". Do you have commitment issues or something.

As of the embassy - a total waste of tax payer dollars. If I was Prime Minister I would immediately close every embassy in the world and move all the services online.

Landros · Joined: 19 Oct 2007

what did you expect? Canadian gov't is full of red tape. You should have got married. their waiting is probably to stop sham marriages and to check out that people aren't trafficking women for night clubs or prostitution.

I renewed my passport and it was kind of stupid that they wouldn't take any cash. I had to find a bank and a post office nad wire transfer even though I had the cash on hand. anyway they make the rules. if you don't like them join some other country.

The new building is sweet. the old one was pretty lame.

There is the canada day events and the Canadian Chamber of Commerence does a lot of event with them.

Also the embassy are helping North Korean Defectors so cut them some slack. Just because you have no idea what they do don;t mean they aren't doing anything.

I don't see the Chinese embassy doing anything but how would I even notice?

At least the Brits have a bar!!

michpottier · Joined: 03 May 2010

Haha, no commitment issues, just that neither of us are Korean, so kind of want to have the wedding in Canada. The visa for wife and common law are exactly the same, that wasn't an issue.

I've seen those events but they are over priced, and really only designed for the few business people in the country, and the Chamber really pays and organizes these, no the embassy. I remember when they did a Canada Day event by the river in Seoul, but I guess that wasn't good for business.

I'm sure a lot of embassies are the same, but Canada's is sooo huge. I think the brits have the right idea. I'm sure they do something, but I just would like to know what?

Captain Corea · Joined: 28 Feb 2005 Location: Seoul

I've had both good and bad experiences. They seem to be closed for every holiday... and even made up holidays. And also, the embassy staff run in very specific circles.. and are shocked when you do not - for example, they'll calmly say that you should know a judge or lawyer or doctor. And while I do, it struck me as odd that they assume everyone is familiar with that type of people.

michpottier · Joined: 03 May 2010

Cool, so they do hang out in 'upper crust' circles. That's a shame.

michpottier · Joined: 03 May 2010

Cool, so they do hang out in 'upper crust' circles. That's a shame.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

In over a decade of having the misfortune of having to deal with the Canadian embassy I can say that I have NEVER had a good experience there.

The service is just plain bad.

The staff service and consular staff are ignorant and indifferent. Passport replacement applications (for expiring passports) should be quick and painless, not the time consuming waste of time that they make them to be.

The staff are CARELESS (how do you manage to lose birth registration photos going from the window to the in-basket?).

They managed to significantly damage (to the point where she required a new passport at our expense) my wife's passport when she was applying for a TRV to Canada.

They do not respond in a timely fashion to any query, inquiry, concern or complaint (either by phone, FAX or e-mail). Pay your money and if something isn't answered to their satisfaction they will return (at your expense) the documents, keep your money and require you to try again (with another fee attached) but we won't answer your query about the questions you asked to ensure that the problem wouldn't occur in the first place.

Rarely do I wish ill will on anyone but for the consular staff at the Canadian embassy I will make an exception and wish that the worst of all possible circumstances befall them whenever possible. May their next posting be to Libya.

.

schwa · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Yap

My dealings with them have been fine. Renewed my passport there twice without issue & a couple other inquiries on other occasions were handled quickly & efficiently.

Others have apparently had a different experience, but no gripe here.

viciousdinosaur · Joined: 30 Apr 2012

radcon · Joined: 23 May 2011

What is their rationale in requiring Canadian citizens to have a local doctor or lawyer vouch for them in order to renew a passport? That seems really effed up to me.

PatrickGHBusan · Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 4:26 am Post subject:

Stan Rogers · Joined: 20 Aug 2010

Tom that's a bit harsh. I know you had some bad luck there, but wishing ill on those people is a bit much. The people you delt with probably have been rotated out and don't work there anymore.

My experiences have been good. The workers were always professional, polite and helpful. I have no complaints about them.

Skippy · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Daejeon

PatrickGHBusan · Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 6:50 am Post subject:

The guarantor issue can be solved with this:

http://www.ppt.gc.ca/info/132.aspx?lang=eng

It is odd they (CDN Embassy in Seoul) would refuse anyone this because if it is properly filled, it is sufficient....then again I am sure it could happen.

At the end of the day a passport is a pretty important document and to obtain one should be a secure process.