|
Korean Job Discussion Forums
"The Internet's Meeting Place for ESL/EFL Teachers from Around the World!"
|
| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
michpottier
Joined: 03 May 2010
|
 Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 7:15 am Post subject: |
 |
|
| viciousdinosaur wrote: |
| michpottier wrote: |
The visa for wife and common law are exactly the same, that wasn't an issue.
|
That's a pretty ignorant thing to say. The procedure is obviously not the same. You have to prove your common law status. That takes documentation and lots of it. Unlike if you were married, as it only takes one document--the marriage certificate. And to blow it off like it wasn't an issue when you stated in your OP that is was a "nightmare" getting a visa for your wife. I had to provide more documents to get my F6 than my wife had to provide to get her PR. Application + fee, mail it, wait 6 months, get visa, go to Canada. Done. No nightmare. |
Are you serious?! I had to send them our joint apartment lease here in Seoul, that's it. She American, they are not a high risk of,illegal immigration. A marriage certificate is certainly not proof of a genuine relationship these days. It all depends on country of origin. Also, you only waited six monts for a PR? How long ago was that?! It takes over a year now, as stated on ther website. Maybe you were lucky. Also, if I remember correctly, the spousal,visa for Korea doesn't take 6-12 months to simply get, and rejection is rare. While the Canadian embassy can prevent a spouse from getting PR if they so much as have careless driving on their record. Anyway, I have applied for dozens of visas in my time, and the Canadian ones have always been the most time consuming and stressful, mainly,as others have stated,they are unhelpful, and any errors that may occur, no matter how small, can hold back the process by months. I would sooner apply for a Korean visa any day of the week. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
michpottier
Joined: 03 May 2010
|
| Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 7:22 am Post subject: |
|
|
| I have used other Canadian embassies in other countries in the past and they all seem to be the same. Some people get decent service, while others have a hard time. I think the biggest hint that customer service is not on their to do list is when you try to email them and you get an automated response stating that they will respond within 28 business days?! While this doesn't happen all the time, the fact they give themselves that kind of breathing room is shocking. I wish I could work at a place where is could leave things for 28 days. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
michpottier
Joined: 03 May 2010
|
| Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 7:29 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Skippy wrote: |
| Stan Rogers wrote: |
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. |
My experience has been adequate. That was because I was prepared and spent the time and effort to NOW what to do. I mean I spend the time and effort. Weeks of research and digging up info. Using my orecious vacation time to travel to another city to find witnesses and such. If I was like most people who are half prepared or need something done in a quick manner, I would have been screwed.
The Canadian passport renewal is pretty much of the major E-2 countries on of the hardest and most convoluted of them all.
The guarantor is one of the most annoying of them all. Remember it has to be a doctor, lawyer, etc WHO has KNOWN you personally for TWO years. For some if they have been here a short time is impossible to fulfill. Maybe then they can do the in lie of .... For those who have been here a while it can be equally as impossible to find someone, more so when you are an introvert like me. Many long timers have been refused the in lie of route and told to find someone. OK maybe the doctors and dentists might be doable, but I go to different ones each time or for a short time. Besides why would the remember me.
Then add addresses for last few years. Two people who have known you for the time. Special passport photo requirements. It gets mighty annoying.
Then add on the weird business hours of the consulate. |
Ya got to love the 2 hours a day they are open for immigration purposes. What's the point? Shouldn't visa issuance be one of their prime concerns, after passports etc.? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
michpottier
Joined: 03 May 2010
|
| Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 7:29 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Skippy wrote: |
| Stan Rogers wrote: |
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. |
My experience has been adequate. That was because I was prepared and spent the time and effort to NOW what to do. I mean I spend the time and effort. Weeks of research and digging up info. Using my orecious vacation time to travel to another city to find witnesses and such. If I was like most people who are half prepared or need something done in a quick manner, I would have been screwed.
The Canadian passport renewal is pretty much of the major E-2 countries on of the hardest and most convoluted of them all.
The guarantor is one of the most annoying of them all. Remember it has to be a doctor, lawyer, etc WHO has KNOWN you personally for TWO years. For some if they have been here a short time is impossible to fulfill. Maybe then they can do the in lie of .... For those who have been here a while it can be equally as impossible to find someone, more so when you are an introvert like me. Many long timers have been refused the in lie of route and told to find someone. OK maybe the doctors and dentists might be doable, but I go to different ones each time or for a short time. Besides why would the remember me.
Then add addresses for last few years. Two people who have known you for the time. Special passport photo requirements. It gets mighty annoying.
Then add on the weird business hours of the consulate. |
Ya got to love the 2 hours a day they are open for immigration purposes. What's the point? Shouldn't visa issuance be one of their prime concerns, after passports etc.? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Skippy
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Daejeon
|
| Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 7:50 am Post subject: |
|
|
| PatrickGHBusan wrote: |
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. |
Ya would think, but as I said people have been refused one because they have been in KOREA long enough.
As I thought "Captain Korea" was one who was refused to use the ILOG. Found another "WadRUG'naDoo" . Yet another long timer here on ESL cafe, "ddeubel". Seems if you have been here a while, expect trouble. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
|
| Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 9:52 am Post subject: |
|
|
No need for that response Skip as I was agreeing with you..
see:
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. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Skippy
Joined: 18 Jan 2003
Location: Daejeon
|
| Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 10:53 am Post subject: |
|
|
| PatrickGHBusan wrote: |
No need for that response Skip as I was agreeing with you..
see:
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. |
I know! Well half knew. Sorry. Still smarting over my ban from waygook.
To keep on topic that is why I recommend many people to find a good dentist or doctor to stick with. So when the time comes they can get a renewal done easily.
Plus start now tracking down all your old addresses. Including work place. I decided to do them (if applicable) in English and Korea.
I think my experiences with the Canadian Embassy/passport renewal and Korean Immigration has given me insight into the nature of bureaucracy and how to deal with it.
Such as
1) Research. Literally find all you can about the process.
2) Take the time you estimate in which to deal with things and DOUBLE or TRIPLE it.
3) Over prepare. When I went for the renewal I went both routes guarantor and in liu of guarantor. I gave them 5 plus years of addresses. If I could do it another way, I did it if I could.
4) Expect illogic. I know you should expect things to be sort of logical with a system, but when it comes to government they tend to be the same thing.
5) Make the effort. You take the effort. Make the effort early and you can be amazed in how quickly the end game wraps up. Do not delay or stall. Stop whining and get it done. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
radcon
Joined: 23 May 2011
|
| Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 1:18 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| PatrickGHBusan wrote: |
| radcon wrote: |
| 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. |
Thats the guarantor requirement. It is the same for canadians in Canada unless they use the simplified renewal process (which has certain requirements).
As for the Embassy, we dealt with them when my wife had to process her immigration papers for Canada and it was sub-par service at best. |
That's all well and good. But my question was about the embassy's rationale. What exactly is a Korean doctor guarantor supposed to be guaranteeing? Playing hardball towards prospective immigrants is one thing, but these are Canadian citizens, already members of team Canada. Under what circumstances would you deny them a passport renewal while they are overseas?
Last edited by radcon on Wed Sep 19, 2012 7:30 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
viciousdinosaur
Joined: 30 Apr 2012
|
| Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 3:12 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| michpottier wrote: |
| viciousdinosaur wrote: |
| michpottier wrote: |
The visa for wife and common law are exactly the same, that wasn't an issue.
|
That's a pretty ignorant thing to say. The procedure is obviously not the same. You have to prove your common law status. That takes documentation and lots of it. Unlike if you were married, as it only takes one document--the marriage certificate. And to blow it off like it wasn't an issue when you stated in your OP that is was a "nightmare" getting a visa for your wife. I had to provide more documents to get my F6 than my wife had to provide to get her PR. Application + fee, mail it, wait 6 months, get visa, go to Canada. Done. No nightmare. |
Are you serious?! I had to send them our joint apartment lease here in Seoul, that's it. She American, they are not a high risk of,illegal immigration. A marriage certificate is certainly not proof of a genuine relationship these days. It all depends on country of origin. Also, you only waited six monts for a PR? How long ago was that?! It takes over a year now, as stated on ther website. Maybe you were lucky. Also, if I remember correctly, the spousal,visa for Korea doesn't take 6-12 months to simply get, and rejection is rare. While the Canadian embassy can prevent a spouse from getting PR if they so much as have careless driving on their record. Anyway, I have applied for dozens of visas in my time, and the Canadian ones have always been the most time consuming and stressful, mainly,as others have stated,they are unhelpful, and any errors that may occur, no matter how small, can hold back the process by months. I would sooner apply for a Korean visa any day of the week. |
Six months exactly. Maybe it's just faster for people who are actually married. This was only a couple years ago. You know it doesn't actually take a year to process right? They just set it aside in the office and wait. Rejection is rare? Rejection is pretty rare for Canadian PR too, as long as you are married. You can't even get an F6 unless you are legally married. Try getting an F6 by saying you are common-law. They'll laugh you out of the office. Canadian immigration is pretty lenient when you think about it. It's a one-time process and you get citizenship 5 years later. In Korea, it's a continuous visa gauntlet. Renew after 1 year, then 2 years later, then another 2 years, then F5, and then who knows how much longer to get citizenship, if you can ever get it. And you lose your status if you are out of the country too long and have to start from zero. At least Canada lets you spend years outside the country while under PR. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Who's Your Daddy?
Joined: 30 May 2010
Location: Victoria, Canada.
|
| Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 4:10 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| viciousdinosaur wrote: |
| michpottier wrote: |
The visa for wife and common law are exactly the same, that wasn't an issue.
|
I had to provide more documents to get my F6 than my wife had to provide to get her PR. Application + fee, mail it, wait 6 months, get visa, go to Canada. Done. No nightmare. |
Are you serious? Wow, I don't know how you could think that. Getting citizenship is probably more difficult than in Canada, but the F6 is easy. It's more like "Did you marry a Korean?"
| PatrickGHBusan wrote: |
| radcon wrote: |
| 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. |
Thats the guarantor requirement. It is the same for canadians in Canada unless they use the simplified renewal process (which has certain requirements).
|
Almost all Canadians residing in Canada don't require a guarantor. The simplified renewal process is designed for them. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Captain Corea
Joined: 28 Feb 2005
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 5:19 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| PatrickGHBusan wrote: |
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. |
They refused me. Sent me away despite my protests. I offered to give a dozen "average" references, and they refused.
Only when i wrote a letter protesting their 'elitist' policy, did they accept my references. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
michpottier
Joined: 03 May 2010
|
| Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 7:32 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| viciousdinosaur wrote: |
| michpottier wrote: |
| viciousdinosaur wrote: |
| michpottier wrote: |
The visa for wife and common law are exactly the same, that wasn't an issue.
|
That's a pretty ignorant thing to say. The procedure is obviously not the same. You have to prove your common law status. That takes documentation and lots of it. Unlike if you were married, as it only takes one document--the marriage certificate. And to blow it off like it wasn't an issue when you stated in your OP that is was a "nightmare" getting a visa for your wife. I had to provide more documents to get my F6 than my wife had to provide to get her PR. Application + fee, mail it, wait 6 months, get visa, go to Canada. Done. No nightmare. |
Are you serious?! I had to send them our joint apartment lease here in Seoul, that's it. She American, they are not a high risk of,illegal immigration. A marriage certificate is certainly not proof of a genuine relationship these days. It all depends on country of origin. Also, you only waited six monts for a PR? How long ago was that?! It takes over a year now, as stated on ther website. Maybe you were lucky. Also, if I remember correctly, the spousal,visa for Korea doesn't take 6-12 months to simply get, and rejection is rare. While the Canadian embassy can prevent a spouse from getting PR if they so much as have careless driving on their record. Anyway, I have applied for dozens of visas in my time, and the Canadian ones have always been the most time consuming and stressful, mainly,as others have stated,they are unhelpful, and any errors that may occur, no matter how small, can hold back the process by months. I would sooner apply for a Korean visa any day of the week. |
Six months exactly. Maybe it's just faster for people who are actually married. This was only a couple years ago. You know it doesn't actually take a year to process right? They just set it aside in the office and wait. Rejection is rare? Rejection is pretty rare for Canadian PR too, as long as you are married. You can't even get an F6 unless you are legally married. Try getting an F6 by saying you are common-law. They'll laugh you out of the office. Canadian immigration is pretty lenient when you think about it. It's a one-time process and you get citizenship 5 years later. In Korea, it's a continuous visa gauntlet. Renew after 1 year, then 2 years later, then another 2 years, then F5, and then who knows how much longer to get citizenship, if you can ever get it. And you lose your status if you are out of the country too long and have to start from zero. At least Canada lets you spend years outside the country while under PR. |
That explains it, they raised the Korean processing time to 9 months min, just this year. Korea doesn't have common law as most countries don't. Since Canada has gay marriage they had to include it so same sex couples could get PR. The processing time is the same by law. Since my fianc� is American living Korea her processing time is higher, currently for Americans applying for any spousal PR the processing time is 11 months min. Why Americans have a longer processing time than Koreans is beyond me. In Canada you can get citizenship after 3 years, but you can't leave the country for longer than 3. The Korean system requires visas, but they process it quickly. Also rejected PR for Canada is very common. In fact the lawyers a spoke to said 1 in 10 of their applications are rejected initially, and once that happens you have to start over. Canada requires zero health problems, zero criminal or driving record no matter how minor. In Korea they will only reject it if you are a serious criminal or have the plague. A Canadian friend of mine sponsored her husband for Canada but he was rejected because he smoked pot in college and was caught. It also should be noted that if your PR is rejected you can't even enter Canada for 5 years even as tourist, it's brutal, marriage means nothing to them. Simply google 5 year ban from Canada, and you will see many stories of spouses split by Canada immigration.i have yet to hear that happen in Korea. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
cdninkorea
Joined: 27 Jan 2006
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Wed Sep 19, 2012 8:45 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I've had several dealings with the Canadian Embassy, including passport renewal, notarizations, and the registration for my wedding. In all cases I was pleasantly surprised at how friendly and helpful the staff was. Perhaps my standards were low because of all the bad stories I've heard, but I haven't had any problems. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
|
| Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2012 8:53 am Post subject: |
|
|
[quote="Who's Your Daddy?"]
| viciousdinosaur wrote: |
| michpottier wrote: |
The visa for wife and common law are exactly the same, that wasn't an issue.
|
I had to provide more documents to get my F6 than my wife had to provide to get her PR. Application + fee, mail it, wait 6 months, get visa, go to Canada. Done. No nightmare. |
Are you serious? Wow, I don't know how you could think that. Getting citizenship is probably more difficult than in Canada, but the F6 is easy. It's more like "Did you marry a Korean?"
| PatrickGHBusan wrote: |
| radcon wrote: |
| 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. |
Thats the guarantor requirement. It is the same for canadians in Canada unless they use the simplified renewal process (which has certain requirements).
|
Almost all Canadians residing in Canada don't require a guarantor. The simplified renewal process is designed for them.[/quote]
Which is what I said thanks. 
The simplified renewal process is available for most Canadians who hold a valid passport that has at least a certain amount of time left on it before it expires. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
PatrickGHBusan
Joined: 24 Jun 2008
Location: Busan (1997-2008) Canada 2008 -
|
| Posted: Thu Sep 20, 2012 8:54 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Captain Corea wrote: |
| PatrickGHBusan wrote: |
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. |
They refused me. Sent me away despite my protests. I offered to give a dozen "average" references, and they refused.
Only when i wrote a letter protesting their 'elitist' policy, did they accept my references. |
Sigh....I did not say they did not refuse people, I said I found it ODD they would considering their own rules include the "in lieu" form.
Good you got them to accept your renewal application, glad it worked out. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
