Korean Job Discussion Forums

burnt_out_in_seoul · Joined: 19 Sep 2012

I have secured a contract from a school here in Seoul; the recruiter is putting the visa paperwork together. I will make a visa run. Where is the easiest visa run? Japan? What city? Maybe not Japan, maybe Bangkok? How long does the process take once I touch down in that country? How easy is it to get to the Korean counselate? Seems to me that the plane ticket needs to be pretty well timed in order to have enough time to get the visa processed, but not so much leftover time that I am just hanging around waiting to go home.
Thank you for any help you can give me.

Skippy · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Daejeon

The easiest is....
Japan

It is the closest country to Korea. It has a few Korean consulates in the country. There are multiple ways to get to Japan. It is generally cheaper. The consulate has tonnes of experience dealing with E2 visa trip people. It can be done in two days including traveling time.

Depending where you are in Korea... if let's say Daegu, the ferry trip to Fukuoka is the easiest. For others like Seoul a plane trip to Tokyo is easier.

Please search the board, there are a thousand thread on doing the visa trip. First place to look is the f^(king FAQ section.

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=20648

burnt_out_in_seoul · Joined: 19 Sep 2012

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

Skippy · Joined: 18 Jan 2003 Location: Daejeon

Yes, some of the information has changed like ttompatz said. The FAQs are a bit dated, but as I said there are a thousand threads about taking the visa trip. If you had searched you would have seen. Plus you would think logic would rear it's head here. Let's say I need to leave Canada for a few days because of visa issue, which country should I go to. Hmm England?

I would not have pointed to the FAQ if it was not relevant. If after over just guessing Japan consulates having done E2 100,000 visa over the years. Most people would think Japan is the easiest.

Also, I am confused you ask for the easiest visa trip. Japan is a no brainer. How did you get Bangkok as easier? You provided no other criteria for your trip. Fun is Guam or Bangkok. Cheap easy, Japan via slow ferry.

As Tom said above is good info. Do be careful of timing. If you arrive at the consulate to late in the afternoon, you might have to stay over another day, making the trip 3 days instead of two. One other point is the consulate is not open on Saturday/Sunday. So if you future boss is hoping you can get this done on a weekend, no go.

Please read the board more. If you want details on how to search please see my signature blurb. Use google instead of the search here. Even old info is still good info.