Korean Job Discussion Forums

[carsta62]

Hey Everyone,
I'm one of the most dire positions I have ever been in. I got a job teaching English with EPIK for Spring 2013. I'm scheduled to start orientation Feb. 19. There is one big problem though. I still don't have my visa+passport.

I called the Korean consulate in Chicago (which is where I sent my application and documents Jan. 29th). The woman I spoke to on the phone said that my visa and passport was sent out this past Friday (the 8th). I sent a USPS overnight express envelope with my visa documents, but there is no tracking information.

I moved back in with my parents this past weekend. I had the foresight to address the return envelope to my parents' address, but I'm getting really concerned because it's been more than 2 shipping days since the consulate said they sent everything out.

My flight is scheduled late tomorrow afternoon out of Green Bay Wisconsin, but I can't go international without my passport. I inquired into rescheduling my flight, but there is no way I can get to Korea until after next week. My parent's live about an hour away from Green Bay in the middle of rural Wisconsin so I can't get to a major hub via driving. This is absolute mental agony, and I have no idea what to do.

My recruiter called the consulate to see whats going on, but they gave him the same line they gave me. That they sent my visa out last Friday. I just have no idea what to do. The fact that there is still no tracking information for my return envelope scares me. Would the consulate mail my visa NOT using the return envelope I sent with my documents?

[YTMND]

[newb]

They may MISTAKENLY dropped it in the X-file known as the trash can.

But good luck OP. I hope they didn't and everything works out for you.

[carsta62]

[ttompatz]

NOT meaning to be critical of the OP but as a note to others:

This is why you shouldn't buy your ticket before you have the actual visa in your passport and passport in hand.

It is not the first time this has happened (help, my flight is tomorrow and I don't have my visa/passport back yet) and won't be the last.

OP... sorry to hear of your problem... hope it all works out for you.

.

[carsta62]

Thank you for responding ttompatz. It is definitely ideal to wait until after you get your visa to book a flight. I do hope others can avoid these circumstances. I stopped by my local post office and gave them my number to call when they get my package. Hopefully I'll wake up tomorrow with a call from them saying they have my visa+passport.

[carsta62]

Update: My post office called me this morning, and told me the tracking information I gave the shows my package as being in Chicago. The woman also told me to expect my passport and visa tomorrow. I had to reschedule my flight and cancel my hotel (all together costing me an extra $350). I had set up an appt. for tomorrow to get a brand new passport in Chicago. I'm really glad I don't have to make the 5 hour drive and pay $200 for a new passport.

No one has any idea what happened or why it took so long for my express mail envelope to get sent out... I'm suspecting nefarious misinformation from the Korean consulate, but who knows.

[Swampfox10mm]

FYI:

About 10 years ago, my passport was mysteriously lost in the mail between my home town and Chicago. There is like one mail truck between the two. It showed up a month later with a stamp, but they'd held it. The postage stamp proved it. Long story short, the Chicago consulate lied about sending it on time. What I actually think happened is my boss at the time had it delayed. He did this because his hagwon was going under, but didn't want to tell me. He was hoping I'd just go away or something, I think.

[carsta62]

Whoa Swampfox10mm.... that's heavy... What did you do in the meantime?

[face32]

Well after reading this I'm not so sure it was the Post office that lost my passport last year...

It was missing for over a week. No tracking. I live in Iowa about 4 hours from Chicago. My passport showed up in Florida though after a week. Weird.