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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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Boffo97
Joined: 08 Dec 2010
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 Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 6:38 pm Post subject: Obtaining Visa from L.A. Consulate |
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Hi,
I live about 4 hours away from L.A. by train and I don't have a car. What would you think would be the best way to go about obtaining my visa? (Note: I have had an E2 visa before, but my previous one involved me coming over on a tourist visa, then going to Japan to get my E2 once my paperwork was done, so I don't have experience with the L.A. consulate.)
Among my options:
1. Attempt to make a one day run: I can arrive in L.A. at 12:15, and catch a train back at 3:00pm. If I miss it, I'm stuck until the next day. How good are my odds of making it doing this?
2. Come the day before I fly out, get the visa, head to a hotel, then fly out the next day.
3. Mail it. (Is this possible? How long does it take?)
Any advice? |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 8:39 pm Post subject: Re: Obtaining Visa from L.A. Consulate |
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| Boffo97 wrote: |
Hi,
I live about 4 hours away from L.A. by train and I don't have a car. What would you think would be the best way to go about obtaining my visa? (Note: I have had an E2 visa before, but my previous one involved me coming over on a tourist visa, then going to Japan to get my E2 once my paperwork was done, so I don't have experience with the L.A. consulate.)
Among my options:
1. Attempt to make a one day run: I can arrive in L.A. at 12:15, and catch a train back at 3:00pm. If I miss it, I'm stuck until the next day. How good are my odds of making it doing this?
2. Come the day before I fly out, get the visa, head to a hotel, then fly out the next day.
3. Mail it. (Is this possible? How long does it take?)
Any advice? |
E2? Mail it unless you have a black mark from immigration. Takes about a week but don't book your flight till you have it in hand.
If you're going to make the trip in, plan on at least an overnight stay (Murphy's law). I don't think any of the Korean consulates offer same day service any more. Most are overnight and some are 2-4 working days.
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Boffo97
Joined: 08 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 8:44 pm Post subject: Re: Obtaining Visa from L.A. Consulate |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
E2? Mail it unless you have a black mark from immigration. Takes about a week but don't book your flight till you have it in hand.
If you're going to make the trip in, plan on at least an overnight stay (Murphy's law). I don't think any of the Korean consulates offer same day service any more. Most are overnight and some are 2-4 working days.
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There's no reason to think I have a black mark, especially since I've had an E2 visa before.
I'm just wondering about the time factor mailing it. I'm supposed to go July 24th, and the school probably won't get my paperwork until sometime between May 30 - June 5. And if I wait until all that's done before booking the flight, it will be expensive.
Thanks for the advice. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Tue May 21, 2013 9:18 pm Post subject: Re: Obtaining Visa from L.A. Consulate |
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| Boffo97 wrote: |
| ttompatz wrote: |
E2? Mail it unless you have a black mark from immigration. Takes about a week but don't book your flight till you have it in hand.
If you're going to make the trip in, plan on at least an overnight stay (Murphy's law). I don't think any of the Korean consulates offer same day service any more. Most are overnight and some are 2-4 working days.
.
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There's no reason to think I have a black mark, especially since I've had an E2 visa before.
I'm just wondering about the time factor mailing it. I'm supposed to go July 24th, and the school probably won't get my paperwork until sometime between May 30 - June 5. And if I wait until all that's done before booking the flight, it will be expensive.
Thanks for the advice. |
A black mark (requiring a consular visit) would likely be for things like an overstay (most common), illegal work, etc.
As for the price of the ticket - they're paying for it...
If you get the paperwork by June 5 and don't have to be in Korea till July then you have lots of time to get the visa by mail and still price shop for a ticket.
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sirius black
Joined: 04 Jun 2010
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| Posted: Sat May 25, 2013 4:16 pm Post subject: |
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Take the train and arrive at the opening time. you will get an interview fairly quickly and they will typically have it done after lunch. I think they shut down for an hour for lunch.
Anyway the interview is not even an interview. Its about 5 minutes long. Just to be professional about it dress at least business casual. Why tempt fate? Although I've never heard of anyone being turned down by the LA office.
You will typically have it given back to you between 3pm and 5pm give or take and you'll be on a train back in the evening. If you learn a little about the bus schedule and its a long corridor that runs almost the length of the city you can kill your wait time by taking a city bus towards the ocean way, Santa Monica. or if you want bring mags, download movies on your ipod or whatever and go to a local restaurant or cafe and kill time there. |
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Boffo97
Joined: 08 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Sat May 25, 2013 5:40 pm Post subject: |
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| sirius black wrote: |
Take the train and arrive at the opening time. you will get an interview fairly quickly and they will typically have it done after lunch. I think they shut down for an hour for lunch.
Anyway the interview is not even an interview. Its about 5 minutes long. Just to be professional about it dress at least business casual. Why tempt fate? Although I've never heard of anyone being turned down by the LA office.
You will typically have it given back to you between 3pm and 5pm give or take and you'll be on a train back in the evening. If you learn a little about the bus schedule and its a long corridor that runs almost the length of the city you can kill your wait time by taking a city bus towards the ocean way, Santa Monica. or if you want bring mags, download movies on your ipod or whatever and go to a local restaurant or cafe and kill time there. |
Actually that kind of schedule wouldn't work. I come from a smallish town, so there's not much option at all as far as the train goes.
I would arrive in L.A. at about 12:15 and have to leave at 3... so I don't have the option of showing up at opening and staying until 3-5.
That said, I do have the advantage of having had an E2 before, and from what I've heard in that case, there's no need for an interview.
Thanks for the advice though. |
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