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tarrare
Joined: 28 Mar 2013
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 Posted: Thu Jun 27, 2013 10:59 am Post subject: Visa Application Delay |
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In April was hired for a position at a hogwan in Gwangju that starts in late July (I had already begun the long visa application process during the first week of April.) We worked out the kinks in my contract and I signed on to begin on July 29th. When I finally received the necessary documents (on June 11th), I sent them through USPS to the school and the instructor booked my ticket for July 18th (I'll be shadowing the current teachers for a week before I start teaching).
The problem is this: It's been 17 days and the school has still not received my visa documents. It was only supposed to take around ten days at the longest. I can only assume the package is drifting through Korean customs, but I don't have a tracking number and I'm not sure it would be any use if I did. I'm scheduled to depart in three weeks, which, if my package is delivered within the next few days, will just barely give me enough time to receive my visa issuance number from immigration and put in my E2 application at the consulate in Seattle (it's a 6 hour drive from where I live but I think it will be better to deliver it in person).
The school is understandably concerned. As far as I know, they haven't interviewed anyone as a backup in case I fall through. What can I tell them? What are my options as far as speeding up the application process at the consulate? How long does it usually take for them to process applications? Pretty much open to any kind of advice. Time seems to be running out and I feel like all I can do is watch. |
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face32
Joined: 06 Oct 2010
Location: USA
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| Posted: Mon Jul 01, 2013 7:15 am Post subject: |
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Well your first mistake was using USPS to mail your docs. I am assuming it took you 6+ weeks to get all these documents together...why would you not get a tracking #? If you had a tracking number you would know whether or not it was sitting in customs. I sent mine last Monday through FedEx and they were there by last Friday Korean time.
Last time I used USPS I mailed my passport to the closest Korean Consulate. They lost my passport. It was missing for about 2 weeks. Then randomly showed up in Florida (I was sending it from Iowa to Illinois). I only found it because I had a tracking #.
It will definitely be better to deliver it in person to the Consulate in Seattle. Mailing it takes too long unless you overnight it, and have them overnight it back.
I don't know what else to tell you other than get tracking number next time. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Jul 01, 2013 3:00 pm Post subject: Re: Visa Application Delay |
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| tarrare wrote: |
In April was hired for a position at a hogwan in Gwangju that starts in late July (I had already begun the long visa application process during the first week of April.) We worked out the kinks in my contract and I signed on to begin on July 29th. When I finally received the necessary documents (on June 11th), I sent them through USPS to the school and the instructor booked my ticket for July 18th (I'll be shadowing the current teachers for a week before I start teaching).
The problem is this: It's been 17 days and the school has still not received my visa documents. It was only supposed to take around ten days at the longest. I can only assume the package is drifting through Korean customs, but I don't have a tracking number and I'm not sure it would be any use if I did. I'm scheduled to depart in three weeks, which, if my package is delivered within the next few days, will just barely give me enough time to receive my visa issuance number from immigration and put in my E2 application at the consulate in Seattle (it's a 6 hour drive from where I live but I think it will be better to deliver it in person).
The school is understandably concerned. As far as I know, they haven't interviewed anyone as a backup in case I fall through. What can I tell them? What are my options as far as speeding up the application process at the consulate? How long does it usually take for them to process applications? Pretty much open to any kind of advice. Time seems to be running out and I feel like all I can do is watch. |
4-10 working days at Korean immigration for issuance of the visa confirmation number. (likely closer to a calendar week in July).
1 days for you to get the number from your employer and head to the nearest Korean consulate.
2-4 working days to process the actual visa.
Good luck.
options:
Fly to Korea as a tourist then do a visa run to Japan to get your E2.
note:
-it is illegal to work on a tourist stamp / before you do your visa run.
- the airline may want to see your "exit/return" ticket before they let you board the flight to Korea.
-the employer is not obligated to pay for both the flight and visa run so you may end up paying for a 4-day visit to Japan at your expense.
ORDER A NEW SET OF DOCUMENTS NOW while you are still in the States and the process is easier than it would be if you were in Korea. You may need that 2nd set.
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tarrare
Joined: 28 Mar 2013
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| Posted: Tue Jul 02, 2013 5:09 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks ttom. Obviously a visa run is the worst case scenario, but there's a week between my arrival date and the beginning of my contract so I should be able to avoid working on a tourist visa.
There's a lot of different information out there re: visa runs. Do you know whether Korean consulates in Japan distribute first-time E2 visas? Or do they just do visa renewals for teachers switching contracts? |
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tob55
Joined: 29 Apr 2007
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| Posted: Tue Jul 02, 2013 5:12 pm Post subject: |
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| tarrare wrote: |
Thanks ttom. Obviously a visa run is the worst case scenario, but there's a week between my arrival date and the beginning of my contract so I should be able to avoid working on a tourist visa.
There's a lot of different information out there re: visa runs. Do you know whether Korean consulates in Japan distribute first-time E2 visas? Or do they just do visa renewals for teachers switching contracts? |
Yes, the Korean consulate in Japan does distribute first-time E2 visas. Did that back in 2004 when I first arrived in Korea, and to my knowledge nothing has changed. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Tue Jul 02, 2013 5:43 pm Post subject: |
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| tarrare wrote: |
Thanks ttom. Obviously a visa run is the worst case scenario, but there's a week between my arrival date and the beginning of my contract so I should be able to avoid working on a tourist visa.
There's a lot of different information out there re: visa runs. Do you know whether Korean consulates in Japan distribute first-time E2 visas? Or do they just do visa renewals for teachers switching contracts? |
There was a brief period between 2008 and 2010 when all new E2s had to have consular interviews in their home countries.
For all the rest of recent history (1995-2013) people have been able to get a first E2 in Japan. Do be aware however that processing times have gone from "same-day" to "overnight" to 4-day service in Tokyo and Osaka. I don't have current information about processing times in Fukuoka.
Worst case, as an American, you could have done it in Guam rather than Japan (but that is no longer necessary).
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