Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jpe]

I don't know how recently this changed, but it would seem the E-2 visa process time has changed from 1 to 3 days in both Tokyo and Osaka. The former from my own experience, the latter from a friend's, both in the last few weeks.

I don't know if it's changed in Fukuoka or other cities as well, or if this is old news, but thought I'd give a heads up.

[ttompatz]

[furtakk]

I did a visa run in Osaka last February (2012) and it was overnight.

[modernseoul]

I did a F6 visa run to Osaka (Feb 2013) and was told it would take between 3 and 7 days, It took 3. They said the wide time frame was because they were allowing for unexpected busy periods.
Still the E2 visa is simper so it's strange it would take 3 days.

[CanadaNole]

As of March 2014, it takes 4 days to process an E-2 visa in Osaka. I dropped off my application on a Thursday morning and it was ready by the next Tuesday afternoon.

[radcon]

[modernseoul]

[Scorpion]

If you go to Osaka there's a decent, and reasonably priced, hotel right across the street from the Korean consulate. If you stand in front of the consulate and look across the road its just slightly to your right. I think I paid about $75 (or less) for the night. Sorry, I don't remember the name.

[cheezsteakwit]

Tried to get a new visa in Osaka a few weeks ago. It seemed like a more interesting area to visit than Fukuoka.

I went in on a Wed. morning and they told me I could pick it up on the following Monday.

Instead, I went to Kobe on Thursday morning and picked up my visa the next morning.

Kobe is only a half hour train ride from the Northern part of Osaka, and the train wasn't that expensive. I think I left from the Osaka station / Midosuji subway line area , if I remember correctly.

Kobe is also within the area covered by the three day Kansai Thru Pass, but mine had already expired.

The Kansai Thru Pass gives you unlimited train / subway rides in Osaka, Kyoto, Kobe, Nara , etc... so look into getting a pass at the airport when you arrive.

[LPKSA]

The section of Osaka across the street from the Consulate is pretty interesting. I remember it being somewhat Bohemian like. There was a really cool record store there called Time Bomb records. If it's still there and you find it, and you like music (like me), you'll find it hard to leave. Osaka is amazing.

http://www.timebomb.co.jp/index_en.html

[Brooks]

Osaka is cheaper than Tokyo so probably hotels are less.
Plus it is faster to get there from Korea.
Fly to Itami if possible otherwise Kansai Airport is a bit far, down in southern Osaka prefecture.

Kobe might be the best place in Japan to be a foreigner, except for Okinawa. Sannomiya is so compact with bars
and you can walk around easily.
It is not surprising why foreign consuls prefered Kobe to Osaka back in the 19th century.

Getting around Osaka is much easier than Tokyo.
Tokyo is so big that it is easy to get lost.

Fukuoka is good especially for the food sold on the street called yatai.