Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Yesterday]

Okay - my next yearly visa-run is coming up - and I still have hesitations in getting married -in order to get a F-2 visa - so I need to do another visa run in 3 weeks...

However... I have done the Japan (Fukuoka/Osaka) visa run 7 times and the Taiwan visa run....

I do not really have any favorite/known GOOD travel agents etc - and this time I wish to go somewhere different but not common - that is NOT where MANY people go - I am thinking along the lines of Mongolia, Shanghai, Moscow etc etc - to get my new E2-Yearly visa....

However, although there is a lot of information available of visa-runs to Osaka and Fukuoka - I guess I would have to figure out myself where/ and how to get to the embassy in Shanghai, Mongolia etc...

Has anybody done these visa runs before - or can anyone offer some good advice of a great/but easy visa run they have taken to a different kinda place - that doesnt take more than 4 days and isn't too expensive....

or give me the name/place of a great ENGLISH speaking travel agent....

thanks.....

[dbee]

[Yesterday]

What I meant was - I think it is a real pity that people who stay in Korea continuously more than 5 years (only leaving the country once a year (for a few days) to renew their visa) have to continue leaving every year to renew their visa.....

Whereas - I have many friends who have been here 3-4 years and who have already married a Korean person - who no longer have to do the annual visa run.

I meant - That I have NO intentions to become married yet - but its kinda not fair that this means another annual visa run each year - I think Immigration should start giving out 2 or 3 year visas to people who have stayed continuously in korea already for more than 5 years - and who are single.

But anyway - back to the reason for this post - has anybody done the Mongolia, Shanghai visa run - and can offer me some advice on what travel agents are good - and how easy/difficult it is compared to Osaka/Fukuoka?

[lawyertood]

You only have to leave the country every year if you are changing jobs every year. If you are keeping the same employer then you don't have to leave the country to extend your visa for another year.

[Paji eh Wong]

I just did the Delhi "visa run". 2 working days, 1 000 000 won airfare return via Singapore.

http://www.embkoreain.org/

Good travel agents are like good recruiters. I don't think they exist. Just shop around.

As an aside, man you got to get out of Korea some. It's a big world out there.

[mishlert]

Go to Europe. If you're worried about costs, head over to Eastern Europe:
Prague, and Budapest are very cool, thought cold at this time of year.

[Yesterday]

Okay - so today I go to this travel agency in Itaewon - a very highly praised and well-used agency (y foreigners) on the 5th floor of the KEB building
(XANADU Travel Service: www.XANADU.co.kr 795-7771)

I explain to the girl that I wish to do a visa run - leaving on Sunday 27th Feb - as my visa expires on that day - but I do NOT wish to go to Japan - as I have done that run 6 times already....

I also explain to her that I want the cheapest run to any other country where there is a Korean Embassy - but due to the Public Holiiday on the 1st march - I would probably have to stay 4 nights and 5 days to get my visa processed - due to -

Sunday 27th Feb flying out of Korea -
Monday 28th feb - putting my visa in at embassy
Tuesday 1st March - PUBLIC HOLIDAY
Wednesday 2nd March collecting my visa/passport late in the day -

Thursday 3rd March flying back to Korea

so anyway - after 1 hour sitting with her - while she answers phones and deals with PHONE customers - she is offering me only TWO places to go - I HONG KONG or 2 BEIJING - both of which I am happy to do -

HOWEVER the cost for both are 950,000 won to -1,000,000 won

this pays for airplane ticket, (540,000) hotel -4 nights, (260,000) tax, visa (CHINA) - and TOUR

I keep explaing to her - I DO NOT WANT TOUR!! just airplane ticket and HOTEL, - but after 1 hour of waiting with her - she can only come up with the same COST....

I then told her - I would leave and think about it - I was hoping more for a trip around the 700,000-800,000 won level - and the whole way through the whole 1 hour consultation - she keeps looking at her co-workers as if to say "This guy is an idiot" "Why can't he just take what I give him" and she also keeps saying to me ""Why can't you just go to Japan - thats where all the other foreigners GO!"

I explain to her several times - that I am sick of going to Japan each year - that going there is cheap - but everything once there - is too expensive... etc etc... but she just kept giving me the go around - pay the 950,000 won or GO TO Japan...

After more than 1 hour.... and 2-3 people waiting in line behind me - who had walked out in disgust for taking so long to be served... I left with nothing....

Then to make things worse.... (TO SAVE FACE) in front of the one and only foreigner who was still waiting in line to her served and had been sitting there patiently for at least 45 minutes... as soon as I step out the door and am waiting at the elevator to go down... the customer service lady gives out this big HAHJAHAHAHAHAHAHA with her co-worker..... as if I had been some crazy customer... rather than just the customer I was - wanting them to give me what I wanted - not what they wanted to give me.....

Anyway - maybe once again I will be going back to Japan... unless anyone else can give me a few more suggestions of a place to go OTHER than Japan that will cost me around 700,000-800,000 won for a visa run... and a good TRAVEL AGENCY..........

[kangnam mafioso]

[Ya-ta Boy]

What about Saipan or Guam?

[Banana Bender]

Go to Singapore. I did that the last time. The cost of the flight is reasonible and you are central to a lot of places. ( The VISA took two days)

[seoulmon]

[paperbag princess]

dream start tour co, 725-7700 ask for sancho, he's awesome!! his english is also pretty good as well, so you shouldn't have any problems.

maybe don't bother saying it's a visa run, that might just confuse the agents.