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the dakota kid

Joined: 20 Jul 2004 Location: Not in Seoul...
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Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 6:24 pm Post subject: EPIK Visa application/Turnaround time |
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Hello all,
I am a bit worried, I finally received my application packet for the EPIK program and I need to send my passport et al to the consulate in Chicago. Does anyone have any experience with them? Namely, what is the turnaround time for processing a visa request?
Thanks,
tdk/Dustin |
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the dakota kid

Joined: 20 Jul 2004 Location: Not in Seoul...
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Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 8:10 pm Post subject: |
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All,
I received my visa today by mail. They only issued a single entry. Has anyone received a multiple entry visa for EPIK right away?
Thanks,
tdk |
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Draz

Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Location: Land of Morning Clam
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Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 8:49 pm Post subject: |
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the dakota kid wrote: |
All,
I received my visa today by mail. They only issued a single entry. Has anyone received a multiple entry visa for EPIK right away?
Thanks,
tdk |
I don't remember seeing that option on the application form.  |
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Kimchieluver

Joined: 02 Mar 2005
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Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2008 9:11 pm Post subject: Re: EPIK Visa application/Turnaround time |
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the dakota kid wrote: |
Hello all,
I am a bit worried, I finally received my application packet for the EPIK program and I need to send my passport et al to the consulate in Chicago. Does anyone have any experience with them? Namely, what is the turnaround time for processing a visa request?
Thanks,
tdk/Dustin |
I thought for sure Americans received a multiple entry permit their first year in Korea. I know Canadians only receive a single entry. |
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Jessie41
Joined: 14 Dec 2007
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Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 8:26 am Post subject: |
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On efl-law.com they state that you apply for the multiple entry visa when you apply for the Alien Registration Card. However, my recruiter's website states that Americans automatically receive a multiple entry visa upon entry into Korea. This makes sense because the visa fee is higher for Americans than for other nationalities.
I hope someone with experience would be kind enough to confirm this information. |
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Draz

Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Location: Land of Morning Clam
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Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 9:59 am Post subject: |
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Jessie41 wrote: |
On efl-law.com they state that you apply for the multiple entry visa when you apply for the Alien Registration Card. However, my recruiter's website states that Americans automatically receive a multiple entry visa upon entry into Korea. This makes sense because the visa fee is higher for Americans than for other nationalities.
I hope someone with experience would be kind enough to confirm this information. |
I don't know why that policy is in place, but the visa fee is cheaper for Americans than it is for Canadians so that can't be why.  |
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22tea77
Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Location: United States
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Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 10:16 am Post subject: Re: EPIK Visa application/Turnaround time |
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Kimchieluver wrote: |
I thought for sure Americans received a multiple entry permit their first year in Korea. I know Canadians only receive a single entry. |
Just checked my Visa and looks like a Single Entry also. I am a 45 dollar paying American. |
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blonde researcher
Joined: 16 Oct 2006 Location: Globalizing in Korea for the time being
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Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 5:17 pm Post subject: |
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Americans have always been the only ones who got multi entry visas. No one ever knew why. Maybe this 'mistake' has finally been found and fixed?
Last edited by blonde researcher on Sat Feb 16, 2008 5:52 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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the dakota kid

Joined: 20 Jul 2004 Location: Not in Seoul...
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Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 5:42 pm Post subject: Single entry...45 bucks down the drain |
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So, can I just make an amendment in SK and get a multi entry visa for a few more Won or do I have to cough up another 50 quid?
tdk aka another single entry, Ami visa holder |
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agentX
Joined: 12 Oct 2007 Location: Jeolla province
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Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2008 8:36 pm Post subject: |
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That's what I did.
Swing by your local office in a month or two with your ARC and 50k won and they'll "throw some D's" on your passport. |
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Ut videam

Joined: 07 Dec 2007 Location: Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do
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Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 5:27 am Post subject: |
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blonde researcher wrote: |
Americans have always been the only ones who got multi entry visas. No one ever knew why. Maybe this 'mistake' has finally been found and fixed? |
It wasn't a mistake.
When it comes to visas, it's all about reciprocity. Canadians can enter Korea without a visa and stay for six months because Koreans can enter Canada and stay for six months. The US issues multiple-entry visas to Korean citizens by default (i.e., no extra charge for reentry permits), so Korea has hitherto issued multiple entry visas to U.S. citizens by default.
So, either something has changed in the U.S.�Korea bilateral visa policies, or the consulates are making a mistake by only issuing single-entry visas. I'm getting mine next week; if they only issue a single-entry, I'll give them a call to ask why and post the response (if intelligible) here. |
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Draz

Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Location: Land of Morning Clam
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Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2008 8:26 am Post subject: |
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blonde researcher wrote: |
Ive got a friend who has had to change all departure times etc because they said he had to wait 2 weeks for the official interview [in person] from when he asked and had received his visa number.
EPIK applicants are obviously getting the easy path with being able to post their things in and not get an interview.
The question is why the huge difference in time and requirements for EPIK and hagwons? [ except one is governemnt and one is private!] |
It was implied when I phoned my consulate that I was getting out of the interview because I live a very long ways away, and not because I was going through EPIK. She asked twice where I was now and didn't ask at all about where I was going. |
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Ut videam

Joined: 07 Dec 2007 Location: Pocheon-si, Gyeonggi-do
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Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2008 9:04 am Post subject: UPDATE: Multiple entry visas for Americans |
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I received my passport in the mail today, with my new E-2 visa issued by the Chicago consulate affixed inside. Under "종류/Entries," it is marked M for multiple. |
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22tea77
Joined: 22 Oct 2007 Location: United States
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Posted: Sat Feb 16, 2008 3:50 pm Post subject: Re: UPDATE: Multiple entry visas for Americans |
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Ut videam wrote: |
I received my passport in the mail today, with my new E-2 visa issued by the Chicago consulate affixed inside. Under "종류/Entries," it is marked M for multiple. |
Hmmmmm...
Although my E-2 Visa Application could not have been any less painless, for some odd reason I wound up with the dreaded "S" under entries (I'm American!)
Well, time to purchase the Lonely Planet Guide to Korea for my vacations!  |
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rayjoy

Joined: 19 Jan 2008 Location: Dynamic Busan
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Posted: Mon Jul 28, 2008 8:09 pm Post subject: |
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To all you single-entry EPIK folks:
Did you try to get your visa fixed before you left? Or when you got there? Or just did the single entry fee thing at immi/airport?
I did not choose to move halfway across the Earth to be trapped in that tiny little country for a year! |
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