Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Hamlet]

I went to the Embassy this morning, paid, and handed over my passport and paperwork. They told me to come back in two weeks to get my new passport.

Now I'm curious. Are they going to give me back my old passport? I'd really like to have it as a record of where I've been for the last decade, and for a souvenir.

If you've gone through this process, please let me know what they do!

Thanks

[aquaponics08]

I did it in 2005, they punched holes thru it and marked it as "outdated" or something.

[Hamlet]

That's cool...I just want it back!

Also, what about your current visa? Was it transferred to your new passport? I'm going on vacation before my current visa expires. Will I have to bring both passports with me?

[cruisemonkey]

I assume you're not Canadian because there's a box to 'tick' on a passport application if you want your old one returned.

I had my new (along with the old) passport mailed to me when it was ready - I live four hours away from Seoul.

You will need to take both passports with you when you leave K-land if you have a multiple entry visa (or stamp/permit) in the old passport. When you inform Immi you have a new passport (you will have 14 days to do so), they do not transfer anything from the old, into the new passport.

[Hamlet]

Right, not Canadian. American. I saw no box to check on our application.

One more thing...I assume that my passport number will stay the same. Was this the case for you guys?

I need to book a plane ticket ASAP but am a bit worried that something on my passport will change, causing arguments and headaches at the airport!

[OiGirl]

As above, assuming you are from the US. I went through this process this month.

Yes, they will return your old passport.

Immigration will need to see your new passport, but will not mark anything in it. Carry both with you.

(At the time you submitted it, you COULD have paid for a courier service to return the passports to you.)

(I wonder how people who don't have their old passports document entries and exits for the rest of their lives...of course not everything gets stamped, but I have had to provide this information to one agency or another maybe three times this past year.)

ETA: Your passport number WILL change.

[Hamlet]

[aquaponics08]

In 2005, I paid W10-20k (don't remember exactly) and they sent it about a week or so later via registered mail. I guess they don't do that anymore?

[OiGirl]