Korean Job Discussion Forums

Halcyom Chimera · Joined: 24 Sep 2009

The United States Postal Service lost my passport and visa. One week before I was to leave for a position in Ilsan. I am so infuriated right now, I can only write in short, direct statements.

I call the Korean Consulate in Atlanta - "It's out of our hands once it leaves our facility." I call the Atlanta Central Post Office - After giving me the run-around for literally hours, and giving me literally 10 different numbers to call, it ultimately ends in something like this: "We've done everything we can. Someone scanned it into the system incorrectly. We cannot find it."

The INCOMPETENCE! The utter IRRESPONSIBLE, LAZY work ethic of these people. It's...astounding. And the lack of care or compassion is absolutely disgusting. I explain my situation and they sound like they couldn't care less.

So, I was supposed to leave today for a position, but I will not because someone screwed my life up. I sold my car a week before I was to leave so that I would have money for South Korea. Now, I am just SOL.

The employer said "It is a problem. I will talk to the directors and see what they say." I have nothing now.

Aside from strangling the life out of the people responsible for this, which would be my personal choice of action, what would you veteran people suggest as my best course of action?

yingwenlaoshi · Joined: 12 Feb 2007 Location: ... location, location!

Did you insure the package?

Konglishman · Joined: 14 Sep 2007 Location: Nanjing

This exact scenario, which I have imagined before in my mind, is why I always come in person to drop off or pick up my passport of at a consulate or embassy.

Emark · Joined: 10 May 2007 Location: duh, Korea?

That really sucks.
1. Get a new passport.
2. Never use USPS to ship important documents. UPS, FedEx, is best.
3. Start the process over again.

Sounds too blunt and lacking compassion I know. Sorry. If at all possible, just shake all this off and stay the course. You wanted to come to Korea to teach, so rekindle those thoughts and desires and get your a$$ over here!
PM me if you need more specific advice that I dare not share here.

joltaxt · Joined: 24 Oct 2009 Location: Seoul

Your employer didn't say to use FedEx?

Mine was very adamant about using that and emphasized "secure" services like FedEx. I probably wouldn't have gone with them if they hadn't practically required it.

That sucks. Now I know to always go with FedEx lol

Netz · Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2010 3:26 pm Post subject:

Maybe you should use the extra time you now have to study this before coming here to teach English:

http://www2.gsu.edu/~wwwesl/egw/verbs.htm

lol@costed

dragonfly121 · Joined: 06 Jan 2010

At the ATL consulate, is it possible to go there with your passport- and get it back the next day and leave with it?

I'm sorry about what you're going through- hopefully your school will allow you to come once you get it?

definitely maybe · Joined: 16 Feb 2008

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

As I mentioned in another thread, a school decided they didn't want me and asked the consulate to "hold" my passport.

I would call this one fishy.

thomasapayne · Joined: 11 Jan 2010

This may be obvious, but I always email myself a copy of my passport, etc. That way if something like this happens I'm halfway home to fixing it.

frankly speaking · Joined: 23 Oct 2005

HOw does emailing yourself a digital copy of your passport help you? You cannot travel on a digital copy.

As stated above, never use the postal service for documents. DHL is my preferred carrier then Fed EX. If you have to use the postal service always get registered, that way they can track it and have proof if it arrives in the mail to the respondent.

Get a new passport immediately, perhaps they can speed up the process if you explain your situation, it might only take 2 weeks.

I too feel sorry for your situation, but it might turn out to be better for you. You might get a better job or perhaps the school will wait a month for you.

Don't worry too much.

loyfriend · Joined: 03 Aug 2009

Passports can be gotten in one day if you have a business letter.

They did that for me.

madoka · Joined: 27 Mar 2008

kinerry · Joined: 01 Jun 2009

GTG09 · Joined: 03 Jul 2009

Sorry to hear about your bad luck.

I am about to go to the Chicago Consulate myself and won't be able to stay and wait for my passport to be ready, and I am not looking forward to the wait for my passport to return in the mail.

As far as wait for a new passport. When I got mine, from the day I mailed the application to the day it made it to my mailbox, it only took 10 days. They are pretty quick. I hope you can work out everything with the school.