Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cdninkorea]

This thread is a spinoff from Ttompatz's comments about the service at the Canadian embassy in this thread: http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=189554 (post # 6)

[misher]

You aren't alone.

I went a few times for visa related issues. I was expecting hell because of what I read on this forum but it was in fact quite ok. I think most of the people that go there are Koreans that are immigrating to Canada. ESL teachers aren't really high on the priority list.

[Steve_Rogers2008]

What I loved the most was the tray of back bacon and mug of hot water they hand out at the concierge desk....

[Stan Rogers]

My experiences at the Embassy were always good too. I went there yesterday to submit my son's citizenship and passport application. Everything went smoothly. The lady at the window and the officer inside were very polite and helpful.

They seemed pleasantly surprised that all my papers were in order. (there were quite a few) I got the impression from the workers there, that many people who go to the Embassy are not prepared with the right documents and submit incomplete applications or make mistakes filling out the forms.

If you go to the Embassy I think you should be prepared with all the correct documentation you need. Take the time to check their website and read about what you have to do. Fill out the applications correctly and have everything in order.

Governments have procedures and you have to follow them. Being prepared and filling out things correctly and completely means it's easy for them and you. The best part is you can get everything done in one trip.

[BoholDiver]

[ttompatz]

2003 - passport replacement (old one was FULL - "0" pages left).

I was told it was not possible to get one because there was still 3 years left on it. Lazy cow didn't ask or look. She just handed it back and said no - even after being informed that it was full and needed replacement.

2006 - passport replacement - denied. Birth cert was folded (on the corner).

2006 Daughters birth registration and passport application - They managed to lose the photos (for both applications) between the drawer under the glass and the front desk in-box (a distance of about 12"). 3 weeks later (remember that a birth must be registered at K-immi within 30 days) I was told (when I came back to pick up the passport) that the photos were missing. After I bitched a bit they managed to find them and process the applications again.

2007 - wife applied for a TRV to Canada. AFTER they had accepted everything they waited a week and called back to inform us that they had damaged her passport by "checking the photo" and we would have to get a new one because they cracked the plastic on the page while trying to check it and would no longer accept her "NEW" passport. Delay for 2 weeks and the additional cost of $100 for her replacement for her NEW passport.

I can safely say that I have NEVER had good service from the Canadian embassy in Seoul. In EVERY case the problems arose from their laziness, negligence or just ineptitude. It was NEVER a case of missing or improper documentation, nor was it a case of an improperly filled out application (lord knows, I have filled out enough paperwork for many different government services in many countries). NONE were as bad as the Canadian Embassy..

.

[cdninkorea]

Wow, thanks for elaborating, Ttompatz. If I'd had such terrible experiences there, I'd be upset too. It probably wouldn't do a lot of good, but did you write a complaint letter to the Canadian government?

[Captain Corea]

Mine has been a very mixed bag.

For my daughter's citizenship stuff, no problems whatsoever. But when it came to my recent passport renewal, I was refused a document and told to go imagine up a guarantor.

My biggest beef with the embassy is their focus on their own priorities. They have 2 hours of being open during the weekdays - WHY??? WTF can't they be open from 9-4?? They have no hesitation to send you away to get form 'A', and when you return with it, they ask you about form 'B'. When you asked them why they didn't mention it before, you get a shrug. Their website is always out of date - or their links don't work. They are polite enough, but not friendly. And they rarely take the time to sit and explain things. Most of the time, it's simply shoving documents at you or pointing you towards a (outdated/broken) site.

I was shocked the last time I went to Canada and talked to a government officer - they were so friendly and nice. I had for years assumed it was simply a 'gov thing' - but instead I think it's more of an embassy staff thing.

My recent ordeal with a passport renewal is a perfect example. For the staff there, it was simply beyond them that I didn't run in the same circles that they do. That my friends are mostly salaried employees, and that I don't go to parties with the mayor.

I'd love to know their actual mandate - because if providing assistance is in their top 5 duties, I'd be flabbergasted.

[djsmnc]

My biggest issue is that I've never had to go there because I'm not Canadian.

[crossmr]

I've always gotten good service there.

doing some paperwork I had to come back in the afternoon, they saw me anyway and stamped it all up for me.

One time they notarized something for me that they didn't normally do. Turned out they missed a couple things. So it got sent back to me, they fixed it up and did a couple of extra things for me that day at no charge.

[Who's Your Daddy?]

My problem was registering the marriage. Their website shows the English translation of forms that are needed. It doesn't show their Korean name. So it is difficult to know what forms to ask for from my local (Korean) government office.

Actually this is the same problem I have with the Korean immigration website.

I have to phone them and ask for the Korean name of the form.

[simonandmartina]

I've only been once to handle a passport issue, and they were helpful. No problems at all. Their website's really useful as well. Goooooooo Canada!

[littlelisa]

My only experience with them was a recent passport renewal. I had no problems and the staff were pleasant/polite enough. I have heard of others who've had problems with them, though.

But I also think that their opening hours are ridiculous. So frustrating.

[Stan Rogers]

Just to be helpful, if you are getting a passport for your child and or applying for their citizenship, this is the link I used.

http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/korea-coree/consular_services_consulaires/birth_registration-enregistrement_naissance.aspx?lang=eng

The information was up to date. I did have a guarantor.

I had a Korean doctor who is a long time friend of the family complete the form and sign the picture. No problem.

[ekimswish]

I, too, have had a mixed baggage of results. Sometimes it's all smooth and all good. A few times it's been annoying. Passports and citizenship for the kids upstairs were great. Wife's visitor visa to Canada downstairs was a bit of a muck-up. Can't remember if it was my fault or theirs.

Anyways, I needed to photo copy something, and just assumed they'd have a copy machine in the back like every other office in the world. They didn't, and instructed me to go find one. I asked where, and they told me to go left outside the doors. When I looked left, it was several long blocks of construction. So I went right and found a small shop with a photocopier just 50 feet down. When it came time to pay, I couldn't pay with cash or card, and needed to run to a bank, do a transfer, and run back with the receipt. I thought that was odd, and definitely time-consuming, since I had to run around and find a bank.

In both cases (maybe it was the same day?), time was tight.