Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Globutron2]

Leaving Korea in February I thought it would be easy to simply return in a few months, aiming for late May/early June.

I use this post as an off topic rant as well as an informational warning to those trying to get to Korea from England, so I'll post in both Off and General. Feel free, people in charge, to remove whichever you feel necessary. Both if you like. Or all three...

So here's what went wrong (so far):

- I attempted to apply for a Criminal Check. This supposedly takes anywhere up to 40 days so I started in early March. Of course, the internet is almost useless for this and I had no printer anyway, so I went to the police station to get the form and send off. Two birds, one stone.
Nah, they have no idea what I'm talking about.

After 4 different police stations, the man at the main city headquarters told me to 'google it' to see what I have to do. Very helpful.

- Eventually I went for Disclosure Scotland. More expensive, but quicker and probably more reliable. It can be done online entirely, other than the sending of documents.
This should be done, they promised, within 9 calender days.

Not so. After 2 weeks, I called up. They have no idea who I am. They soon find out that they actually lost my email application, possibly because it was over, what was it... 5mb? (this is because, I imagine, the scans of documents proving my identity).

- I started again. No matter how hard you try, they will not - indeed cannot - provide any preferential treatment or priority, no matter who screwed up.

- After getting back from a somewhat eventful 5 day trip in Europe I see a letter saying 'Sorry we can't process this, for we need your mother's maiden name'. Bear in mind that this was at no point asked for any time before.

- I provide the name, and had to wait another week. Already we're in last minute territory.

- I already had a job contract signed by this point, and they were desperately trying to allow more time for me, by extending the only foreign teacher's contract from 28th May to the 4th June (or whatever day after that weekend).

- I finally get the Disclosure, and sent it off immediately to get the apostilles and notaries requires, with a private company that can do both at the same time, promising next day service for a horrifying price of �206, but I was running short on time so I went for it. Take note how this was sent to them on same day delivery on Monday morning.

- The company promised, when calling them angrily on Thursday that it will come before 1pm on said Friday, so I booked DHL to come at 2pm to send off to Korea along with everything else that is all ready and waiting.

They arrived at 4:30pm. I had to cancel DHL and ask to come as close to 5pm as possible. It wasn't possible. I tried Fedex, interparcel, TNT and so forth, none of which could help me out until the next Monday - The day the documents were supposed to arrive in Korea.

- As a last resort, I got my sister to come home from work early so I could drive down to the bloody airport myself and hand the package to the pilot myself by about 6:30pm. Since this is the first service of delivery did myself, it went without error, and a small fee of �61 ensured the arrival by Monday between 9-5. It did indeed arrive Monday Morning, Thank you DHL.

- All's left is to wait for a code from Korea, to go down to London myself with documents necessary and more money, apply for the visa and wait again. I should be out of here in a week, right?

- Then a volcano explodes.

[hakwonner]

Wow sounds like you had some really bad luck there.

When I've done it it's been almost laughably painless.

The CRC forms are on my local police authority website. I just sent those off and had it within 2 weeks.

As for the visa... can you get it on the same day at the K Embassy? Don;t you have to wait a few days?

With regard to the volcano... fingers crossed I guess!

[Globutron2]

Well, the K embassy phone people are so overwhelmingly rude, I've yet to get thorough answers from them. One lady's script in particular was entirely as follows: 'yes? Of course not' - Phone presumably slammed down.

I'm going down to London anyway since I can't rely on the post anymore, so we'll see what happens with all that. Also the Bank holiday on Monday doesn't help.

The main point I suppose is that although some people, like yourself can get it done smoothly - A friend of mine had her CRC done in three working days - I still *must* highlight to do everything severely in advance. Nobody can know what will happen.

(Also with new rules around, since my Uni certificate has a slightly different name on it than passport, I may be denied anyway and I'm back at square one. Curse you, bureautw**s.

[cocosheff]

I'm from UK too, and have had similar set backs getting my visa.

Disclosure Scotland in particular took a painfully long time to get my check done. Then of course there's the (not so) speedy Apostille Service.

I wander if they have this problem in the US? �10 says not.

Could you please tell me the phone number for the K embassy? I cannot find it on the internet and I too am just about to make an appointment with them to get the mischief-making visa?

[ZIFA]

I feel your pain.

Going through the whole process from the UK can be an extremely frustrating experience.


How much has the whole process cost you so far? With me it was thuosands of pounds. yep. really crazy.
The YMCA in London still charges 50 pound a night and doesn't even give you internet access. For that you have to take the tube all over town. And repeat the process to find a printer. Although its all a bit easier for the folks who can squat rent-free in moms basement I guess.

Total, total nightmare. The UK is wretchedly expensive for the third world toilet that it has become.

[Globutron2]

Here's all the info you probably need, but don't get your hopes up that it'll be of any use:

http://gbr.mofat.go.kr/eng/gbr/main/index.jsp (Just checked this website. Funny how little it works)

Embassy of the Republic of Korea 60, Buckingham Gate London, SW1E 6AJ U.K
Phone number: 44-(0)20-7227-5500

Office Hours (for visa): 10:00-12:00, 14:00-16:00 (wow, they work HARD)

-----

Thousands, woah. Though, not surprising. So far I'm onabout �400. That's just on documentation and postage, though. I have a room at my sister's I've been staying for the months.
With trains and further posting and applications I'll easily pass �500...

[cocosheff]

Thanks for the info.

From your experience are the embassy able to deal with the visa in one day?

Mine too has cost over �500 to get arranged; plus over �300 for vaccinations. I hope the Koreans appreciate this!

[Globutron2]

[Carl_00]

Would've saved yourself some time and money if you had took your documents to the FCO for apostilles yourself. Trains are painfully expensive but at least you won't pay the �200, and they can get you sorted there and then.

Seems like you were unlucky this time

I lost a tenner today too. Sh.it happens.

[Globutron2]

[Carl_00]

Ahh...I didn't know that.

On a side-note, it's bloody irritating when schools expect you to rush around and get things processed immediately, the most ridiculous being the pick-up-visa-depart-from-heathrow run. No thanks. Surely the school won't collapse if I arrive a day or two later

[Globutron2]

Ugh. Tell me about it (don't). I'm not the type to get stressed but if I have ever been so, that was the moment when it happened.

[morrisonhotel]

[Globutron2]

Well..

Disclosure �30

Same day delivery for everything (or express when international) - between �15 and �61 for me per time. (Total so far about �120 since I had to send proof of existence to the disclosure instead of email the second time round)

Next day service of apostille and notary - �206

Passport photos - �7 (ridiculous. If only I had a printer)

Oh yeah and I went to almost �400 with Phone calls too, since I was put on hold about 15 minutes a time with both the embassy and disclosure and got through about �30.

Train will be �25 return x 2 and one single for erm.. �18 at a guess (one time to apply for visa, one time to pick it up, one time to leave the country)

Visa application cost - �35ish.

Voila!



And probably a few niggly bits here and there.

[ZIFA]