Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Von Ludwig]

Greetings all. Could someone please provide some insight into the following situation/questions for my friend? Would be really appreciated.
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I lived in Korea last year on an E2 visa. That visa expired, but I did not leave the country. I remained here on a tourist visa, renewing it every 90 days. I now wish to apply for a new E2 visa, but without leaving Korea for an extended amount of time. I have already started and almost finished all of the necessary paper work. All that is left is to have my diplomas and FBI criminal record check apostilled, a process I understand to take about a month. I have had difficulty finding updated visa processes, though. And I am especially worried about the application process as it now involves mailing your passport to the consulate, rather than doing an interview.

Does anyone know about how long the mail in/return of the passport takes, or if there is a way around it? As I am in Korea, I do NOT want to mail my passport to the other side of the world. However, if it is possible to go into the office, I could go home for a week or so.

Finally, does anyone know about the visa checking process. Specifically, when they check my passport, are they going to have a ton of questions about why I remained in country on a tourist visa?
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Thanks in advance!

[luckylady]

1) you can't get an E2 while in korea; you have to leave the country

2) don't worry about the tourist visas as long as you don't have a Korean bank acc that shows regular deposits from an employer (?) while on a tourist visa

[Von Ludwig]

Thanks for the reply luckylady

Can someone please provide more information on this?

[Skippy]

The information is out there...

http://www.hikorea.go.kr/pt/index.html

Also read more of the boards....

Plus am confused why do you need to mail your passport to the States? The FBI check should not require it. I highly doubt the same with degrees and that.

Plus why an interview? You have already done a year. Unless you have done something wrong on your visa you do not need to do a consulate interview again. A Japan visa trip is on the menu.

Also I would recommend using of the private apostillation programs. One guy regularly touts one of them here. Using one of these places can mean the difference of weeks verses days. Little bit more money but for some worth it. Here in one thread of many...
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=211982

Come on buddy, please come back and read more of the board. Ya have done a year already. With some reading you and visiting of the last year ya would be a whole lot less stressed.

You are making some mountains of little mole hill problems.

Good Luck!

[Von Ludwig]

Thanks for the information Skippy...will relay the message =)

[CentralCali]

Mailing the passport to the consulate, no doubt, is only for those who are in their home country and applying for a visa there. As mentioned above, you cannot receive an E-2 visa while you are in Korea; however, you can do all the paperwork and then do a visa run to Japan or Guam (or whatever location is convenient/interesting to you) to have the visa issued to you there as you have already had an E-2 visa before now.

Do not mail your passport off. You are required to have it with you here.