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Benjamino
Joined: 21 Apr 2012
Location: Jinju
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 Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 5:04 pm Post subject: Chinese z visa from within ROK |
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Anybody done this and had any dramas ?
Does it have to be Seoul or can I make the 90 min trip to the Busan Consulate?
Cheers. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 5:08 pm Post subject: Re: Chinese z visa from within ROK |
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| Benjamino wrote: |
Anybody done this and had any dramas ?
Does it have to be Seoul or can I make the 90 min trip to the Busan Consulate?
Cheers. |
Usually done through a travel agency for "Z", "F" or "L" visas.
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=205097
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Benjamino
Joined: 21 Apr 2012
Location: Jinju
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| Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 5:10 pm Post subject: |
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| Yes I'm reading that now. Any links to firms who offer this? |
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Konglishman
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
Location: Nanjing
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| Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 8:06 pm Post subject: |
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When I was preparing to come to China, I was told it be too complicated to get the work visa from Korea. So, I applied for a tourist visa. Later, after arriving in China, the school applied to have immigration give me a work visa and a Foreign Expert Certificate.
Oh, and I used Shoestring Travel for getting the visa. They have an office in Hongdae. |
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lemak
Joined: 02 Jan 2011
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| Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 9:38 pm Post subject: Re: Chinese z visa from within ROK |
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| Benjamino wrote: |
| Anybody done this and had any dramas ? |
Did, yes. Dramas, yes.
As of last year when I was coming to China to work *all* visa categories for non-Koreans were impossible in Korea (unless you satisfied the 6 month ARC requirements) - including z visas, which is ridiculous. I researched it for months. The loopholes of going via consulates in Gwangju or Daegu, using travel agents.
Shoot out some emails to agents preferably in Seoul. Try the China Travel Service office there as to the best of my knowledge they're government affiliated and can get stuff pushed through that the regular Korean run places can't. It may have since changed, but Beijing is really toughening up the rules these days. Seem to prefer you to head home to get visas - an expensive waste of time.
I ended up getting my Z visa in Bangkok. You need to have the school you're applying to specify which embassy or consulate you'll be collecting the visa from and it's included on the invitation letter. The default if you don't do this is your home country.
Hong Kong may be an option also, and if you use an agency there they can usually get the visas issued the same day as you apply so you won't need to blow too much cash waiting around.
It's a royal pain in the ass, and seemingly getting tougher.
Don't forget also most schools will require you to do and mail a medical check in advance. |
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Konglishman
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
Location: Nanjing
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| Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 10:17 pm Post subject: Re: Chinese z visa from within ROK |
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Actually, I did my medical check-up in Shanghai.
| lemak wrote: |
| Benjamino wrote: |
| Anybody done this and had any dramas ? |
Did, yes. Dramas, yes.
As of last year when I was coming to China to work *all* visa categories for non-Koreans were impossible in Korea (unless you satisfied the 6 month ARC requirements) - including z visas, which is ridiculous. I researched it for months. The loopholes of going via consulates in Gwangju or Daegu, using travel agents.
Shoot out some emails to agents preferably in Seoul. Try the China Travel Service office there as to the best of my knowledge they're government affiliated and can get stuff pushed through that the regular Korean run places can't. It may have since changed, but Beijing is really toughening up the rules these days. Seem to prefer you to head home to get visas - an expensive waste of time.
I ended up getting my Z visa in Bangkok. You need to have the school you're applying to specify which embassy or consulate you'll be collecting the visa from and it's included on the invitation letter. The default if you don't do this is your home country.
Hong Kong may be an option also, and if you use an agency there they can usually get the visas issued the same day as you apply so you won't need to blow too much cash waiting around.
It's a royal pain in the ass, and seemingly getting tougher.
Don't forget also most schools will require you to do and mail a medical check in advance. |
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lemak
Joined: 02 Jan 2011
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| Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 10:31 pm Post subject: Re: Chinese z visa from within ROK |
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| Konglishman wrote: |
Actually, I did my medical check-up in Shanghai.
| lemak wrote: |
| Benjamino wrote: |
| Anybody done this and had any dramas ? |
Did, yes. Dramas, yes.
As of last year when I was coming to China to work *all* visa categories for non-Koreans were impossible in Korea (unless you satisfied the 6 month ARC requirements) - including z visas, which is ridiculous. I researched it for months. The loopholes of going via consulates in Gwangju or Daegu, using travel agents.
Shoot out some emails to agents preferably in Seoul. Try the China Travel Service office there as to the best of my knowledge they're government affiliated and can get stuff pushed through that the regular Korean run places can't. It may have since changed, but Beijing is really toughening up the rules these days. Seem to prefer you to head home to get visas - an expensive waste of time.
I ended up getting my Z visa in Bangkok. You need to have the school you're applying to specify which embassy or consulate you'll be collecting the visa from and it's included on the invitation letter. The default if you don't do this is your home country.
Hong Kong may be an option also, and if you use an agency there they can usually get the visas issued the same day as you apply so you won't need to blow too much cash waiting around.
It's a royal pain in the ass, and seemingly getting tougher.
Don't forget also most schools will require you to do and mail a medical check in advance. |
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When was that? I was under the impression these days that the check outside the country and then the second one inside the country were more or less par for the course these days.
(*edit* ah but if you entered on a tourist visa that makes sense they won't require one before you arrive. To come in on a Z visa however.....)
By the way, Ben have you registered over on the International Forums side. Loads more China related info over there. The rules change so much someone is bound to have more updated info than many of the posters on this side have. |
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Benjamino
Joined: 21 Apr 2012
Location: Jinju
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| Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 10:48 pm Post subject: |
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"By the way, Ben have you registered over on the International Forums side. Loads more China related info over there. The rules change so much someone is bound to have more updated info than many of the posters on this side have."
Yes I have but Mr Dave seems to be waiting to active my account.
Ok my ARC had 6 months from yesterday so I'm in the grey area now. A firm in Seoul said they'd give it a go mid Feb and if not I'd get a refund.
If all else fails I'll fly to Hong Kong as that sounds much easier. |
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Moondoggy
Joined: 07 Jun 2011
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| Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 10:58 pm Post subject: |
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| let us know how differently you get treated by the chinese people. |
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Konglishman
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
Location: Nanjing
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| Posted: Wed Jan 30, 2013 11:55 pm Post subject: |
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| Moondoggy wrote: |
| let us know how differently you get treated by the chinese people. |
Instead of waiting for his answer, I will go ahead and tell you. I get treated very well for the most part. Despite making 2 to 4 times as much as my Chinese colleagues (I wish they made more, but some of them are able to do well by tutoring their students for extra money), there is no resentment from them and I have been able to have some very open discussions with them which have been impossible in Korea (based on my previous experiences in Korea). |
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rollo
Joined: 10 May 2006
Location: China
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| Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 12:13 am Post subject: |
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| I find the chinese people to be some of the friendliest people In the world, they can be rude and devious also. But generally very friendly. I see you made your decision Ben. Good Luck!! |
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creeper1
Joined: 30 Jan 2007
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| Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 7:00 am Post subject: it's hard |
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1. Firstly don't come to China. It's harder in so many ways than Korea.
2. Secondly. Don't talk about this on the international section of this website. One mention of the word "Korea" or "Seoul" gets a thread locked and discussion ceases.
3. It's really rare anyone gets a Z-visa in Seoul or Korea. In all my time browsing that section of the website only the above poster "lemak" has a story about getting one in Korea. Hell getting even a Chinese tourist visa is hard from Korea.
4. You are being introduced to Chinese bureaucracy and trust me it makes Korea seem straight forward.
5. You will make less money in China, breathe worse air and drink more polluted water.
You have been warned!  |
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lemak
Joined: 02 Jan 2011
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| Posted: Thu Jan 31, 2013 8:58 pm Post subject: Re: it's hard |
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| creeper1 wrote: |
| In all my time browsing that section of the website only the above poster "lemak" has a story about getting one in Korea. Hell getting even a Chinese tourist visa is hard from Korea. |
Whoops I just re-read my original reply and it looks like I said I did get mine in Korea. Actually I couldn't do it there. After all the research and running around it was impossible. Had to do a trip to Thailand to get it done....side note too reading elsewhere some reports that it may not be possible to do a Z visa in Bangkok anymore also unless you're a resident there. Latest word on the street as far as most straightforward places to get it done is Chiang Mai or Phnom Penh, lol.
Even some people are citing headaches of doing it in HGK nowadays also. |
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