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Penelope
Joined: 23 Aug 2005
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 Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 10:21 pm Post subject: Please Help! Should I mail my passport? |
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Hi everyone,
I am moving to Korea on the 27th to work at a hogwon in Seoul. I am in the final stages of getting my visa issued and my new boss told me I should mail my passport along with some other items to the Korean consulate to get a stamp for entry.
My questions are these: Do I have to send my actual passport in the mail? Is this standard? I don't feel completely safe doing this and I am wondering if there are any other options. Any help would be appreciated.
Also, should he reimburse me for the visa fee? Postage?
Thanks!  |
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JacktheCat
Joined: 08 May 2004
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| Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 10:51 pm Post subject: Re: Please Help! Should I mail my passport? |
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| Penelope wrote: |
Do I have to send my actual passport in the mail? Is this standard?
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Yes,
Just make sure you send it by registered, certified post. |
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peppermint
Joined: 13 May 2003
Location: traversing the minefields of caddishness.
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| Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 11:37 pm Post subject: |
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| If possible arranage a stopover in a city with a consulate instead. They usually offer next day service. |
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denverdeath
Joined: 21 May 2005
Location: Boo-sahn
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| Posted: Fri Oct 14, 2005 11:51 pm Post subject: |
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| Penelope wrote: |
I am moving to Korea on the 27th to work at a hogwon in Seoul. I am in the final stages of getting my visa issued and my new boss told me I should mail my passport along with some other items to the Korean consulate to get a stamp for entry.
My questions are these: Do I have to send my actual passport in the mail? Is this standard? I don't feel completely safe doing this and I am wondering if there are any other options. Any help would be appreciated. |
You have to get the E-2 in your passport somehow before leaving. If you believe that you have a good workplace, it's probably the easiest way of doing things(and you probably have your airfare paid for in advance, right?). The other option is coming to Korea and then going on a visa-run to Japan, but why do that if it's not necessary? Do what Jack said. I don't know of any other way you can do things from the West. If you live in a city with a Korean Embassy/Consulate, you can walk your documents there and drop them off to be processed. I guess you could also take a plane/bus/train/car to the city with the Embassy/Consulate and drop the documents off if you live in a city with no Korean Embassy/Consulate, but that seems a little foolish. You're going to have to part with your passport occasionally whether you want to or not...you'll have to do so again to have your alien registration card processed through immigration when you get here.
| Penelope wrote: |
| Also, should he reimburse me for the visa fee? Postage? |
I paid for these expenses myself, but the only thing I can recommend is for you to barter with your director if you feel that you shouldn't pay for these things. They will either respect you for being a savvy haggler or look down on you for being petty. |
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joe_doufu
Joined: 09 May 2005
Location: Elsewhere
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| Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2005 4:18 am Post subject: |
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| FedEx is better and faster, or use some sort of certified or registered mail from the USPS. If they want you to mail the passport all the way to Korea, say *NO* but within the US it's probably OK. |
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inkoreafornow
Joined: 14 Sep 2005
Location: Gyeonggido
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| Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2005 5:36 am Post subject: Re: Please Help! Should I mail my passport? |
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| Penelope wrote: |
Hi everyone,
Do I have to send my actual passport in the mail? Is this standard?
Also, should he reimburse me for the visa fee? Postage?
Thanks! |
I fedexed mine the last time. As for getting reimbursed: nope. I had to pay for it. |
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jlb
Joined: 18 Sep 2003
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| Posted: Sat Oct 15, 2005 7:48 am Post subject: |
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I sent my Passport in the mail once (within Canada) to get a visa and it was fine. Don't stress about it. Just use a courier. I think it depends on the company whether you'll get reimbursed or not.
However, that said, never let your employer get a hold of your passport. That is not so good. |
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ilovebdt
Joined: 03 Jun 2005
Location: Nr Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2005 2:27 am Post subject: Re: Please Help! Should I mail my passport? |
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| Penelope wrote: |
Hi everyone,
I am moving to Korea on the 27th to work at a hogwon in Seoul. I am in the final stages of getting my visa issued and my new boss told me I should mail my passport along with some other items to the Korean consulate to get a stamp for entry.
My questions are these: Do I have to send my actual passport in the mail? Is this standard? I don't feel completely safe doing this and I am wondering if there are any other options. Any help would be appreciated.
Also, should he reimburse me for the visa fee? Postage?
Thanks! |
Penelope, can't you go to the consulate in person? That's what I did. Or is it too far away? |
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inkoreafornow
Joined: 14 Sep 2005
Location: Gyeonggido
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| Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2005 3:23 am Post subject: |
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| jlb wrote: |
| However, that said, never let your employer get a hold of your passport. That is not so good. |
Damn Straight! |
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Manner of Speaking
Joined: 09 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2005 4:24 am Post subject: |
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Penelope,
If your new employer is reimbursing your flight, try just handing in the receipt for the courier cost along with the receipt for your flight at the same time. Chances are a good hakwon manager will spring for it. |
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kprrok
Joined: 06 Apr 2004
Location: KC
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| Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2005 4:57 am Post subject: |
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I posted my passport to the Chicago consulate from my hometown, too far to get to, didn't want to have a layover there. I used USPS Priority/Express w/ tracking and had no problems. Took, I think, 6 days total (mailed Monday, got back on Saturday).
About giving it to your boss, depends on what he needs it for. If he needs it to go and get your ARC, sure, why not give it to him? Unless he's given you reason not to trust him. But my opinion on this is that you should get your ARC on your own so you know how to do things in the future should it be necessary. Try to do as much as you can on your own, or at least be there. That way you know for the next time. It's not so good to have your boss/whitey wrangler do everything and leave you in the dark.
KPRROK |
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