Visa…so much fun

I got my contracts in the mail the Friday after I got the NOA.  They were pretty cool looking with Korean and English paragraphs.  I just think Korea looks so frickin’ cool.  And I had heard of it before but never seen it but their signatures are not like ours, they have their names printed and then they use a stamp in red ink over their name.  So cool.  I was a little confused about where to sign it but since it was stamped at the bottom of every page I decided I should sign every page as well and then sign the big line on the last page.  We’ll see.

I had a time finding the info I needed to send for a visa but finally succeeded after a little digging on the internet that the consulate in Atlanta is the one that handles SC so after a little more digging for their website I found it but was massively confused since it was all in Korean!  Who’da thunk?

I went back to the site andf finally found the “English” button at the top and off I went.  I finally found the visa application and the info I needed for all the paperwork without too much trouble.  The visa application was by far the hardest to fill out.  It took me a good 5 tries before I got everything right.  First because there was absolutely not enough room to put anything on there and I got confused about where to write things since they were in Korean and English so most of the time I just guessed.  Good times.

They do have some suggested answers for us teachers but I was confused about who my employer was and my address in Korea.  The C said in the info packet that we could use the EPIK address and his name so since that was the only address I had that address was all over that sucker.

From the info that The C sent me I had some answers but the others I kinda had to guess on.  I haven’t heard from the consulate so I’m assuming I did everything ok.

BTW don’t leave your papers in your car overnight or when it’s raining, just a side note from experience.  I now have one very wrinkly and coffee stained contract for teaching in Korea.  I sincerely hope I don’t look like a complete idiot when I take it with me.  It has to be rewritten anyway since I will qualify for more money when I get there with my TESOL certificate but it still looks a little bad that I didn’t keep my precious contract safe.  I sent the remaining pristine one to the consulate so at least they don’t know I’m an idiot, unless I did something else harebrained.  Ah, well.  Such is life.

Also the sending of said papers was a HASSLE.  I had to send a prepaid self-addresses express mail envelope in with the papers so I can get my passport back.  I didn’t know that I had to fill out packing slips for these said packages.  God’s providence never ceases to amaze me.  When I went the first time they only had one size of express mail packages.  I couldn’t figure out how I was going to send the same size envelope in another one.  Turned out I didn’t have time to send it that day but when I finally made it back to the PO on my third try there was a larger new package that had just come in.  The one I sent everything in turned out to be pay by the weight while the smaller return envelope was flat rate! Awesome!  I was really worried that I wouldn’t know how much postage to put on the envelope since I’m not sure what exactly they were sending me back.  I think it’s just the passport with the visa stamped in it but there was no info on that.  Super nice lady at the PO helped me fill out the right labels and pay the right postage.  Never underestimate the helpfulness of people.

Whew!

I sent everything off last Tuesday and still haven’t heard anything.  I did put my departure date on there so I hope they’re not dragging their feet.  I still haven’t booked my flight since I was warned multiple times in the info packet not to unless I had my visa.

The official date of my departure is Feb 17th with arrival on the 18th and shuttle bus to the orientation site.  Now I just need a bajillion things like converters, socks and chocolate.

NOA

Notice of Appointment

WOOT!  I got the email a couple of days ago that I have officially been accepted by the Chungbuk Provincial Office of Education and that I will be receiving my contracts and notice of appointment shortly in the mail.  Then I get all my paper work together and send it to the consulate in Atlanta.  Awesome.

I thought I would have to go to an interview as well as submit another CRC.  HA.  Take that Korean Consulate, I’m with EPIK so I don’t have to do either!

I just have to make sure all my paper work is in order and I’ve signed all the appropriate dotted lines send it off and I should have my visa in a couple of days!

Then on to the plane ticket saga.  I’ve found some good flights all under $1000 so I’m excited about that.  The C said in the email that they don’t directly reimburse us for the ticket.  They just deposit a flat fee minus the cost for the physical exam which is about $70.  So anything under that flat fee I get to keep!  Woot.

The deposit will be about $1200 and I found a good flight for about $850 so I’m home free!  The only problem being I wish I could get a round trip ticket but most online sites offer multiple airline tickets and those require a return date within a year of departure. Since I’ll probably be in Korea a little over a year because of orientation and settling in time that won’t work.  However, I will get severance pay at the end of my contract so that will pay for my ticket home as well.  Good times.