The term 'this blows' comes to mind when I think of how long this Korean application process is taking. It has been a little less than two weeks since I received my offer and besides all my documentation arriving safely, (thank you UPS tracking) nothing else has happened. Nothing. Unbeknownst to me, Koreans celebrate Chinese New Years and their offices are closed. What's worse is the celebration is so rambunctious that my contact didn't provide and exact date as to when she would be back to work. When I think of all the effort and money I have exhausted putting my hiring and immigration papers together it really pisses me off that this agency wouldn't put a little more effort into getting me there faster.
The list of expenses so far are as follows:

6 copies of my transcript: 5o dollars

2 copies of my degree: 60 dollars

criminal back ground check: 10 dollars

lawyer fee: 40 dollars

renew passport: 110 dollars

2 sets of passport photos: 45 dollars
trip to Toronto to see the consulate: 20 dollars

shipping to Korea costs: 70 dollars
$405 Dollars... ugh!!
Some are incidental but as you can see it all adds up. Then I had to spend a whole day putting my mailing package together which included these items:
Two copies of my contact, filled out, initialed, signed, dated
E2 health statements
2 unopened transcripts
notarized copy of my criminal background check
my original degree (the two copies ended up being a waste of money)
two new passport photos
and a scanned image of my passport
It is a huge undertaking. I will be the first to admit that I didn't think the process would be this invasive. I now have to wait 1o business days for my papers to be approved which means I won't be leaving Canada until early March. Much later than I had originally anticipated. Minor speed bump and opportunity to save more money aside, people learn from this!


Peace, Love & Harmony