Last minute save.
I like the job I do. I work for a terrific company, for great pay, and do things i enjoy doing, even if it entails a lot of driving and roadwork. I'm responsible for the entire Far East theater, and my employer gives me almost 100% autonomy to handle things the way I see fit. If I need something, a quick phone call or email will generally get me what I need. I don't ask for much. I prefer to lay out a little out of my pocket to buy extra things rather than nickel and dime the home office. I can afford it. (Some of you know that).
However... There are some things that I truly dislike. One is the support that the government provides. Now I work with the US government on military equipment. Fairly important work concerning security systems. I'm on the second year a five year contract this time around, and have been doing this for almost 15 years total. The contract segments are renewed annually, this time on May 6th.
My SOFA visa expired on May 6th this year and under the agreement, the Korean government allots 30 days from that time to either get the visa renewed or get the heck outta Dodge, or Korea, whichever is closer. In all cases, it's Korea. Every year it gets more hectic as the time bomb ticks down to the Go/No Go deadline. last year, it was 8 days as they were instituting a new vetting process for all people renewing in order to weed out those people who were here and working illegally. I was told that getting vetted would take the hassle out of later years. Not this year.
This year, the Contracting Command Korea (CCK) started going over the contracts with a fine-toothed comb. Now I submitted my paperwork on 22 April, trying to get things done before my visa expired on 6 May. I had all the right people sign the paperwork and turned it in. A week later, it was kicked back for not being accurate. CCK said GSA (General Services Administration, or the US government who does the contracts, etc.) did it wrong. Wrong numbers, wording, and all sorts of stuff. The liaison person started getting involved. After all, if I can't work, the systems I am responsible for can't get fixed.
To shorten things a bit, the two US government agencies got into a turf war. In the end, I was resigned to getting a plane ticket out of here as I had to leave no later than June 6th. It was Thursday afternoon (4 June), while heading out to get that plane ticket that I got the phone call informing me the paperwork was finally approved and signed. First thing Friday morning, I headed up to Yongsan, picked up the paperwork, then made a bee-line to Osan's immigration office to get my passport stamped. I had less than 24 hours, and that's the closest I've ever been.
So now, I'm good until next May 6th. They tell me next year won't be like this year, but then, they told me that LAST year. I guess we shall see.
However... There are some things that I truly dislike. One is the support that the government provides. Now I work with the US government on military equipment. Fairly important work concerning security systems. I'm on the second year a five year contract this time around, and have been doing this for almost 15 years total. The contract segments are renewed annually, this time on May 6th.
My SOFA visa expired on May 6th this year and under the agreement, the Korean government allots 30 days from that time to either get the visa renewed or get the heck outta Dodge, or Korea, whichever is closer. In all cases, it's Korea. Every year it gets more hectic as the time bomb ticks down to the Go/No Go deadline. last year, it was 8 days as they were instituting a new vetting process for all people renewing in order to weed out those people who were here and working illegally. I was told that getting vetted would take the hassle out of later years. Not this year.
This year, the Contracting Command Korea (CCK) started going over the contracts with a fine-toothed comb. Now I submitted my paperwork on 22 April, trying to get things done before my visa expired on 6 May. I had all the right people sign the paperwork and turned it in. A week later, it was kicked back for not being accurate. CCK said GSA (General Services Administration, or the US government who does the contracts, etc.) did it wrong. Wrong numbers, wording, and all sorts of stuff. The liaison person started getting involved. After all, if I can't work, the systems I am responsible for can't get fixed.
To shorten things a bit, the two US government agencies got into a turf war. In the end, I was resigned to getting a plane ticket out of here as I had to leave no later than June 6th. It was Thursday afternoon (4 June), while heading out to get that plane ticket that I got the phone call informing me the paperwork was finally approved and signed. First thing Friday morning, I headed up to Yongsan, picked up the paperwork, then made a bee-line to Osan's immigration office to get my passport stamped. I had less than 24 hours, and that's the closest I've ever been.
So now, I'm good until next May 6th. They tell me next year won't be like this year, but then, they told me that LAST year. I guess we shall see.