I am so screwed without my passport!

I went down to the 출입국관리사무소 (Immigration Office) in 목동(Mokdong) to apply for my 거소증(Gyopo National ID). I dropped off my passport and my application with them for them to process my 거소증. It will take 10 days before I get my passport back. I’ll write more about this later.

After I dropped off my passport, I went to 동대문 (Donddaemoon) Migliore and bought some clothes. After this, I sat down on my laptop to go into Woori bank’s website to activate my VISA checkcard (ATM/debit) card. I couldn’t activate my VISA checkcard from Woori Bank. Since I don’t have 거소증, I don’t know what I’m supposed to type in when they ask me for 주민등록증. I have under KRW 80,000. I have a bank account in Wooribank, but the ATM card is not working. I can’t go into a bank branch and get this straightened out because the banks are closed on Saturday and Sunday in Korea. Even if I went into a bank branch, guess what? I don’t have my passport!!!!! I have hard U.S. currency but I can’t exchange them because I don’t have my passport. Aarrrgg! I am so screwed!!!!!

As a last resort I think I can use my U.S. credit card to get cash advances. But, my cousin was able to help me out by giving me some KRW for my US currency. Whew!

Lessons learned: Do not drop off your passport to immigration office unless you have enough KRW to last you for about 2 weeks. Also, make sure you don’t have a job interview scheduled in the next 2 weeks because your employer will want to see your passport.