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bassexpander
Joined: 13 Sep 2007
Location: Someplace you'd rather be.
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 Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 11:44 pm Post subject: US Embassy speaks on Korean E-2 Visa issue/bkg. checks |
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This came to me in an e-mail from the embassy today, as part of their mass mailing to all registered Americans in Korea:
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1. VISA RULES FOR FOREIGN INSTRUCTORS
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The Korean Ministry of Justice announced that as of December 15, 2007, foreigners will have to submit medical and criminal background checks when applying for a visa to become a foreign language teacher in South Korea. The U.S. Embassy cannot provide a background check or fingerprinting service, and we cannot notarize, certify, or verify the authenticity of background checks or diplomas.
As we understand the new requirements, E-2 visa applicants who are U.S. citizens can obtain the necessary criminal background check either by submitting their fingerprints to the FBI or by applying for a local police check where they last resided in the U.S. Procedures for obtaining criminal background checks in the U.S. are explained on our website at http://www.asktheconsul.org/E2ec07.htm. Local police stations in the Republic of Korea are able to take fingerprints that can be sent to the FBI for a background check. U.S. Embassies are, unfortunately, prohibited from taking fingerprints for these purposes.
Regrettably, the Korea Immigration Service (KIS) has placed incorrect information on its website concerning services U.S. embassies can and cannot perform. As of this writing the "New Release: Mandatory Requirements of Criminal Background Check and Health Certificate" on the KIS website contains incorrect information about the length of time it can take to get a criminal records check in the U.S. and also states erroneously that the U.S. Embassy can notarize or certify background checks. We have asked that the incorrect information be removed from the KIS website and we regret any inconvenience or misunderstanding that has resulted from their explanation of our services.
As we receive updated information on the Korean visa requirements, we will post it on our website. The U.S. Embassy website will also continue to be the best source of information about the services that we are able to provide under U.S. law and regulation. If you have further questions, we suggest that you contact the office responsible for the new requirements, the Korea Immigration Service, Border Control Division, at 500-9116, 500-9117, or 500-9118, or consult their website at http://seoul.immigration.go.kr/HP/IMM80/index.do or the Ministry of Justice website (in Korean only) at
http://moj.korea.kr/moj/jsp/moj1_branch.jsp?_action=news_view&_property=p_sec_1&_id=155250149. |
Last edited by bassexpander on Sun Dec 30, 2007 11:47 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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bassexpander
Joined: 13 Sep 2007
Location: Someplace you'd rather be.
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| Posted: Sun Dec 30, 2007 11:46 pm Post subject: |
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| The U.S. Embassy website will also continue to be the best source of information about the services that we are able to provide under U.S. law and regulation. |
Oh, how I love that line.... hilarious! |
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nautilus
Joined: 26 Nov 2005
Location: Je jump, Tu jump, oui jump!
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| Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 12:18 am Post subject: |
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But does the UK embassy notarise CRC's?
Anyone know? |
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Nick Adams
Joined: 26 May 2005
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| Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 12:25 am Post subject: |
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| Korea Immigration Service (KIS) has placed incorrect information on its website concerning services U.S. embassies can and cannot perform. |
That sentence is worth reading again. |
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PGF
Joined: 27 Nov 2006
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| Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 4:42 am Post subject: |
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| Nick Adams wrote: |
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| Korea Immigration Service (KIS) has placed incorrect information on its website concerning services U.S. embassies can and cannot perform. |
That sentence is worth reading again. |
and
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| We have asked that the incorrect information be removed from the KIS website and we regret any inconvenience or misunderstanding that has resulted from their explanation of our services. |
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Boodleheimer
Joined: 10 Mar 2006
Location: working undercover for the Man
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| Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 5:25 am Post subject: |
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all the sparkle hurts my retinas.
has anyone emailed that jerk-off who wrote the 'Misunderstanding' article? maybe an email titles 'Misundestanding regarding embassies' responsibilities'? |
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WoBW
Joined: 07 Dec 2007
Location: HBC
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| Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 7:22 am Post subject: |
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Bloody hell! what a monumental c*ck up by KIS.
If it wasn't such a pain in the arse it would be funny.
Thank christ I don't have to renew until July - hopefully KIS will have come to their senses before then.
'Korea - where random, uninformed decisions are made easy' |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 11:49 am Post subject: |
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I have to renew in late January. Last week at a meeting the boss said, "I have called Immigration many times. I cannot get a clear answer about what you need to do to renew or how to do it. Please ask your friends."  |
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American_Maverick
Joined: 20 Dec 2007
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| Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 12:59 pm Post subject: |
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| The whole criminal background check thing seems like a big joke. You can go to your local police station OR do an FBI background check? The local check costs a couple of bucks and takes maybe a day. And FBI check is probably more expensive and perhaps takes weeks. Why would anyone go through the hassle of the FBI check? Not to mention that if you're a criminal an recently moved to your current location, the local police will have no info on what you did before you moved there. |
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idonojacs
Joined: 07 Jun 2007
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| Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 3:13 pm Post subject: |
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That's nothing!
Remember, that newly minted lawyer with KIS, Lee Dong-wook, said that an Internet CRC was acceptable. You know, the ones you pay $59.99 for.*
So, you print it out yourself. Then you have it notarized and apostillized or whatever and it makes it official.
Huh?
What's to stop a criminal from taking the CRC and rewriting it before he prints it out?
Shoot, why bother to pay $59.99?
Just make something up yourself and have it notarized. How the bloody hell is KIS to know the difference?
Doesn't ANYBODY at KIS get it? The new rules make EASIER, not harder for a criminal to get an E-2 visa.
Very easy.
Ridiculously easy.
What the hell do you think criminals do for a living? They lie and forge, and pretend to be something they're not.
And the result is we all will have to pay the price for KIS's collosal stupidity.
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Footnotes:
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Firstly, Mr. David Louis Quick, an American English teacher, made incorrect claims in his Dec. 5 article, which can be summarized as follows:
(2). A criminal records check in the U.S. is only effective if it is conducted at a national level and the only way to be truly sure that the criminal check is conducted nationally is to have it done by the FBI....
There are several ways he can get his criminal record from Korea. Other than using the FBI service, he can use the following options:
(2). If he is uncomfortable (?!?!) with the local police station, he can use a privately-run criminal check system, for example an online site (http://www.criminalbackgroundrecords.com), although he may be charged up to $59.95....
He needs to have the documents notarized in his embassy. However, in the process of notarization, he can be charged if he commits perjury.
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Yeah, a criminal just might be "uncomfortable" visiting the local police station, or even the state police. How thoughtful to let him get his CRC via the internet.
If he submits false identification to a notary, he could be charged with perjury. But the notary does not in any way guarantee that the document is "genuine." To the notary, it is just a document that he does not read.
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=109056
(As an English teacher, I suggest, Lee Dong-wook, that you do not use the word "firstly" (or secondly, thirdly, etc.). While they do still appear in British English speech, they are not longer considered good form in American English. If you were to use them in an American court, the judge would probably cringe.) |
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laconic2
Joined: 23 May 2005
Location: Wonderful World of ESL
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| Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 6:53 pm Post subject: |
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The idea that Korean Immigration can dictate to the U.S. Embassy (U.S. State Department) on matters relating to U.S. law, including the responsibilities and duties of U.S. Foreign Service Officers, makes complete sense if you are raised believing that all people and all governments of all nations of the world revolve around Korea and Korean thinking.
So what's the problem? |
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esetters21
Joined: 30 Apr 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Dec 31, 2007 10:40 pm Post subject: |
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| American_Maverick wrote: |
| The whole criminal background check thing seems like a big joke. You can go to your local police station OR do an FBI background check? The local check costs a couple of bucks and takes maybe a day. And FBI check is probably more expensive and perhaps takes weeks. Why would anyone go through the hassle of the FBI check? Not to mention that if you're a criminal an recently moved to your current location, the local police will have no info on what you did before you moved there. |
Where did you get your info from? Local checks are inexpensive, but vary in the time that it takes to receive results (5-15 business days) and FBI checks take 16-18 weeks. Are you more informed than the rest? Please enlighten us if you are. |
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