Korean Job Discussion Forums

[keguri]

I just received an e-mail from the school I will start working for at the end of this month. They told me there is a new immigration law that says I must send them my original diploma, and that a notarized copy is not acceptable. Does anyone know whether this is true? I will not mail anyone my original diploma -- what are my alternatives then?

[Gord]

Your only other option would be to fly to Korea with your original degree and hand deliver it to Immigration yourself with your application for a work visa from the school.

[FierceInvalid]

I've never heard of the law, and find it a bit hard to believe. But then, I'm not nearly as much of a legal expert as some others on the board. Where's the Whiner when you need him? See mods, he serves a purpose...

[crazylemongirl]

umm,
I arrived only a few months ago with a notarised degree and it was fine... my degree did go on a 600km trip but it was through registered post in New Zealand. I haven't heard/or seen anything about a law change but others might be able elaborate.

CLG

[keguri]

Yes, I too find it very hard to believe. A couple of months ago, I accepted a job with another school in Buchon, and was scheduled to begin May 1. The "Program Director" kept giving me the run-around, delaying my arrival more and more. At the last minute, he said they didn't need me because the school didn't have enough students. It's a long, interesting story, but to get to the point, he became very rude with me and is surely not going to return the notarized diploma, transcripts, and photos that I sent him. I shudder to think what I'd have to go through now had I sent him my original diploma. I guess I'd have to wait for my university to send me a new copy, which could take weeks or even months. Meanwhile, I wouldn't be able to get another job, and there's no telling what the Buchon school might have done with my diploma (perhaps sell it?).

[kimcheeking]

The options are original diploma or copies notorized by a Korean Consulate. You can't get them notarized at any old lawyers shop - must by from a consulate/embassy. So, if you are in Korea and don't have any notarized copies you need the original.

[keguri]

[the_beaver]

I'm on my fourth piece of paper. My first degree was lost by my first hagwon. I sacrificed my second degree to a midnight run (probably still being held hostage). My third degree just plain old went missing.

It's not that difficult getting a new one from your university. It's really only a thick piece of paper with a seal, so don't sweat too much about it.

[keguri]

[the_beaver]

They cost me 50 bucks apiece (Canadian, so that's about a buck fifty American).

2 months! Holy crap! Got each one of mine within a week, and that includes the time it took to get them to Korea.

I guess there's something to be said for attending a schleprock university like I did.

[keguri]

Well, I have obtained some information:

First, I called my University in Florida. In order to get another copy of my diploma, I just have to fax them a request. There is no cost, but it takes 3 to 4 months to get it, and I can only request one copy. This means that if I mail my original diploma to my employer-to-be in Korea today, and they decide they don't want to hire me and for whatever reason refuse to give back the diploma, I will have to wait 3 to 4 months before I can start the process of getting another job overseas.

Next, I called the Korean Consulate in Atlanta (the closest one to me). The woman I talked to said she never heard of this alleged new rule that Immigration will only accept an original copy of the diploma. I'm sure if this were a new rule, the Consulate would have to know about it, because it would be pointless for them to certify diplomas with this new rule in effect.

And yesterday, I got an e-mail response back from a man at "[email protected]." He too was unfamiliar with the new rule. He suggested that I contact my nearest Korean Embassy and ask them about it, because "it seems unusual what the Korean employer is saying to [me]." He went on to recommend that I not be in a rush to jump into anything, lest I enter into a contract that I wish I could get out of later.

So there you have it. I hope that all of you out there will be very cautious if your employers to tell you that you have to give them your original documents, passports, etc. There is no guarantee that you will get these items back. Don't trust anyone just because they seem nice. EVERYONE seems nice at first!

[keguri]

Well lo and behold... the school called me today and said they were so sorry, they had gotten some misinformation from Immigration. I do not have to send my original after all.

[canuckistan]

Found this concerning notarized copies of a degree:

The original university degree must be sent to the Korean consulate to get the notarized copy of the degree. It can be mailed or given in person to the nearest Korean consulate. The Korean Consulate will stamp the copied degree certificate with their official seal, verifying the authenticity of the diploma.
These Required documents are handled a little bit differently whether you send them by mail or go yourself to the Consulate:

Requirements by mail:
1 Resume
2 Letter requesting the degree confirmation (notarized degree)
3 Original and two photocopies of your university degree
4 Fee for degree confirmation (money order payable to the Korean Consulate General)
You should call the Consulate to check the exact fee before going there
5 A copy of the picture page in your passport (2 forms of Identification)
6 Self-Stamped Envelope (if requesting return in mail)

Requirements in person:
1 Resume
2 Original university degree
3 Forms of Identification (Passport, Driver's License, Etc.)
4 Degree Confirmation Fee (Notarized Diploma)

[Alyallen]

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to add my experience getting my diploma notarized.

I needed:
*A copy of my passport
*My passport
*Photocopies of diploma to be notarized and given to me plus 1 copy for the consulate to keep
*My original diploma

I'm in the United States. I went to the Korean Consulate General in Manhattan. I graduated from college in Vermont. I arrived at the Consulate General and was told that they couldn't notarize my diploma because Vermont (where my diploma is from) does not fall under their jurisdiction. I was supposed to mail it Boston. Luckily for me, the woman I talked to took pity on me and notarized my diplomas there.

I guess the moral of the story is to call the Consulate and find out what states fall under their jurisdiction.

*I did call the consulate but I didn't think to ask such a question. I didn't tihnk it was necessary.

ok...so my story is done. I hope I helped someone....

AlyAllen

[Alyallen]