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ScoreFromAugusta
Joined: 13 Aug 2014
Posts: 5
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 Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2014 12:46 pm Post subject: Background Check Requirements (compared to Korea) |
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Hey everybody. I'm hoping some of you will be able to give me some insight into what kind of policies different countries have on background checks to obtain a work visa to teach English abroad.
I'm a working professional who took an online course to get a TEFL certificate and then decided Korea would be a great place to start my new teaching career. I got a job offer in Incheon (near Seoul) which I had to eventually decline as I found out they require FBI background checks and have a ZERO TOLERANCE policy on any kind of mark on your record.
The truth is, just about 10 years ago (2005), two weeks after my 18th birthday I got in a bit of trouble with having a very small amount of something I shouldn't have. It is an activity I don't even partake in anymore, and the law for possession of this doesn't even exist in the state of Massachusetts where I live anymore (decriminalized a few years back and you only get the equivalent of a parking ticket now). For some reason I feel uncomfortable saying it outright but you can probably guess; what does Snoop Lion, Cheech and Chong, and Pineapple Express have in common? I was a kid and it's embarrassing but there it is. I was taken in and the case was promptly dismissed the next day in court when they saw the context of my situation (I was an honor student who had never been in trouble in his life).
I had received a CORI check on my own which has no record of my minor transgression, but having been asked by Korea to get an FBI report the mark was there. I was too nervous to bring it in to try to get a visa so I am now thinking I should explore other options.
SO HERE'S WHAT IT BOILS DOWN TO: Are other countries as strict as Korea with these background checks? Do they all require FBI checks or do some accept CORIs? My interests are so wide I would be happy in Thailand/Taiwan in Asia, Costa Rica/Argentina/Brazil in Latin America, and nearly anywhere in Europe but especially the Czech Republic. If anybody reading knows anything about ANY of these countries please just post and let me know!
I hope the length of this entry does not make people less likely to read, therefore respond. I really want to make this change in my life and I have such a strong passion for language and getting to know all walks of life. To quote Nixon: "I am not a crook" and while this experience with Korea was very disheartening I'm not giving up, but I also would like to know ahead of time that I'm not working towards a goal which will prove fruitless after I jump through the hoops.
Thank you and ANY information would be appreciated. |
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MuscatGary
Joined: 03 Jun 2013
Posts: 1364
Location: Flying around the ME...
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| Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2014 12:50 pm Post subject: |
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| Europe is difficult for you but not because of the conviction, just because you're from the usa. Online certs are also not accepted everywhere but you should be ok in some of the countries you've listed. Good luck. |
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nomad soul
Joined: 31 Jan 2010
Posts: 11454
Location: The real world
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| Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2014 2:45 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Europe is difficult for you but not because of the conviction... |
For clarification, when a case is dismissed, there's no conviction. I assume the "mark" the OP referred to on the FBI's report indicates the arrest and charge of possession but not the disposition (e.g., "dismissed with prejudice").
| ScoreFromAugusta wrote: |
| Are other countries as strict as Korea with these background checks? Do they all require FBI checks or do some accept CORIs? |
For US citizens applying for visas to work abroad, some countries require a criminal background report at the municipal or state level, while others want to see one from the FBI. Be aware visa requirements can and do change, so make sure you're obtaining current/accurate visa information.
Therefore, a better approach would be for you to do the research yourself via the following steps:
1) Make a list of countries where US citizens can legally work (e.g., countries in Asia, the Americas, non-EU Europe, etc.);
2) Choose your top 6-8 countries based on your personal interests and needs (i.e., climate, culture, scenery, history, and so on);
3) Thoroughly check out the visa regulations and requisite documents for US citizens for each country and obviously, eliminate those requiring an FBI check;
4) Visit various Internet TEFL job sites for your (revised) top countries to get an idea of the qualifications employers expect entry-level teachers to have;
5) Research those prospective language schools that interest you by asking questions on the Cafe's country-specific forums and on similar sites; and
6) Apply and... Good luck! |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2014 5:31 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| nearly anywhere in Europe but especially the Czech Republic. |
As a US citizen, western European countries are off limits.
The Czech Rep requires
1. a criminal background check
and
2. a CELTA or equivalent on-site cert |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 04 May 2003
Posts: 9041
Location: home sweet home
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| Posted: Mon Aug 18, 2014 10:33 pm Post subject: |
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| Since my info is about Korea I'll PM you. |
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ScoreFromAugusta
Joined: 13 Aug 2014
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2014 11:46 am Post subject: |
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Thanks for the help everyone.
| nomad soul wrote: |
For US citizens applying for visas to work abroad, some countries require a criminal background report at the municipal or state level, while others want to see one from the FBI. Be aware visa requirements can and do change, so make sure you're obtaining current/accurate visa information.
Therefore, a better approach would be for you to do the research yourself via the following steps:
1) Make a list of countries where US citizens can legally work (e.g., countries in Asia, the Americas, non-EU Europe, etc.);
2) Choose your top 6-8 countries based on your personal interests and needs (i.e., climate, culture, scenery, history, and so on);
3) Thoroughly check out the visa regulations and requisite documents for US citizens for each country and obviously, eliminate those requiring an FBI check;
4) Visit various Internet TEFL job sites for your (revised) top countries to get an idea of the qualifications employers expect entry-level teachers to have;
5) Research those prospective language schools that interest you by asking questions on the Cafe's country-specific forums and on similar sites; and
6) Apply and... Good luck! |
This is great advice! I think I am trying to move on to step 3 in the outline you graciously offered. I was hoping some users on this board could help me on this thread, as I've found that basic Googling doesn't really provide straight answers and most job listings just say "background check" but does not specify the type. I think perhaps visiting each country's board on this site might be a good way to move forward (I just didn't want to spam across the different board but I think maybe browsing a couple is a good move)
| spiral78 wrote: |
As a US citizen, western European countries are off limits.
The Czech Rep requires
1. a criminal background check
and
2. a CELTA or equivalent on-site cert |
Do you know if this is an FBI check or the level of leniency they might have toward minor transgressions? |
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spiral78
Joined: 05 Apr 2004
Posts: 11534
Location: On a Short Leash
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| Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2014 11:52 am Post subject: |
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Last I knew, a document from the last US state you lived in was sufficient. However, it's been a while since I had to go through this process and it's overall so much easier for employers to hire EU citizens - this could be a difficulty. However, there is a fairly high tolerance for the substance I assume you are describing overall....may be worth a try.
Also, keep in mind that an online cert won't be sufficient here; to break into this market, you should ideally take a CELTA or equivalent course in Prague, and hit the streets in September. There is a smaller hiring wave in January.
Due to Schengen zone regulations, you have only 90 days in the zone (including but not limited to CR) to file for working permits; otherwise you have to leave the entire zone for 90 days before you can legally re-enter. Google Schengen zone if you're not familiar. |
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