Korean Job Discussion Forums

Bubbliee · Joined: 03 Jul 2003 Location: Kelowna, BC Canada

I was supposed to register for my ARC today but I walked out after Korean immigration insisted that I had to give them my finger prints. Nobody has my finger prints on file, not even the Canadian government so why should I give them to the Korean government? I feel that my finger prints are personal and that I shouldn't have to give them up unless I have committed a crime (court ordered). I just emailed the Canadian embassy to see if anything can be done in this situation. Has anybody else refused to give their finger prints? Does anybody know a way around it?

The Lemon · Joined: 11 Jan 2003

Go to a different Immigration office, if you have that option. I've never been asked to give prints, though I've heard that others have.

On the other hand, you're not in Canada anymore, and you may need to readjust your standards of personal privacy to the local level. What's standing on principle to you may be seen by these guys as a troublesome foreigner, or worse, someone with something to hide or may have something to hide in the future. And Immigration people are notoriously arbitrary, so it's probably better to submit to the requirement.

I expect the Canadian Embassy to tell you they have no jurisdiction here.

casinoman · Joined: 12 Sep 2003 Location: seoul

I think it's standard operating procedure. I had to get my fingerprint (right thumb) when I applied for my ARC.

Pyongshin Sangja · Joined: 20 Apr 2003 Location: I love baby!

I remember reading in the Korea Herald that this law was being rescinded this year, I think in September after complaints from foreigners that they were being treated as criminals. Anyone got any info on this? I want my prints back, I felt the same way as you but didn't throw a fit. I still regret it.

Go to a different Immigration office, if you have that option. I've never been asked to give prints, though I've heard that others have.

Lemon, you lucky lemon. What city was that?

captain kirk · Joined: 29 Jan 2003

Just thumb? At Daejon immigration it was all fingers and both thumbs, the full spread. The same in Incheon the contract before this. I've had six contracts and was fingerprinted each time. I've heard, and this relaxed me into not giving a damn (I wasn't planning on any criminal activity or behaviour, anyway), that ALL Koreans have their fingerprints on file. Every Korean.

casinoman · Joined: 12 Sep 2003 Location: seoul

Sorry about the misinformation. Actually I didn't get my right thumb printed for the ARC. I was "renouncing" my Korean citizenship (I was born in Seoul) at the Ministry of Justice counter on the 1st floor Immigration building. I had to leave my right thumb print on whatever document they were giving me so that I could apply for an F4 visa. When I was applying for my visa the Immigration officer (helpful lady BTW-dunno if it had to do with me being of Korean descent) automatically made me apply for an ARC. Then again, I think most people have to apply for their ARC on the 1st floor "Resident...control section??"

canuckistan · Posted: Thu Oct 02, 2003 1:17 am Post subject:

I don't think it's unusual at all to be asked to provide fingerprints when you're a foreign national applying for a work visa in a foreign country.
In Germany I had to go to the local police station to do it.

The Lemon · Joined: 11 Jan 2003

TECO · Joined: 20 Jan 2003

I had to provide Finger Prints for my ARC in Japan (1999).

They soon after changed the law.

However, some Japanese City Hall Foreign Registration offices still demanded finger prints from foreigners.

A lot of teachers I worked with b*tched about it.

I think it's a good idea, though and have no problem with it.

anae · Joined: 13 May 2003 Location: cowtown

It is not just a foreigner thing. As far as I know, all Koreans have their thumb prints on their registration cards. There are still a lot of old habbits left over from the dictatorship days.

BTM · Joined: 20 Jan 2003 Location: Back in the saddle.

whatthefunk · Joined: 21 Apr 2003 Location: Dont have a clue

I had to give prints of all my fingers and even a palm print. I was then taken to the holding cell while they processed my information. I was released into the custody of my boss who has since that time forced me into slave labor.
All us dirty, AIDS infested criminals should definately get our prints taken. Any crime that happens in Korea is a direct result of foreign activity, and so its best to keep tabs on us waygooks. And look what happens when we don't get our prints taken...foreign crime rises.
http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/viewtopic.php?t=9542&highlight=foriegn+foreign+crime

captain kirk · Joined: 29 Jan 2003

My feelings exactly. I wish someone would make a citizen's arrest before the full moon and THE CHANGE.

Walter Mitty · Joined: 27 Mar 2003 Location: Tokyo! ^.^

I had to do the full spread at Seoul last spring and last month in Incheon. It didn't bother me since I'd done my full prints and DNA when I joined the army.

It was actually amusing at the Seoul office. When the guy was doing my prints he asked me, "have you ever had your prints taken before?" I said I had and he looked really nervous. "When?' he asked. I was sorely tempted to say something like, "oh, I got arrested for murder, but they couldn't prove it so they had to let me go," but I knew better. I just told him I'd had it done when I was in the army. He seemed relieved.

Bulsajo · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

I gave prints- no big deal. I've had to get fingerprinted for a work visa in other countries before, so I didn't think twice about it.