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wings
Joined: 09 Nov 2006
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 Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 6:08 am Post subject: Notarised Degree, double checking the process |
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I'm sure this comes up a lot, but I just want to check that I am on the right track. I am not in Canada (where all my documents are) so I need to get my family to help me out, and without very specific directions it will most likely go wrong.
So, I take my degree and a few good quality photo copies to a lawyer and then I get the copies notarised, then I send them to the embassy and have them stamped there???
And that is it?
Any comments? |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 6:20 am Post subject: Re: Notarised Degree, double checking the process |
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| wings wrote: |
I'm sure this comes up a lot, but I just want to check that I am on the right track. I am not in Canada (where all my documents are) so I need to get my family to help me out, and without very specific directions it will most likely go wrong.
So, I take my degree and a few good quality photo copies to a lawyer and then I get the copies notarised, then I send them to the embassy and have them stamped there???
And that is it?
Any comments? |
The last time I went to the Korean consulate in Vancouver I simply presented:
my passport,
copy of my passport info page for their file,
my original degree,
a copy of my transcript
the copies I wanted CERTIFIED (not notarized)
and paid the fee.
They returned everything to me in about 15 minutes. |
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Canadian Club
Joined: 12 Aug 2006
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| Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 6:28 am Post subject: |
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| I had to get my degree photocopied by a lawyer and certified (notarized?), and then took both plus my passport to the Korean Embassy to get re-done, then took THAT and UPSed it to my new employer. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 6:38 am Post subject: |
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| Canadian Club wrote: |
| I had to get my degree photocopied by a lawyer and certified (notarized?), and then took both plus my passport to the Korean Embassy to get re-done, then took THAT and UPSed it to my new employer. |
Was that at the embassy in Ottawa or the consulate in Toronto? I have heard that they (T.O.) are a bit anal about it.
AND for clarification, your lawyer does a NOTARIZATION, the embassy does a certification. Notarization can only be done by a notary public or a lawyer.
And lastly, I have never had to have my copies notarized. Unlucky you. |
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dogshed
Joined: 28 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Sat Jun 16, 2007 1:51 pm Post subject: |
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I don't know about Canada but I noticed when I was doing my research
before coming to Korea that there was a lot of confusion between
notarizing and certification. I think some people were paying a lot
of money to get documents notarized by a notary or lawyer before
sending them to the consulate.
I learned doing tech support to not give the other party the answer.
Lots of people like to tell you what they think you want to here instead
of the correct answer.
Here is what I think happened. I think people called up the consulate
and asked about getting their degree notarized. The consulate
said, "You have to go to a lawyer or a notary for that."
The proper starting question would be, "I'm going to teach in Korea. Can you tell me what I need to do?" and then ask more specific questions. "Isn't there some kind of thing you do to a copy of a degree for English teachers?" I also learned to ask misleading questions to see if the person
will make up answers. "I can send a zerox copy of my degree to imigration in Korea without sending it to you first, right?" "How do I get an E7 teaching visa?" (There is no E7 teaching visa.) |
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joyjoy12
Joined: 15 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 6:38 pm Post subject: |
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I need to get copies of my degree certified. I called the Korean consulate in Vancouver today and they are telling me that I need to have my original degree notarized first. Is this correct? I thought I just needed to send my original degree along with copies of my degree that I want certified.
Also, my recruiter is telling me that if I don't send my documents soon then the Board of Education won't be able to send my my letter of employment before the time I'm suppose to arrive in Korea. What do I need the letter of employment for? I haven't seen this mentioned when I was doing my research. |
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creesschaef
Joined: 18 Jun 2007
Location: Gyeonggi-do
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| Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 6:58 pm Post subject: |
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| dogshed wrote: |
| The proper starting question would be, "I'm going to teach in Korea. Can you tell me what I need to do?" and then ask more specific questions. "Isn't there some kind of thing you do to a copy of a degree for English teachers?" I also learned to ask misleading questions to see if the person will make up answers. "I can send a xerox copy of my degree to imigration in Korea without sending it to you first, right?" "How do I get an E7 teaching visa?" (There is no E7 teaching visa.) |
I did pretty much what you have said here. The consulate told me to send them: notarized copies of the degree, a money order ($2 per degree to be certified), return postage (either express or priority mail), a copy of my drivers license, and a letter of request with my phone number.
Contrary to what the phone recording states, the man at the consulate told me that even though my degree was from a state outside of their territory(ND), I could send it to them anyway(TX). Apparently they haven't updated their phone messages for 2 or more years, according to the consulate.
What I have come to understand, so far, is that it is up to each individual at the consulate as to how they far they are willing to go to make your life easy or hard. |
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renton9
Joined: 18 May 2007
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| Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2007 7:26 pm Post subject: |
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| From what I understand, the process has changed such that you have to have your degree notarized first before sending it off to be certified at the consulate (whereas in years past, you could just get your degree certified without having to have it notarized by a bank or lawyer first). I thought that I could get my degree certified in Boston (because I live closest to the Boston consulate), however, because I went to University in New York City, I had to send my documents to the New York consulate (original degree, notarized copies of my degree, a copy of my passport, $2 for each copy I wanted certified, sealed transcripts, a letter stating my purpose for the certification, and a paid self-addressed return envelope). I had my degree notarized for free at my local bank in Massachusetts. I didn't know if this would cause any problems, as the stamp reads "Commonwealth of Massachusetts," and I was sending everything to New York, but there were no issues and I received everything in the mail within 7 or 8 days of sending it (priority). |
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joyjoy12
Joined: 15 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 8:48 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
ttompatz:
The last time I went to the Korean consulate in Vancouver I simply presented:
my passport,
copy of my passport info page for their file,
my original degree,
a copy of my transcript
the copies I wanted CERTIFIED (not notarized)
and paid the fee.
They returned everything to me in about 15 minutes.
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How long ago was this? I'm being told by the Korean consulate in Vancouver that degree copies need to be notarized first before they certify them. This is information is also posted on the website:
http://www.mofat.go.kr/ee/ee_a002/ee_caba/ee_a04/ee_b22/visa_categories.jsp#e-2
It just seems like it is more of a hassle to get my degree certified by the Korean consulate than just sending my original degree to Korea. If they lose it, I think my university will create a duplicate for 60.00.
Any Canadians who applied to EPIK from Canada, did you have any problems getting your original degree back after sending it to Korea for a visa issuance number? |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2007 11:09 pm Post subject: |
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| joyjoy12 wrote: |
| Quote: |
ttompatz:
The last time I went to the Korean consulate in Vancouver I simply presented:
my passport,
copy of my passport info page for their file,
my original degree,
a copy of my transcript
the copies I wanted CERTIFIED (not notarized)
and paid the fee.
They returned everything to me in about 15 minutes.
|
How long ago was this? I'm being told by the Korean consulate in Vancouver that degree copies need to be notarized first before they certify them. This is information is also posted on the website:
http://www.mofat.go.kr/ee/ee_a002/ee_caba/ee_a04/ee_b22/visa_categories.jsp#e-2
It just seems like it is more of a hassle to get my degree certified by the Korean consulate than just sending my original degree to Korea. If they lose it, I think my university will create a duplicate for 60.00.
Any Canadians who applied to EPIK from Canada, did you have any problems getting your original degree back after sending it to Korea for a visa issuance number? |
My last set was less than a year ago. I did NOT send them, I took everything there in person and my UNI is within their jurisdiction and well known to them.
That does not mean that the rules haven't changed. Korean bureaucracy is nothing if not inconsistent.
The alternative is to get a replacement of your degree from your UNI and use that. It is equally as valid as the original.
. |
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tsumetai mizu
Joined: 17 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 5:45 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| I need to get copies of my degree certified. I called the Korean consulate in Vancouver today and they are telling me that I need to have my original degree notarized first. Is this correct? I thought I just needed to send my original degree along with copies of my degree that I want certified. |
| Quote: |
| How long ago was this? |
I had my degree copies certified about 7 weeks ago at the Vancouver Korean consulate. No notarization was required. Took about 20 minutes. 2-3 dollars per copy I think.
My original phone conversations with the consulate were a bit confusing. I asked whether they could certify my degrees. They said yes re my degree from BC but no re my degree from Alberta. While visiting Alberta I got a letter of authentication and sealed transcripts. When I returned to BC I got sealed transcripts from the BC university.
I took my original degrees from both provinces, sealed transcripts from both universities, letter of authenication from Alberta, passport, copy of passport info page, and the copies I wanted certified. Interesting that they did not open the transcripts and then returned them to me. Can't quite figure that one out??
Surprise! They certified not only the BC degree but the AB as well. The officer that did the processing told me she was the same person I talked to a week earlier. I'm not sure why she changed her mind about the Alberta degree. Didn't want to question it too much. Just happy to get it done.
She told me that the certified copies now had the same status as my original degrees and that I did not need to take original to Korea. Also no time limit on validity.
Are you in Vancouver. I suspect being able to make calls and go in person might ease the process a bit.
| Quote: |
| Also, my recruiter is telling me that if I don't send my documents soon then the Board of Education won't be able to send my my letter of employment before the time I'm suppose to arrive in Korea. What do I need the letter of employment for? I haven't seen this mentioned when I was doing my research. |
Simply tell the recruiters you are processing paperwork as fast as possible. Then do it as best you can. Making a major move is stressful. Don't let your recruiter add to your stress. A backup plan is always a good idea so that you don't get stranded. My first 'offer' fell through at the last minute. Fortunately, I had discussed possible employment with a couple of other employers and easily lined up another position.
IMO never send orignal documents such as degrees or official documentation to any recruiter/employer.
Good luck. |
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SeoulBound
Joined: 25 May 2007
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| Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 8:51 am Post subject: |
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| I just received my certified degrees the other day from the Korean Consulate in Montreal. I had to first get my degree copies notarized by a lawyer (any notary public will do). I had to send the notarized copies, along with a money order which covered $2.60 per copy to be certified. I also had to send one original unopened/stamped university transcript (which they keep). I sent this Xpresspost and had to send them a prepaid Xpresspost envelope to send the documents back to me. It only took 4 business days to be returned. |
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indigo777
Joined: 04 Feb 2006
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| Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2007 10:07 am Post subject: Degree |
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Last year I sent the following to Vancouver:
My original degrees and copies I wanted certified/notarized, transcripts, return envelope. I received everything back in four days.
I did not take my degree to a lawyer. I believe there is some confusion between certified and notarized.
The copies were returned stamped by the consulate and the transcripts were not opened. |
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