Korean Job Discussion Forums

[captain kirk]

I'm heading to Korean Immigration (in Korea) on Monday with all my paperwork, documents, and so on. I have a new job in Korea lined up to start March 1. Will Korean Immigration take my Crim Rec Check even though it is not notarized? I got it from the local cop shop in my hometown. They mailed it over.

Also, I have my original degree I've been using for YEARS here, no complaint from Immigration. Are they going to require the original degree be notarized?

Plus, have any you been asked by Immigration if you have been neutarized? ^^ ( I hope this insn't a new requirement) .

[Ut videam]

Are you currently in Korea on an E-2? If so, your best bet is to go to Immigration and extend your sojourn and change your place of employment before March 15th; that way you'll avoid the new rigmarole entirely. You'll need a letter of release from your current employer as well as the contract from the new one.

If that's not an option, you'll have to get your criminal record check notarized. The Canadian Embassy says what you need to do is bring the check to the embassy and fill out a statutory declaration saying that it's legit, and they'll notarize that. See http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/world/embassies/korea/embassy-newsletter-en.asp

Finally, the new regs say that an original diploma does not need to be notarized.

[captain kirk]

Ut Videam, thanks very much for your help/response. You mention that if I 'change jobs before March 15 then I can avoid this new rigamorole entirely'.

Yes, I'm on an E2 currently and am contracted until Feb 29.

I would be going to Immigration (on Monday Feb 11, the day after tomorrow) to present signed contract for the new/next job (which starts March 1 or March 3), along with the other necessary supporting documents such as original diploma, sealed transcripts, and so on. I have a crim rec check, as I mentioned, but it is not notarized (thanks for the link and know how about how to do that at the Canadian Embassy, Seoul).

I don't need a Letter of Release (current job finishes Feb 29) to be able to change jobs before March 15 (next/new job starts March 1 or March 3).

Are you saying that the new requirements just won't apply until after March 15 if a person is currently on an E2, and will change jobs before March 15?

I read alot about the new requirements and people struggling with them. They DO apply NOW, however, if one is not already on an E2, is that right? What is going on with this exemption? Exempting those already on an E2 to lesson the workload for Immigration Personnel?

Thanks, I was expecting a harsh Immigration visit where officials demand NEUTARIZATION with extreme prejudice^^.

[Ut videam]

[captain kirk]

Thanks, Ut Videam. I will go to Immigration tomorrow and let you know what they say. IF I ask for a Letter of Release from my present boss then he will take that as 'not finishing the contract period' (or could, if he wished, whch he probably would) and I would be 'so close but no cigar' on the severance and airfare reimbursement.

All I need to do is get the Crim Rec Check notarized at the Canadian Embassy in Seoul and I'll be all set to get a new visa, visa run to Japan and all.

Present job's contracted period end is Feb 29. Next job contracted period start is March 1 (or March 3). Interested to see what Immigration does about this. I may HAVE TO get a letter of release to clear the slate for the next visa to be made. I assume a visa run is only useful if it's done on time not owned by anyone (as my time is owned until Feb 29 by the present employer).

Thanks for the warning about Letter of Release. If Immigration had mentioned it tomorrow I would have instantly baulked interpreting it as a threat to my severance/airfare payout.

See what Immi has to say tomorrow. I was planning just to leave Feb 20, and have the ticket booked, to Japan. The visa for the current job is short compared to the contract period (visa is good 'til Feb 23. Contract period is until Feb 29. But the last day of work is Feb 18, then vacation (public school), boss says he will pay out severance/airfare reimb from Feb 25).

Gotta love red tape. It's like a hobby^^.

[Ut videam]

Try writing out the letter yourself. Use one of the formulas on the thread I cited above. Make sure the dates are very clear, so that it's obvious that you're not leaving early. Then ask him to sign it.

Good luck!

[captain kirk]

I went to Immigration and they needed two letters. A liason for the Provincial School Office talked to the Immigration Officer and together they worked it out. My school's Principal will send one letter directly to Immigration. And the Provincial School Office will fax Immigration another letter.

Immigration photocopied the contract for the next job. And the Letter of Appointment from the Provincial School Office.

I filled out the Immigration form re; change of job. They have my passport and in 10 to 15 days I'll get it by registered mail. In it will be the one year E2 visa for the next job.

Immigration did not want to see anything besides my Passport, ARC card, the contract for the next job and the Letter of Appointment for the next job.

I had sealed transcripts, criminal record check, original diploma, original transcripts, resume, etc. They didn't want to see any of this.

Nor did they want me to fill out a 'health questionaire' which consists of 5 health questions.

I was loaded for bear. Ready to oblige them by getting my crim rec check notarized by the Canadian Consulate in Seoul. But there was nothing to prove, nothing to show, no hoops to leap through! I'd had three sets of sealed transcripts sent over. Got the crim rec check sent over. No need it turns out.

It cost 90,000 won. Present contract ends Feb 28. Next contract starts March 1. No Japan visa run. Just work on thru. It was like a simple contract renewal. Except the present public school and the next are 60 kms apart, though in the same province.

The Immigration offical looked tired. He tried to call the bilingual liason for the Prov School Office. When there was no answer he stopped, hung his head down, and sighed, not moving but hanging hunched forward, limb, for about 20 seconds. He did this twice. Without the liason he couldn't proceed. I was starting to wonder! Finally the liason answered the phone. The Immigration official had a permanently beetled brow, like there were invisible 50 gram weights hanging from various points on his forehead. Tough going these days for Immigration officials regarding English teachers!