Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Cerriowen]

I'm getting my criminal record from the FBI.

Do I need to get it noterized and get an apostille?

If so, how would I do that?

[hogwonguy1979]

it'll need to be sent to the US State Dept as they will do Federal Docs.

Much easier and faster to get a state one done and get that apostilled at the state sec of state's office.

[air76]

By far and away the easiest way to do your criminal check is to get it at the state level. I just had my visa stamped into my passport yesterday so I know that the state check is good enough.

It is much much easier than I thought it would be....basically I ordered the criminal check from the Washington State Patrol online ($10) and could print it out on my own computer, and then I had to download a credit card payment form and fax the form along with the report back to the state patrol (this is necessary to get the notarized letter and costs $5)....once this notarized letter arrives (and I called the office and explained that I needed it quickly so I got it in maybe 2-3 days) you send the letter to the Dept. of State (state level, not national) along with a short letter explaining what country you need the apostille for and where you want your documents sent to (this cost $15 more I think)...I called the Dept. of State and they were very helpful in answering my questions and the turn around time for the apostille was only 1 day. Getting the apostille was the easiest part of the process.

[Cerriowen]

Sorry I should have mentioned... I'm already in Korea.

I'm doing all of this by mail. And a notary here costs $37.

I whouldn't mind doing it at a state level, but the FBI doesn't require a notary, where as the states do.

Do I *HAVE* to get a FBI criminal record apostille?

And could I get it done at the Embassy?

[air76]

I am living in Chile and took care of everything from here...all you need is someone at home to help you out a little bit. I had the notarized letter sent to my dad and then I emailed him a Word doc to print out and send with the letter to the Dept. of State.

I think that you need an apostille either way, and no, the embassy will not help you. They will not notarize documents from the United States for any reason at any time, at least that is what I was told by the embassy in Santiago when I went in there. I would imagine that the rules are the same in Korea.

The document must be notarized before you can get an apostille, because essentially what an apostille is is a document from the government verifying that your notary is in fact a notary, that's all it is.

I would give a call to the state patrol from where you're from, I would imagine that they can give you a notarized copy the same as the Washington State Patrol did...they only charged me 5 bucks.

Also...a notary in Korea can't notarize your US document....I mean of course they CAN, but it won't be legal....that being said, Immigration might still take it.

If you've already got your FBI report then call the US State Department and ask them how to get an apostille...but I've heard that it takes a long time to get the federal criminal report.

[nashvegas]

I just got my FBI CRC in the mail earlier this week. It took less than 3 weeks for them to send it to me. Now I have to mail it to the U.S. State Department in Washington:


According to the U.S. State Dept. website:

Documents Issued by Federal Agencies: Documents issued under the seal of a federal agency can be authenticated by the U.S. Department of State Authentications Office. Then send the documents to the foreign embassy or consulate in the United States.

Fees
The authentication fee is $8.00 per document. A personal/company check or money order made payable to the U.S. Department of State must be submitted with document. Visa and Mastercard are accepted for Walk-in Service only.

Mail Service
The Authentication of documents takes approximately 5 business days to process from the time of receipt**. Please include a cover-letter (see example) with your name, telephone number, address and email address. Please indicate the name of the country where the document will be used. We suggest using a self-addressed stamped envelope for faster return of your documents. Documents received without a return evelope and postage will be returned through the State Department regular mail, which can result in a 2-3 week delay. You can use DHL, Fed/Ex, UPS and express mail services for faster receipt/return of your documents. However, you must enclose a prepaid airbill and envelope.

Mailing Address

U.S. Department of State
Authentications Office
518 23rd Street, N.W. SA-1
Washington, D.C. 20520

** U.S. Postal mail entering the U.S. Department of State must go through a screening process which may delay the time in which we will receive the document.

The Authentication Office will mail documents directly to the Foreign Embassy or Consulates if provided with a transmittal letter, fee, and a pre-addressed stamped envelope. Please enclose an additional pre-addressed stamped envelope for the embassy or consulate to return the document.

[hari seldon]

[nashvegas]

Nope, I didn't do anything special. I saw that on the website and was expecting it to take that long. So when I got it in the mail the other day I did a little happy dance at the mailbox.

[Ut videam]

Be aware: the U.S. Department of State will not apostille an FBI background check. Sending your FBI check to them will only result in unnecessary delays and hassles.

Why? From the State Department website's page on apostille requirements (emphasis added):

[nashvegas]

That's wierd because when I called and asked they told me to send my crc. I just emailed the State Dept. so I'll let you know what I hear.

My crc also came with a letter signed by an FBI officer on official letterhead saying that they do not do an apostille. So I was informed to send the whole thing (CRC & letter) to Washington.

[Ut videam]

FBI:

[Ut videam]

[d.coles]

This is just my personal experience in New York:

I got an FBI check back in 3 weeks. All I got was my original fingerprint card stamped on the back. I took that to a notary. Then I went to the county clerk to have that verified, jumped on the train to NYC, went to the Secretary of State and in 10 minutes I had an apostille to go with my CRC. No problems at all. The whole process took less than 2 hours total.

[Ut videam]

[d.coles]

No, I didn't sign anything. I actually asked the notary if he was sure I didn't need to sign anything and he said no. When I had a copy of my degree apostilled I did have to sign a statement, but this time I didn't.