Korean Job Discussion Forums

[moosehead]

WORD -

my new E2 visa has just been approved - and since I am in K, I submitted an online CBC from a state in the U.S., then I made a statement that this was, indeed me, and I left a signature line on it but did NOT sign it until I went to the American Embassy FIRST

They provided their own affidavit which was notarized and allowed me to sign my statement. The US Embassy affidavit attests to the fact that was, indeed me, signing my statement - yes you need your passport for this.

I paid 30,000 won and they notarized it with the official seal of the Embassy.

there's been mention on here of being able to do this but I've yet to hear of anyone who did - so no, you do NOT need the fingerprints, FBI, etc. if you are ALREADY HERE AND HAVE HAD A PREVIOUS E-2 VISA.

Just for good measure, yes, I included one from a K police station.

and of course, after Mar 15th all might be different!

anyway I hope this helps anyone here and worried about this aspect of your app

[plus99]

yeah, this is good. it looks to me like washington state is easiest way to do this. i think it costs 10 bucks.


i think march 15 is only about renewals, if this is a totally new visa i think you past through all of the new requirements.

[moosehead]

yes this is a new visa but again I've had one (several) previously

[Ut videam]

You stated the CBC was online, but was it from a government authority (state police, etc.) or a private company? Just curious.

[plus99]

yeah and im curious which state it was from. im planning on trying washington state because my home state doesnt do online checks. this whole thing will be a breeze if there is no hassle about not having a previous address.

[moosehead]

it was a state one - I'd rather not say which one - but it was very cheap.

I printed it out on nice color paper so all the headings were there, the state seal (picture) etc.

[UncleAlex]

Is there any Canadian on-line route, I wonder? I just finished a contract and have been teaching in Korea for over the past ten years, but I still have to provide the CBC document from the RCMP to get a new job. I can see this as a requirement for new comers to Korea. Is the situation the same in Japan and Taiwan? I might go there and screw this BS.

[Ut videam]

Immigration has updated the E-2 regulations on their website to reflect the fact that applicants already in Korea can get their background checks authenticated with an affidavit/declaration at their embassy.

From the Immigration Guide at the HiKorea web site:

[A2Steve]

will the US embassy notartize an online criminal background check for a zitizen?

I left Korea at literally the worst time- the day all these changes in immigration were announced. I was able to get back by the start of the new year, and figured I could sort things out in the year I had on a new visa.

So is it acceptable to have a crominal background check done online and notarized at the embassy?

I figure I will have to send my degree and transcripts back to America to have them taken care of, but if the background check can be taken care of so easily, that solves a lot of the problems I see for myself.

So if anyone can answer this for me, it's grearly appreciated.

[Ut videam]

First of all, your original degree and transcripts do not need to be notarized or apostilled. (If you intend to submit a copy of your diploma, it must be apostilled.) If you have them (and the transcripts are less than 6 months old), you're good. If the transcripts are more than 6 months old, you'll have to order new sets from your university.

Next, online checks from states or local authorities may be acceptable (the OP is a case in point). Online checks from private firms are not. This has been a point of confusion: early on, an Immigration official indicated in a newspaper article that private online checks would be OK, but this was later contradicted by KImmi on their website.

And finally, if you are already in Korea, you can get your background check authenticated at the embassy. But it's not exactly simple. The embassy will NOT directly notarize the background check. Therefore, you will need to execute an affidavit swearing to the source and authenticity of the background check, attach the background check, sign the affidavit at the embassy in the presence of an official, and they'll notarize it.

Detailed procedure and example affidavit: http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?p=1485586#1485586. You could also contact the OP, as he has successfully completed this process.

[A2Steve]