Korean Job Discussion Forums

[640x480]

I just got a letter from the State of CT saying that upon search no record was found under my name and birth date. They returned the form I sent as well. No record found for $25.00? ugh

Shouldn't they have a record even if I never got in trouble?

[Colorado]

If you never got in trouble, they shouldn't have a record.
You have no criminal record in CT.

[640x480]

Really? Is this what everyone else got back as well? That would be a sigh of relief then!

So I should get this letter of 'no record' apostilled right?

[Colorado]

Yes you should.

[diablo3]

No record = no criminal record.

[Ramen]

[Zaria32]

No record found means we didn't find a criminal record...it's what you want!

[MSU Fan]

If they wrote this down and it is official, then you should be all set. I had the same thing for my criminal record, expecting some big drawn out documentation, but all I got was "no record." Like everyone above said, that is what you want.

$25 may seem like a rip off, but remember that a professional is required to look up this information and if you are adopted, had priors in CT or another state, have had your name changed, etc. it will take longer and cost the state more. I'm from Michigan and it took 2-3 weeks for me to get mine. I read in the local paper that a number of people, from criminals to pimply teens applying for college had to go through this same process. It sucks, but red tape is always expensive, wasteful, and is a true tortoise and the hare. Why else would red tape have a bad reputation?

[mountainous]

right, if you "have a criminal record," that's bad...

[canstanza2007]

640 X 480 dO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME AND MONEY GETTING YOUR CRC APOSTILLED, CHECK OUT INFO BENEATH...GOOD LUCK


PostPosted: Wed Apr 02, 2008 9:27 pm Post subject: GUIDE: AUTHENTICATING A BACKGROUND CHECK FROM WITHIN KOREA Reply with quote
(Mods, may I humbly suggest that this information merits a sticky?)

Background

On March 24, Korean Immigration announced several revisions to the E-2 visa regulations in order to simplify the process. The English translation of the announcement was posted on April 1. One of the changes regarded the authentication requirements for criminal background checks:
Quote:
In order to improve the documentation system for an E-2 visa applicants who got the criminal record certificate issued from his/her home country while staying in Korea or came to Korea imminently without proper Apostille certification, the verification of the consul in Korea on the criminal record certificate will be also regarded as valid.
(http://www.immigration.go.kr/HP/IMM80/imm_09/focus.jsp)

The problem with this is that many of the embassies in Korea have stated that they cannot/will not authenticate a background check. They will notarize a legal declaration from the applicant stating that his/her background check is authentic. But there has been some question as to whether that notarized declaration will be acceptable to Immigration. Therefore, I sought further clarification by e-mail from Lee Dong-wook (이동욱) a Deputy Director (사무관) at the Korea Immigration Service, Ministry of Justice. He provided the following answers:
Quote:
An affidavit or statutory declaration with regard to the criminal record check (attached) notarized by one's embassy in Korea is sufficient to authenticate a background check.
(http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?p=1584905#1584905)
Quote:
But nowadays, we(KIS) are accepting all the notarization from the embassies here in Korea. For example, an American citizen can go to the American embassy and make a self-declaratory statement in front of the consular officer there.
(http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?p=1590259#1590259)

This reliably establishes the acceptability of a consular-notarized declaration to authenticate a background check.

Procedure

The procedure for authenticating a background check at your home country's embassy in Korea is generally the same for all applicants. The only major differences arise in the name and format of the legal statement used.

For Canadian citizens, the legal form is called a statutory declaration. The Canadian Embassy in Seoul spells out the procedure on their website:
Quote:
For criminal record check, RCMP or local police certificate will be acceptable. Once a police certificate is received, one has to bring it to the Canadian Embassy in Seoul or to the Honorary Consulate in Busan with a statutory declaration (The form can be obtained both at the Embassy and at the Consulate) to have it notarised.
(http://www.dfait-maeci.gc.ca/world/embassies/korea/menu-en.asp, "Korea tightens visa rules for foreign instructors")

For American citizens, the process is similar, but the legal form is an affidavit. Once you receive the background check (issued by federal, state, or local authorities per Immigration regs), bring it to the U.S. Embassy and ask to fill out an affidavit�they have blank forms available. On that affidavit, you will state that you obtained the attached background check from (name of agency), and that the attached document is authentic, true, correct, unaltered, etc. Attach your background check to that form, sign it before the consular officer, and have them notarize it. The fee is $30.00. (http://seoul.usembassy.gov/notarial_services.html, "Administration of Oath")



Contacts

If you encounter any difficulties in this process, there are several points of contact available to assist you.

At the U.S. Embassy, Mr. Hale VanCoughnett is familiar with Korean Immigration's regulations and has been in contact with them regarding this matter.

If a local immigration office is reluctant to accept a background check authenticated by this method, contact Mr. Namil Choi (최남일) at the Korea Immigration Service. According to Mr. Lee at Immigration, Mr. Choi's opinion is the final word on E-2 visa matters�he trumps the officers in the branch offices. His office number is (02) 500-9068.
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