Korean Job Discussion Forums

[TBirdMG]

I just got through with a slightly confusing conversation with my recruiter.

She states that Korean immigration will accept the original BA diploma or a notarized copy of the BA made at a Korean Consulate/Embassy. Either one should be accompanied by sealed transcripts.

So I asked if an apostilled copy of my BA would suffice, and she said no.

Is she correct? Does anyone have experience with submitting an apostilled BA copy, and if so, the results?

I don't live in a city with a Korean Consulate, and there is no way in hell I am making an in-person visit. Nor do I want to send the original diploma in the mail. My recruiter just said..."Of course it's safe. Your PS will hold the diploma for you until you arrive and then give it back to you...."

I am sure immigration will put greasy ink stamps ALL over it, and then the school will use it as a doormat...only to wipe it off the day after I arrive. I will find it placed between the glass tabletop and green felt, right?

[icicle]

I have sent my originals twice to Korea for E2 visa application and both times I have been given them straight back totally undamaged as soon as I arrived in the country .... I am well aware of the people who give dire warnings about not doing it ... But the truth is that if something did happen to them I can replace them ... And in Australia at least the cost of apostilling the degrees $80+... (including cost of having the copy notorised/verified first as would be required before it could be apostiled) would have been around twice the cost of requesting a new original

So consider that ... If you look on the Korean Immigration website you will also see that there is a third option which employers can take to verify your degree ... but that is not something that you can do ...

Do you really want to work for someone who you can't even trust to look after your original diplomas?

If you really don't want to travel to the consulate to get them certified you do also have the option of mailing the copy and original to them ... and then having them sent back to you .... but that is not without its own risks ...

[TBirdMG]

I'm sure that immigration has improved over the years. Still, the previous time I worked in Korea, I submitted a letter of graduation confirmation from my school. I was issued the visa in July for an August departure, and had to bring my newly minted BA diploma with me. Upon arrival, I submitted it to immigration for confirmation, and an officer promptly examined it and then stamped it in blue and red ink all over the place. For all practical purposes, it was ruined. I stood in front of the immi officer, quietly asking to myself 'what the hell is he doing...'

Anyways, in my state, document apostille costs just $3, and I live less than 10 minutes from the gov. office. As a precautionary measure, I could order a replacement BA diploma for $50, but it takes 4-6 weeks for processing and delivery.

I am 400 miles away from the closest Korean Consulate, and have been told that I "may" need my diploma for the interview. Then I was told that, as a previous E-2 holder, that I "may not" need the interview at all. Then I was told "maybe" I can have the "maybe/maybe not" interview by videoconference.

It's not that I don't trust the recruiter. It's just that I know that Koreans tend to present the best case scenario, leave out critical pieces of information, communicate only what they feel is necessary, and then expect you to "go with the flow" when something less than ideal happens.

I've been through enough hoops the first time around that I want the smoothest, and most transparent, process the second time around.

Once on the ground, things are usually pretty good. It's getting off the ground that's the toughest part...

And this whole mad cow demonstration in Seoul is helping things much.....

[Bibbitybop]

Call immigration at 1345. They told me my 2 year old notarized copy was good enough, so I wrote down the officer's name b/c other officers say they are not good anymore. ??????????????????? Fucking sparkling.

[dasmith2]

If you don't want to send your degree to Korea you must do the following:

1) Take your original degree (and photo ID) to a lawyer or notary public (or Apostille if you are in the US). The lawyer/apostille/notary public will photocopy your degree, attach a letterhead explaing (in legal terminology) that it is a true copy of your degree, sign it, and affix his seal to it.
2) Take your notarized photocopy AND your original, with a university sealed transcript and your ID to your nearest Korean consulate. If you are not close enough to go in yourself, you can mail it. If that's the case, you can include a photocopy of you ID rather than your original ID. The consulate will affix the consular seal for 2 dollars (US) or 2.20 (CAD).

If you need to mail the documents to your nearest consulate, you HAVE to include a prepaid return envelope or they will NOT send your documents back to you. You will also have to pay for a money order for the fee (which is a total rip-off, but if its your only option you have no choice).

When you arrive in Korea you will have to present you original degree, but at least at that point it won't be leaving your hands for too long

Oh, and depending on where you are the cost of getting your degree photocopied and notarized varies. I am from a small town, with one lawyer and she did mine free of charge. I had two copies done. My boyfriend, was in Vancouver and a lawyer there charged me 170 dollars. So call around, and ask how much they charge before you go!

[icicle]

Dasmith2 .... Can you please post a link about where you got this information ? This information is different to what I have read in several different places including on the Korean Immigration website ... Who or where told you that this is what you must do? It is also definitely NOT what is required in Australia to get a copy verified at the Embassy/Consulate (which is one of the options accepted by Korean Immigration).

This is a link to the website which gives 4 options available to people to meet the diploma requirement for applying for the E2 visa:

http://www.hikorea.go.kr/pt/InfoDetailR_en.pt?categoryId=2&parentId=382&catSeq=385&showMenuId=374

In Australa taking the Apostile route would cost at least $80 dollars because that is the amount which is charged by Department of Foreign Affairs to do the Apostile (which is the only option for Apostile open to us)

[dasmith2]

[icicle]

However, it is true that the situation re Apostiles is different in Canada because Canada is not a party to the International Apostile agreement which covers the other countries who are eligible to apply for E2 visas.

This is why there are different procedures applying to verification/apostile required on Criminal Record Checks for people from Canada and all the other countries. In Canada the CRC needs to be verified by the Consulate and for the other countries it needs to be Apostiled by the relevant authorities in the given country. (With different procedures applying to CRC's for people who are physically located in Korea at the time).

So while your great outline of procedures does apply in Canada (And if I was in Canada it would be very useful) ... It is different to the other countries including the US, because Canada is outside of the Apostile agreement

[Fresh Prince]

You should probably call up your consulate and ask them what they require; the rules seem to change all time and aren't consistent.

It's probably easiest to go to your bank and have them make a copy of your diploma and notarize it: A lot of banks will do that for free but some charge for it. Then find out what state office performs apostilles--it's probably called secretary of state or something along those lines--then pay the fee and get the copy apostilled. The apostille will be a nice emblem or stamp of some sort that they will attach to the notarized copy.

[icicle]

[tired of LA]

[TBirdMG]

I love the fact that threads evolve to the point of nothingness sometimes.
Folks, look at what the OP asked you.....

Giving advice on how to notarize a diploma in Canada, or notarizing a xerox copy of your butt in England is the furthest thing on my mind.....

I just wanted to hear from anyone who had experience (success or failure) in attempting to submit an apostilled BA diploma in lieu of the real McCoy or a Korean consulate notarized version.

As Admiral Akbar said...'stay on target'....

[dasmith2]

[dasmith2]

[icicle]