Korean Job Discussion Forums

[April6]

My husband and I are in the process of negotiating contracts with CDI. Originally, the school wanted us to mail our original diplomas to them before going. We obtained official letters from our universities stating that we graduated, when and our majors. We are in the process of getting these notarized/ apostatized.

Our contact says it is fine for us to mail these instead but we must arrive with our original diplomas in hand. He said that this is standard procedure, and all school require such. So far in our correspondence he's neglected to specify if we will keep them or CDI will want to hold them for a spell.

Both of our universities have told us that there is only one diploma. They cannot make an official copy if lost or stolen. Scary thought, especially considering it might be a requirement for a future job down the road.

Was our CDI contact correct? Do you hagwon teachers have your original diplomas there? Where do you store it? I am envisioning school hallways lined with framed diplomas...

(Also, for those of you at CDI: If you would message / email me with a note regarding your experiences at CDI it would be most welcome / comforting. Especially you married ones - my husband and I have questions. I cannot send private messages - my account is too new - and few who write about CDI have posted their emails. =D Thanks.)

Thanks.

[DongtanTony]

Some will request your original and it's basically a big red flag.

You have your certified letter...if you go through the correct verification procedures of your letter (e.g., notarization and apostille if you're American...or notarization and consular seal if you're Canadian.........or, Embassy affidavit when in Korea)....they do not need your original diploma for anything.

They don't need it for your visa...if you have your letter verified.

They don't need it for your ARC...if everything is kosher.

The only reason hagwons...small and large...request your original is to prevent you from running if things go bad.

If you hand over your original...and in your case, since you cannot be issued another copy from your university...you can't pull a runner without requesting your original and causing a fight with your employer.

Since your original is so valuable...under no circumstances should you hand it over...if they resist...find another job because that is a huge red flag.

Side note---if you do end up signing with CDI, I implore you to consider the salary option instead of the hourly option. CDI is the single biggest offender in Korea when it comes to screwing people out of medical, pension, and paid housing because of their hourly remuneration option. The numbers look big...but when you factor in rent that you will pay...any medical costs you may incur while in Korea...and your loss of pension....truly, they come out to about equal. CDI perpetuates illegal employment practices under the guise of a boat load of cash. Consider your options carefully when negotiating with this place. Good luck.

[R. S. Refugee]

I know you can get consulate-certified copies of your diploma at the Korean consulate back in you home country. But I don't know of anyway to get a certified copy like that while you're in Korea without sending it to the consulate back in your home country.

IF there is please tell me how. I would like to get some acceptable copies for future use.

I had a few that I got at the Korean consulate back in Seattle before I came over. But I don't have them anymore. I was going to send my original back to the Korean consulate in Seattle to get some more. But, if there is a way to get certified, acceptable copies here in Korea, I would certainly appreciate hearing about it.

Thanks.

[Ms.G]

I sent in an apostilled version to get the job and my guidelines also said to bring the original. I decided not to and haven't been asked about it yet (one month in). I wouldn't worry about it, if they have the apostilled version that is just as good and it should be accepted. My diploma is also one of a kind, I want to protect it!! Good luck.

[Monkey82]

How long does it take to have the original degrees certified at the embassy?

Can I send it to my parents and have them do it? Can someone please explain what exactly this procedure is? Thanks.

[moosehead]

with all due respect - who at your uni's told you there is only 1 diploma?

what if it's destroyed in a fire? etc etc? they won't issue another one?

my original original is in a safety deposit box back in the u.s. my uni prints out all the "originals" I want for a small fee - maybe $7 or so. I swear you can't tell the difference, has a gold seal and everything.

I've used these for several years here, no problem, they are always returned to me (except once I had to ask) but have a couple of spares.

I'd squiggle up the ladder a bit and see about getting other copies. personally, I can't imagine why anyone would bring their true original over here, too many horror stories.

[plynx]

i've given my original degree to two separate companies...and gotten it back...twice. the places i have worked have returned it immediately after all of my paperwork is processed. i'm about to send it out again. it's a piece of paper. it can be reprinted, despite what your university says.

[bobbybigfoot]

I mailed in my original degree last year. Got it back once all the paperwork was done.

I've handed over my original degree again and expect it back promptly again.