Korean Job Discussion Forums

[DHC]

Although the F-2 and F-f holders had a background check as part of the process to obtain their visas,employers can require police checks if you have had the visa for some time. Many Koreans are required to obtain police checks for employment and an F-2 or F-5 may also be required to obtain a police check. This check is free and easily obtained from the KR police.

[Chamchiman]

[ttompatz]

If I may jump in here...

Public schools have always (legally) required a CRC for employment.
The policy has not changed although it is still loosely enforced in some districts

This has always been a requirement (that was sometimes ignored in the past when schools hired directly instead of through programs like EPIK/GEPIK/ETIS) and had nothing to do with immigration requirements.

It is an employer's / employment requirement and not necessarily tied to the immigration E2 requirements that added the CRC last winter so even if you are F2/F4/F5, they will still likely ask for one if you are working in a PS.

For the person who was talking about a UNI job - I don't know if the recruiter/HR person was not aware of the difference or if it is a UNI policy to require it (outside of the E1/E2 requirement).

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[tob55]

I was specifically told (once when I applied for my F2-1 and once when I applied for my F5-9) the reason they hold onto my passport and other documents for the length of time they have them is that the immigration officials contact the US Embassy and do a search of any criminal history in my home country, which in this case is the USA. My F2-1 did not take as long to receive, but they still did a background check.

Again, I am not sure where people are getting their information, but my information was directly from immigration. NOW, it might be that the immigration office I went through had their own policies regarding this, but I don't think so. Immigration is not going to do any more (they may do less) than they are told to do.

Regarding the Korean CRC, I would still tell them (the potential employer) if they want one, go ahead and do it. F2-1 and F5-9 are not required to provide one. It takes time away from your job and as a foreigner doing it it takes more time because of the obvious communication issues. Been there, done that.

I am all for having people be checked out. We need to stop the people who have criminal history from gaining employment so they can cause more problems than already exist, but it is illegal and unreasonable to make a request for a CRC that isn't necessary and a duplication of the work immigration has already done. Talk about the left hand doesn't know what the right hand is doing.

ttompatz is right about the PS situation, but I have told my employer if they want one they will have to get it because I am not required by immigration to have one. The employer hee hawed around for a few days, then came back and said it was okay, I didn't need to get one. Here is what happened:

1. They exercised what they thought was their control over the situation.

2. I informed them of the law, i.e. immigration regulations regarding my F5-9 visa, which BTW is a permanent residency visa, and places a greater responsibility on my shoulders than even the F2-1 or other residency visas in this country.

3. They went and contacted the immigration office, who most likely told them, why are you wasting your time on this person when we have already done this?

4. They realized that I was right, which probably hurt more than anything else.

5. They saved face by coming back and saying, it's okay.

In fact, since receiving my F5-9 all the requests for the myriad of documents I have each year had to provide has ceased. The F5-9 has freed me in certain ways. I am not saying there are no problems, but life is much, much easier. I stick by my original comments on this. It is not required by law, regardless of the school's policy. If they want a CRC on me in the public school, go ahead, but I am not paying for the costs and I am not wasting my time to do something that has already been done.

This should also be the policy of those of you long term people on other visas who have not returned to your home country or other destinations in the world, i.e. you have remained IN Korea for more than a year or two without travel off the peninsula. A CRC is commonly only good for a period of 6 months. You have been in country for 1 - 2 years. Explain the logic of spending the money and effort to get a CRC when you haven't gone anywhere? Perhaps they should implement a system for those people to simply get a Korean CRC. That is easy to justify and keep track of. Just a suggestion, but probably not one that has been seriously considered.

[branchsnapper]

I left the country recently - I suppose most people do at least once a year. Does that make a big difference?

I suspect that if I am going for a job where the school really needs people - like the one I have now - I will encounter a willingness to "send away later" for my CRC as happened last September. However it seems that not getting my own CRC might hamper my efforts to get a job which has other decent candidates.

[barashkov1]

I read somewhere that the difference between an f-2 and f-2-1 is that in the case of the f-2 you don�t currently have a job in Korea, whereas for an f-2-1 you currently have a job in Korea, is that right?
I read that in the case of f-2 your wife needs to have a job and you need to submit proof of that, what about f-2-1? Is it ok if she doesn�t have a job?

[tob55]

For the F2 or F2-1 the immigration office looks at the employment of the person applying for the visa first and foremost. My wife wasn't working an outside job at the time of my application, and it was no problem. Immigration is simply interested in knowing that the individual applying for the F2 visa is gainfully employed and has a record of employment. I have heard of a few cases where individuals were turned away for F5-9 visas for this reason, but never the F2 unless it was a glaring red flag that popped up.

You are right about the F2-1 designation, and there is a list of the different code classifications, but I have been unable to get my hands on a copy of it. If anyone out there has a link or a copy of it, please pass it on so people will have more information about what the codes actually mean.

[barashkov1]

Here is some information about five of the types of visas:
http://korea.wikia.com/wiki/Korean_visa_types
This site distinguishes between the f-2 and f-2-1, so much for the "official" immigration site which doesn't seem to mention the difference.
Also the embassy websites have information about some of the different types of visas I think but not the f-visas.
tob55, I'm curious, did you have to show proof that you have 30 million in your bank account?

[tob55]

My proof for meeting the 30k or 30 million won rule was my employment contracts along with the savings and other assets we had available at the time. Remember, they are simply wanting to make sure you are gainfully employed and not going to be a drain on their culture or financial system. Children in the mix really gets them looking more closely, but others have said it was easier with children because they see right away you already have a vested interest in Korea. Not sure how that plays out, but we didn't have children during either times I applied, and it was no problem.

Thanks for the link. I will look at it, bookmark it, and keep it for referencing to others.

[cheeseface]

How do the Vietnamese brides get the F2 visa then? I doubt they are employed or have 30,000 sitting in a bank......

[branchsnapper]

I notice that on the CRC for UK citizens thread another person stated that F visa people need an extra CRC for public schools.

Since immigration is obviously not the problem, does anyone know who exactly requires this check? Does this rule extend to other government jobs, national universities etc?

[barashkov1]

[cheeseface]

[nobbyken]

Firstly, I'm not a Vietnamese bride and nice though they may be I don't want one just right now. Missus would kill me.

I was on a 90-day tourist visa when I married and got my F-2-1.
I had no employnent at the time, neither did my wife. We lived of some savings for 6 months after marriage.
We just had to show proof of home-ownership within the Korean family and a document from the Korean gu office to show relationship with homeowner (I suspect to show you won't be a homeless strain on the economy?). No job or finance needed.

Applying for F5 now. Been told to get a doc from my school proving employment and another from the gu office showing my wife and daughters relationship to me.
My wife got conflicting requirements from the Korean and English immi. websites. She phoned for clarification, and recieved 3 different requirements at 3 different times of the day! After explaining this to the 3rd person, they checked their facts and called her later with the correct information.

Don't believe everything you read on the web (not even this, if you want)

[cheeseface]

Strange how this thread disappeared after we mentioned that there is no need for CRC or 30,000k in the bank for Vietnamese brides......lol

I wonder how many Vietnamese brides have a CRC?

Stealing chickens my dear? No problem, go and marry a Korean.....