Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Smee]

Hi, somebody asked me about getting a VSS, so I'm curious to hear recenet experiences.

He is a Canadian citizen who has lived in Australia the past three years. He'll be going back to Canada for a short time to visit his famly and wants to know if he can get his VSS done in person in Toronto. There is still discrepency because VSSs aren't to be used for foreign jobs. Do you know how long it would take? As there was a three-month grace period I assume you don't just walk out the embassy with it? Does he need to bring anything from his future hagwon or any visa-related paperwork with him when he gets the VSS?

Also, are in-person embassy interviews still required? He would need to have this done in Toronto, correct?

Thanks in advance.

[Smee]

*bump*

[moosehead]

wtf is a VSS?

[Smee]

Sorry, it's a Vulnerable Sector Screening that's now required of Canadians applying for E-2 visas. I guess---I'm not Canadian, so I don't know---it's required of Canadians back home who want to work with children or with the elderly, and this fall Korea decided to make it mandatory, too. Thing is Korea did this w/o checking with the Canadian Embassy first, meaning the Embassy had no idea about any of this. Turns out some of the demands made by immigration were impossible, and so there has been some changes.

http://briandeutsch.blogspot.com/2008/11/more-difficulties-for-canadian-english.html

http://briandeutsch.blogspot.com/2008/11/some-interesting-remarks-from-canadian.html

Anyway, somebody emailed me about this but rather than just telling him things that were true two months ago, or saying "well, it SHOULD be this way but you never know" I'm curious if anyone has any first-hand experience.

[Big Mac]

He can get a criminal background check with a vulnerable sector search very easily from this website:

http://www.cbmpara.ca:80/

I got my background check via this method and it was accepted by Korean immigration with no problems. He could probably get it in person from the RCMP or provincial police force like the OPP, but they may or may not give him a VSS and it might take a lot longer. To save the hassle, I would just go through this website. After getting the check he will probably have to get it notarized. I got mine notarized in Korea at the Canadian Embassy in Seoul, but I'm not sure what the process is for someone who is in Canada. Maybe someone else can answer that question.

As far as I know, first-timers are still required to do interviews at the consulate, but that won't be a problem if he is in Toronto, since there is a consulate there.

You don't need anything from your employer to get a criminal background check and VSS. All you need is your driver's licence number.

[oldtactics]

I got my CRC with VSS from a local small town police station and it was ready within 5 days. Consulate in Toronto accepted it, no problems. $10.

VSS has nothing to do directly with the visa application - Most, if not all of us, received our CRC with VSS before we even had a job secured in Korea.

Notarization process:
Take CRC (and diploma if you don't want to send the original) to notary public lawyer in Toronto - I went to a walk-in notary on Richmond St. downtown and the process took about 4 minutes. Cost about $40

Drive to the Korean Consulate, take a number, wait, wait, wait, wait, give notarized documents/ID/etc to lovely consulate employee, receive consulate-notarized paperwork. Costs $2.20 per page.

There's details about the exact paperwork that you need to bring on the Consulate website, and there's a coin photocopier there if you need to copy your passport/whatever else.

[moosehead]

I don't get it - is it just for Canadians??

why?

[Smee]

It's required of Canadians back home, and thus Korea decided to require it of Canadians here.

Sounds like a real pain in the ass it to make it materialize out of the blue.

[polonius]

If he is going to Toronto, he can get it done at the commissionnaires office. Find info at www.commissionnaires.ca

Then he needs to get it notarized by a Notary, then to the Korean embassy for a stamp.

Moosehead, A VSS is something is implemented for people working specifically with children and handicapped people. All criminal background info is on this, including any charges that were dropped.

Technically it goes against the Canadian Privacy Act for Korean immigration to be asking for this.

[Ice Tea]

Why is everyone always trying to plug these private services like commissionaires? Do you get paid to promote these sites.

Photocopy your id and mail it to Winnipeg Police with an application form. They process it in under a week and mail it back to you. Then get a notary stamp on it. Done.

[chachee99]

I received my RCMP criminal record check last week. I have no idea if they performed a VSS search or not. All it says is there are no records or convictions on my name provided. At the bottom are a copy of my finger prints and seal from the RCMP. Isn't this enough proof? If not how to I get a VSS search done?

[Smee]

I received another email from him that said the woman at the Toronto police headquarters said they don't issue VSSs unless authorized by a company to do so. Maybe she just didn't understand the question?

[Dude Ranch]