Korean Job Discussion Forums

Tribal · Joined: 27 Dec 2008

So my new school has had all of my visa paperwork for quite some time now, including the apostille. Now they're telling me that immigration is only accepting the original diploma. I believe that's how it used to be, but can anyone tell me if this is again policy? I looked on immigration's website and found nothing (though it's a convoluted site).

It seems utterly ridiculous not to accept apostille - as if to say that immigration doesn't believe California's Secretary of State. So I'm wondering if they aren't somehow playing games. Whattya think?

TBirdMG · Joined: 09 Dec 2006 Location: SF, CA, USA

This is news to me.

Immigration SHOULD accept a copy of your diploma as long as it is BOTH notarized and contains an Apostille.

I was provided a visa issuance # from Seoul immi. with a copy of diploma.
Are you using Seoul immi or bondocks immi?

hockeyguy109 · Joined: 22 Dec 2008 Location: Daegu

Hey tribal-
I hope you're wrong. I sent an apostilled/notarized letter of graduation verification in with my visa documents, but still haven't heard anything back. The recruiter said an apostille was all I needed, but who knows.

Out of curiosity, how long ago did you send your documents over to Korea? I sent mine about 25 days ago and still waiting to hear back from them with my number to go to the consulate with.

When I first started talking to the recruiter, he made it sound like I was going to be able to get over there quite shortly after graduation...but that was 2 months ago. Funny how they get you all excited and then you end up sitting around for weeks waiting for their e-mail.

TBirdMG · Joined: 09 Dec 2006 Location: SF, CA, USA

You should never fully trust a recruiter. Deadlines mean nothing. If they are truly in a rush to get you to Korea, then tell them to provide a prepaid one way ticket. Otherwise, it is all conjecture and they will keep you hanging and waiting until the school and recruiter are completely comfortable. If you are paying for a one way reimbursable flight, my suggestion is to give them a deadline for being in-country or you will back out and find another job. Remember...until the visa has been issued by the embassy/consulate...nothing really matters, and nothing is carved in stone.
Don't sit around waiting for some recruiter to expedite the visa. Drive the boat yourself.....

ReeseDog · Joined: 05 Apr 2008 Location: Classified

Nobody's getting my original anything. They can be happy with notarapostillecertiblessedbyabishop copies or they can choke on them.

blonde researcher · Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 12:57 pm Post subject:

double post in error

blonde researcher · Posted: Tue Feb 10, 2009 12:58 pm Post subject:

The recruiter is telling you a lie. The Apostilled copy diploma by the State secretary is all that is required to go to immigration for a visa. These were the new rules last year. I suspect you are being deliberately delayed because the school has either not got its own papers for immigration in order or they are waiting to see how many students enroll for the March new semester.
If enough students do not enroll they are likely to not continue with the process for you and give a you a story about delays and problems 'beyond their control'. Is it a newly opening school you are going to? they may not have the school registered yet and they cannot put your papers into immigration until this happens
25 days is more than a normal delay, you need to get true answers from your recruiter quick. If you send your original diploma they then are trapping you because right now you could have submitted the same set of documents into any job and got a visa. First employer in with papers gets the visa number. Looks like the schools is covering its options all ways to me.

Tribal · Joined: 27 Dec 2008

TBirdMG · Joined: 09 Dec 2006 Location: SF, CA, USA

Tribal -- just move on. You can do much, much better. Get another set of documents prepared ASAP and start soliciting for a new job elsewhere.

Tribal · Joined: 27 Dec 2008

the oak llama · Joined: 05 Dec 2008

Does anyone else know for certain...

Is a notarized apostilled letter of proof of graduation accepted in place of a diploma by immigration?

Has it worked for you or someone you know?

My girlfriend called the consulate to ask but there was a bit of a language barrier problem so we didn't really get an answer.

Immigration website says that you can send "certificate of graduation that lists acquisition of diploma" apostilled. I have seen people say that this is not the case though.

More importantly, is it wrong for me to assume that anything that meets immigration requirements will therefore meet the consulate's requirements -- as far as documents? I really don't understand the connection between the two.

Thanks.

MissMaggie · Joined: 23 Jan 2009 Location: Jeju

I'm Canadian, going through the Toronto Consulate. My recruiter spoke to seoul twice and I called the consulate just to be sure: If you are working in a public school, a letter of completion is adequate (notarized, then notarized again at the consulate). If it's a hagwon, you need the actual degree.

Tobias · Joined: 02 Jun 2008

gnomead · Joined: 28 Jan 2009

Not to hijack the thread or anything, but I'm trying to avoid being in the same situation, so rather than start a new one...

bassexpander · Joined: 13 Sep 2007 Location: Someplace you'd rather be.

If it's not true, it sounds like a trick to get (and hold) your original diploma.