Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Aoisagi]

Hi everyone. I was wondering... when you get your background check, do you make a photocopy of it and get that notarized? Or do you notarize the original document? Or does it even matter?

Thanks a lot!

[ironclad80]

original

[egrog1717]

I took mine to be notorized and there was no "box" on it for the notory to stamp (according to the gentleman I took it to)... So he made a notorized copy for me and I used that... SMOE hasn't questioned it in the year and a half I've been here

(Then again, I also sent them a colour photocopy of my degree, un-notorized, and they've never asked to see anything else... So they're not really on the ball )

[Deep Thirteen]

You can do notarized/apostilled photocopies of them. I kept my original just in case I needed to make another.

[pangaea]

Immigration has to have the original that is notarized and apostilled. Not sure about copies. Maybe the same office can notarize and apostille copies for you and I guess that would make them just as legal as the original. I would just submit the original and not take any chances with immigration rejecting your background check.

[Aoisagi]

Thanks for the replies. Another question which may sound silly but here goes... to get a document notarized, it has to be done by a public notary correct? I've been reading around and I've read that the Korean consulate notarizes your documents. What does that mean? Doesn't a lawyer have to do it? Or can I just get my background check done and head straight to the consulate?

[T-Bone]

Aoisagi, what country are you in?

In the US (where I am), a notary public notarizes the document. In my state they can only charge up to five dollars; some states go as high as ten. A notary public does not have to be a lawyer -- though some lawyers are also notaries public.

You can find a notary public at many postal/shipping places around here; also just check your local yellow pages for "notary public." One shouldn't be too hard to find.

I just sent off for my background check, and fortunately for me, there was a box to check to also have them notarize it.

I used to be a notary public myself. All you have to do to get it is to pass a simple multiple choice test (and not be a criminal), so it's not some huge specialized skill.

[Loza]

Can anyone confirm that this document HAS TO BE less than 3 months old when you make your visa application? (When I made my last visa application in July 2009, less than 6months old was fine). I can't find info on Hi Korea site.

I am working in Korea now -finish my contract in July. I will move cities in August. But I haven't started job hunting yet. It takes such along time time to get the crim record check from New Zealnd and then I don't want it to get out of date before I actually find a new job and apply for visa!

How annoying!

[Deep Thirteen]

There is a 6 month shelf life, but recently, some people have said they've been getting trouble if it not under 3 months.

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=170192&highlight=cbc++months

[Aoisagi]

T-Bone -> I'm in Canada. I figure it will be the same as the US minus the apostille. Did you notarize the original or a photocopy?

Loza -> It has to be less than 6 months from the time it gets submitted to immigration.

[T-Bone]

Aoisagi:

I jest set off my form to the State. On the form there was a y/n box for if I wanted it notarized. Therefore, this will be the original document for me. I sure hope it doesn't get lost and whatnot