Korean Job Discussion Forums

[stevieg4ever]

I just had the first interview with SMOE and have sent in the first round of documents. The man who interviewed me said it is more than likely I will be selected.

Having done EPIK for 1 year and having applied through the Korean embassy in London I seem to recall just handing everything to them and getting the visa.

But SMOE seems a lot different according to the Korea Connections website (and confusing too).

1) Firstly the degree, this is from their website:

"Original degree or degree confirmation certificate with apostille authenticated on it. You must get it notarized at a Notary Public first in order to get it apostilled."

I have my original degree in tact. Do I either submit this or a notarized and then apostilled certificate?

2) The criminal background check. For UK applicants does this have to be 'apostilled' as well? If so how and where can you do this from? How long does it take?

3) Lastly, do you need two sets of documents? It seems that a set of docs has to be courriered to Korea Connections in Korea and continually mentions the 'immigration office'. But are the same documents not required for the E2 visa?

thanks

[Andyc24_uk]

Your ORIGINAL degree certificate is fine. If you send a copy, it needs to be apostilled, and there's arguably a greater chance of some ignorant immigration official deciding not to accept it.

You need your Criminal Check apostilled. If it's the police check, and it's got the correct signature on it, then you should just be able to send it to the Foreign Office apostille peopel in milton Keynes; if you have the CRB basic desclosure from Disclosure Scotland, or it isn't signed, then you'll need to get a Notary Public to sign it - try Kidd Rapinett solicitors in london who do it for �5 (Google them).

You need 2 sets of original transcripts from your university, sealed.

These should be sent to the recruiter, who will collate things and send them on to the office of education.

Hope this helps!

[stevieg4ever]

Thanks for all that. If this is sent to the recruiter, then what docs are required for the embassy re the visa?

[the ireland]

[stevieg4ever]

Right so I get the visa number after I have received the contract and documents back from the recruiter. Thanks

[JD_Tiberius]

Wait, they are doing interviews already? It says on the EPIK website that applications submitted before April 1st will be invalid. They really do say one thing and then do another huh?

[morrisonhotel]

[Andyc24_uk]

As theireland said, in addition to the documents above, you also need passport photos (I've heard varying reports over whether it's 2 or 3 - I usually send 3 to be safe),
the self-certification health check form (downloadable here http://www.gone2korea.com/document-downloads/Health-Statement.pdf),
the application form (http://www.gone2korea.com/document-downloads/Application-For-Visa-Britain.pdf)
and the Consul's Checklist form (http://www.gone2korea.com/document-downloads/E2-Visa-Consulate-Questionaire.pdf)

Your recruiter should also Email you a copy of the contract with the school. You'll need to print and sign that and send it back to them with the rest of the stuff.

Then, the recruiter/school will send all your documents plus some stuff of their own to Immigration, and in about 10 days they should recieve a Visa Application Number. They Email this to you, you call the Korean Embassy in London and arrange a time for a quick interview (if needed) and then head down there with your application number, passport and visa fee. They may also ask for another copy of the consul's checklist at this point - when you call them, ask if there's anything else you need to bring).

Your visa will take a couple of days to be processed, the you can pick up your passport and you're ready to go - you must enter Korea and activate the visa within 3 months of receiving it.

[English Matt]

If you get your CRB via the police, in the form of a Subject Access request, then you shouldn't need it apostilled. I tried to get mine apostilled, but was told that as it had been issued by a government body it did not need to be apostilled and they wouldn't do it for me. Additionally, GEPIK wanted 2 copies of the CRB, however I only ordered 1 and then found out it couldn't be photocopied (not without the word FRAUD printed across the centre of the page). In the end GEPIK were satisfied with the one unapostilled copy. I would suggest that if you go this route that you order several copies of the CRB at the same time....�10 a pop, last time I checked anyway.

Disclosure Scotland is quicker for CRBs but about 3 or 4 times more expensive and then you have to get it signed by a solicitor and then apostilled by the FCO (both of which are going to cost more money and add a bit of time to proceedings).

Go the Subject Access Route and you will have to wait up to 40 days for the CRB; go the Disclosure Scotland route and you will get your CRB within about a week and, if you are quick, can get it signed and apostilled within another week.


N.B. You may not get a visa number......I didn't with GEPIK. I just got 2 copies of my contract (signed by my school) returned to me in the UK. I took that along to the embassy, along with three passport photos and my passport, filled out a few forms, and then returned a week later to pick up my passport with visa. I was told that for public school jobs the embassy in London does not usually bother with interviews.

[nautilus]

[Savant]

[stevieg4ever]

SMOE is different from EPIK my Scottish friend.

[stevieg4ever]

Thanks for the reply. This is how I remember the process. I never had anything apostilled before. Ill make sure I order 2 copies of the crb check and go from there.

[stevieg4ever]

It should be through your police station i believe or online.

here is the page:
http://www.met.police.uk/information/request_forms.htm

Feel free to correct if I am mistaken.

[JD_Tiberius]