Korean Job Discussion Forums

[AaronPSU777]

Pretty simple, last hagwon I worked at I was assured by my recruiter I would get my diploma back when I arrived at the school. Once I arrived however I was informed that diplomas were held as "insurance".

Now on the second go around I'd like to think I'm a little older and wiser. I'm applying at a public school and they're telling me I need to send my original diploma again. For the life of me I cannot possibly imagine why they would need to see the actual original document, especially when it's not even a secure document. Nowhere in business do you send out your original documentation; you keep it and send copies. If necessary get them notarized and apostilled, but thats it. What I'm thinking of doing is just sending them apostilled copies of my diplomas and seeing what they say, thoughts?

[Goon-Yang]

Copied diploma and sealed transcripts is the way to get an E-2 visa. If your recruiter doesn't know this...he's useless.

[grant gerstners]

[jamiemexi]

If the recruiter ask you to give them the original diploma, you should ask the recruiter if a copy would work because no one would actually give them a real one unless he or she has to. What if you need the real diploma for another job later on and they keep it? Also, what if they mess up your diploma/document (rip or tear).

This is what I would do... I would ask them if it's possible to get my degree color copy, notarize and apostille. 90% of recruiters would accept this.

If you're in South Korea and you have a U.S. document/diploma that would be tough to do, but you can contact Apostille Pros @ www.apostillepros.com They handle background checks, notary, apostille, certified translation.

[AaronPSU777]

[mmstyle]

Aaron, it sounds like your recruiter is woefully uninformed. I work for a PS, know many who do, and I don't know anyone who would send the original at this stage. You could end up having it held hostage again.

I don't know about your uni, but mine would send relatively inexpensive reissued diplomas that are, for all intents and purposes, originals. You could call and see if your uni does that. Barring that, I would not send an original. Call immi yourself, they should confirm that you only need to send a notarized, apostilled copy of the original, and you can tell the recruiter the same, and tell her to call immi!

However, if your uni will send new "originals" (at my school, they look the same, but bigger, and are very official looking) that might actually be a cheaper option. Not all schools will do this, and at some schools it is very expensive.

[freakyaye852]

Recruiter is wrong:

This is the information I read:

A certificate of degree(Applicants may choose one of the following)
- Original copy of the diploma (will be returned to the applicant
after making a copy and having it sealed as a legitimate copy)
- Copy of the diploma (verified by the Korean consulate or attached
with documents verifying highest education, issued by �Korean Council
for University Education�)
- Certificate of academic degree issued by the relevant university.
(Affixed with an apostille or attached with documents verifying
highest education, issued by domestic verification agency)
- Certificate of graduation that lists acquisition of diploma (Affixed
with apostille or attached with documents verifying highest education,
issued by domestic verification agency)

This is from: http://www.hikorea.go.kr/pt/InfoDetailR_en.pt?categoryId=2&parentId=382&catSeq=385&showMenuId=374
And click 'Foreign Language Instructor(e-2)'

This page is available in korean too

[kinerry]

An original that's not apostilled is ok

Then again, I come from a college that can remake an original, should I need it (so I have nothing to worry about)