Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ghostexiled]

I am an American currently looking to get an ESL teaching job in South Korea or Japan and was wondering how a 3 1/2 year old DUI will effect me getting a job in these countries?

I am 30 years old and I have a BA in Art (vanilla degree) and a 60 hour TEFL certificate from Oxford Seminars.

I have been told already by one recruiter Avail Teachers Consulting (Teacher's Bus), that they could not help me because of it.

So should I expect not to be able to get any kind of work in these countries because of something that happened so long ago?

Also this is the only thing I have on my record and it was taken care of back when it happened.

Thanks for any help.

[BoholDiver]

Apply for a pardon. There are no rule that a DUI disqualifies you, but others have been rejected.

[ttompatz]

[ghostexiled]

That is what I was afraid of...

I was hearing all kinds of different stories about the matter. I have friends that have told me that they only required a Federal Background check and that it would not show up on that.

But then I have read others where they want a State Background check, which in that case it would show up.

Same with the expunging of it... that it would put me in the clear to harming me just as much as leaving it on my records.

I would love to try other countries... but I have been unemployed for 9 months and just don't have the funds needed to get myself to Japan or any other countries that require such money to get there and get set up.

Thanks for the responses!

[tgrear2008]

Get the background check from another state. The rule change requiring a federal check doesn't kick in until Jan 2011.

Get your record sealed. When you apply for a background check after your record is sealed it will look like nothing had ever happened.

[Louis VI]

If you have a criminal record, go teach in China.

[Steelrails]

The way DUIs are handed out these days someone doesn't have to be a drunken loon to get one. I've seen people get them for having a .04 BAC. Why did they get one? It makes people money.

There is a reason a DUI is a misdemeanor and there is a reason back home you're not required to list misdemeanor offenses. I think that that is a pretty sound policy.

[northway]

Consider:

In my home state of Massachusetts you can get a DUI if you're under 21 for having a closed container in the car. Worse than that, you can have someone of legal age in the car with you, but still be arrested. One of my buddies was 21 and lived with a couple 20 year olds. They all drove to the liquor store together. Because my friend (the 21 year old) wasn't driving the car, the driver (20 years old) got a DUI, lost his license for six months, and had to pay a few grand in fines. Now, if he were to apply to Korea, I'm sure that would show up, despite it having pretty much no reflection on his life in Korea or his ability to handle himself as a person.

[carleverson]

If you're white, you'll get a job.

[northway]

[ghostexiled]

yeah the kicker is that I was barely over the limit and was fine (by my standards) but was stopped by a state trooper and that was all she wrote.

After speaking with other people that have gotten them before and a few lawyers, I come to find out that if I was stopped by a local cop... all would of been magically made as though it never happened.

But since it was the state that got me, the whole deal was handled by a state court where they did not let anyone escape without some sort of punishment.

Anyway, I was hoping for a change in life and scenery... and I have always been interested in Japan and their culture.

But with the way the economy is and me flat out on my ass without a job, it kinda dashes those dreams real quick.

So I looked into S. Korea and found this roadblock...

I hope to figure out something soon!

Thanks again for all those who have chimed in!

[mc_jc]

A DUI will be a huge issue if you try to get a visa to work in SK.
The best advice I could give you is to try to get it expunged completely from your record.
In the case of CT, if a misdemeanor is more than 3 years old, the offender could apply for a complete erasure of the offense from his record. I am not sure about other states, so you might have to contact the state's Department of Corrections to find out how that works. I know in CA that an expungement doesn't totally erase the offense from the record and in the case of the DoD, a DUI offense committed is considered federal because it was done on federal property.

When I drink, I NEVER even attempt to drive, that's why I always budgeted money for cab fare after even a few drinks- it isn't worth it anymore.

[cert43]

Don'yt use those recruiter anyways ( they told me the same thing)..

I don't really care though as this point...

[akcrono]

[codycook5]

I'm in a similar situation, I was charged with a DUI but the charges were later dropped. I was also convicted of a PI. Does this mean I have no chance at getting a Visa?