Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Sked]

Anyone know the procedure for applying for a Alabama Background Check from Korea? How long does it take? Can I get a family member to do it for me? etc.

Thanks

[bartovy671]

Depending on where you live you might be able to get someone from your family to go to the sheriff and get a check. Before I came I went in person to the Lee County sheriff and got it the same day, literally took 2 mins. Just call your sheriff's office and tell them what you need and they should be happy to help you out.

[Missihippi]

Isn't an FBI check required?

[Sked]

cheers bartovy

[ttompatz]

[Sked]

i know just need the information so i can get it.

[socky_bomb]

I just got mine done in Alabama, and it was quite a pain.

I also live in Lee county and when I went to the Sheriff's Dept they told me that to get a state level check I had to go through the ABI, and they handed me an application form.

The most difficult part for your CBC will be that you need to get fingerprinted. If you have been fingerprinted before back home on a machine, not ink printed, call the place where you got printed first!!!! They usually keep your prints on record, so you can potentially just request a new set to be printed which will save you from having to track down cards and get it done in Korea. For some reason (In Lee county at least) none of my local law enforcement agencies would provide me with a fingerprint card. There is a standard form which you can download from the FBI's website, but the dimensions aren't your standard 8.5 x 11 paper. You need to get it printed in proper dimensions on the appropriate weight of cardstock if you do this because of the machines they use to print / read the prints. So I called Montgomery to the Alabama Bureau of Investigation Identification Unit and had them snail mail me fingerprint cards. They arrived in 3 days.

I had to do a ridiculous amount of running around in order to get my prints professionally done, which is irrelevant to you since you're in another country, but in the end I had to provide fingerprints and an application form plus 30.00 to ABI - ID Unit for the check. (25.00 is to pull the background check, 5.00 is to get the letter of certification required for an apostille from the secretary of state in Montgomery. Make sure when you order it you tell them that you need the letter of certification and an in-house notary or they won't apostille it.)

The application form is actually a release form, so you can probably have it released to family or friends, and then let them do all the dirty work. However, the form has to be ink signed and witnessed by 2 people OR notarized. I'd suggest having your family forge your signature and then witness it themselves to save on costs of shipping / notary. Otherwise you'll have to have cards delivered to Korea ($$$), get printed, send the prints and app form back for the CBC ($$$), pay for shipment to get your CBC ($$$), fill out the app and ship it back to the Secy of State's office for apostille ($$$), then have them send it back to you in Korea ($$$).

It took about 3-5 business days after they received my prints for them to complete the processing with the certified letter. I drove to have the apostille done in person which took me all of 10 minutes after I walked in, but they say it takes about 3 business days if you send it by mail (why? ... I don't know). The apostille costs 5.00.

Here are some links and numbers for you that may be helpful:

Alabama Bureau of Investigation, Identification Unit:
334-353-4340 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting��������������334-353-4340������end_of_the_skype_highlighting

ABI ID Unit site with the info you need:
http://www.dps.state.al.us/abi/Ident.aspx

The form you want (release form for the general public, form 46):
http://www.dps.state.al.us/abi/forms/ABI-46.pdf

Submittal form for the apostille:
http://www.sos.state.al.us/downloads/authenticate/submittalform.pdf

The phone number for secy of state office is on that last link, if you want to call them.

[wesharris]

Last year, I simply picked up a finger printing card from a local police station, and then sent everything in after having filled it out by Korean Air Mail, had the prints sent to my grandmother, along with an apostil, and then she sent them to me, 2 week turn around time.

[Sked]

wow, thanks so much, socky bomb! didn't expect such a detailed answer it'll make my life a lot easier... hopefully i can get it all done and in my hands within two weeks.. thanks again!

[socky_bomb]

[Mikejelai]

Call/contact ABI, like he said. Just be prepared for incompetency (it is government employees doing it, after all). They screwed mine up 2 times before the director of the division contacted me, apologized and finally followed through on it himself.......)