Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Epik_Teacher]

3 months from today and I will be free of this $hithole! YAY!!!!!! Korea sux, period! From the top to the bottom, it is a backward cesspool!

[tombanjo]

naturegirl - could you elaborate on that letter? october changes vs july changes?

we had a meeting last night at our office of education and while before they actually acted like we were idiots for thinking we would need to comply with these changes, they're now saying "get the new criminal check, get the degree verification." a few of us had already started the process but it's turning into one big mess over here.

[naturegirl321]

[morrisonhotel]

I got the same letter from Suwon. I have it beside me. Below is, word for word (including grammatical errors), the letter I received yesterday.


Conversation teacher (E-2) related system improvement notice.

I. The change of 'self verification of the original diploma' system.

- Starting from 2010.9.1 applying for the visa issuance number and sojourn related work (extension, workplace transfer, visa status transfer, activities beyond the limits of current status) should hand in a diploma copy or a obtained degree certificate or a graduation certificate, which has gotten a apostille stamp or a verification from the Korean consulate of the foreigner's own country or a verification from the Korean Council for University Education to the immigration office. The document is required once during the foreigner's Korea sojourn period.
*caution: Although the sojourn related application is made before 2010.9.1, and the expiration date of the foreigner's visa status is after 2010.9.1 should also hand in the sufficient document to the immigration office by the time the application is made.

II. Criminal background check reinforcement
- Until 2010.12.31 the criminal background check from either central government, local government or the Ambassador in other country except Korea will be accepted. But, when the time applying for alien registration or the next sojourn related application is made, you will have to hand in the criminal back ground check which is nation wide version.

*For further information contact the immigration call center (1345 without district number).

[04287]

I got the same letter too...

Why in god name would they give me this info now. I have exactly 2 months until my contract ends.

How am I going to get my diploma copy notarized and to the Korean Consulate and back to me in Korea in two months. The mailing system alone will screw me as neither the consulate of the lawyer courier.

From what I've been told (and read on the RCMP website) it's taking ~120 days to process the Criminal check. That plus the mailing time (again, no courier service)

So... What the hell am I supposed to do?

What a bloody mess...

[weekapaughead]

Question,
I handed in a notarized, apostilled copy of my diploma back in February. If I want to do a visa transfer am I going to have to get another copy of all this?

Also, I wish they could just clear up this whole background check mess.

[morrisonhotel]

[morrisonhotel]

[naturegirl321]

If we stay at the same job, do we have to hand in any type of CBC? I re-sign THIS YEAR. and there's no way I can get all this stuff.

[morrisonhotel]

[naturegirl321]

I called kimmi, they said

" there's extra time. There's NO extension. When you apply at kimmi, you MUST have a receipt that the document is under process. And then when you get that document, you have to bring it to immigrations"

So there you go. They passed the law in July, my boss called in October, 1345, and they said NO, it's for 2012. When we went to Suwon and they said that that we needed it in 2012, that was also not true. So, everything is back to the changes in July. My letter was postmarked 25 NOv. So basically, they let us know 6 weeks before the deadline for something that easily take 2 to 6 months.

I don't know about the proof. IN the US, there ARE no receipts. YOU mail things. that's the receipt. That's it. NO Sec of State or county clerk receipt.

[naturegirl321]

[tombanjo]

my co called busan immigration today and they say that you can go in without the docs for the new requirements, and "if you promise" that you'll have them ready for next year, then they'll give you the visa extension.

[naturegirl321]

[austinmc86]

They make these changes, then postpone and now are they're required again. I wish we could get an official answer.