Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Nursesr4life]

Okay, first let me say that we are all NOT Perfect. To those of you who think you are..well...so be it.

For the others who may have been here before 7/15/2010 and who have been working in Korea as a Teacher on an E2 Visa, you will NOT have to submit a FBI Criminal Background Check and/or apostilled diploma for 2010 or 2011 IF: you are resigning at the same school and renewing your E2 Visa with NO CHANGES! However, in 2012 according to the new policies, you will need those documents. How do I know this? I read the detailed document on the Immigration Website and I called and had a detailed converstation with an agent, and I scoured the Internet to see what others were saying to make sure we were all on the same page.

Now, that gives the "not-so-perfect" people a year to get expungements for anything that may appear on your FBI record. Yes, if you can get your state or the state in which the offense was made, the FBI and all other agencies MUST take it off record, including figerprints.

An expungement usually takes up to a year and if you fill out the form yourself, it usually costs no more than $300. An attorney will charge you $1500 or more.

Live and Learn, then go out into the world and teach others what you have learned and make the world a better place!

[weekapaughead]

So what if we are extending our visa but changing schools?

[Nursesr4life]

The key word is here..."changing"...according to the Immigration Officer, ANY "changes" made to the current Visa means that you have to get a new visa...because the new rules apply to new visas, you have to abide by the new rules, which means you have to have the FBI Criminal Background Check and the apostilled diploma at the time of renewing your E2 Visa.

It takes up to 12 weeks to get the FBI report. Not sure when you plan on renewing.

[Andyc24_uk]

Excellent - So, just to be totally clear - According to your conversation with the immigration agent, if your current E2 began before 7/15/2010, and you want to extend it with the same employer sometime between now and 2012, you don't need to resubmit the documents? Have I read that right?

[tokkibunni8]

I have a friend who's been to immi twice in the last month and has been denied both times for a visa extension because she doesn't have her documents; certified copy of diploma and FBI check ( it's just the diploma that's holding her back, FBI not necessary until 2011).

She's going to go again. Hopefully whoever is behind the counter will give her a break or else come next week Tuesdsay her visa expires.

Just my two cents....

[Nursesr4life]

Yes, that is correct. If your original E2 Visa started before 7/15/2010 and you are staying at the same school, and nothing is being changed except renewing, you have until 2012 before they are going to require those teachers to submit the FBI check and apostilled diploma per the immigration agent. There are two other cases listed somewhere on here where they were told the same thing. Both cases were just renewing at the same schools and both had started before 7/15/2010.

As far as the girl who keeps going to immigration and being rejected, unless she is in the same situation as above, she will have to comply with the new rules. IMO, she needs to call the Immigration Office and find someone who knows the rules and get their name, then go back with that name. I think there is a lot of confusion going on right now. I would also take a print out of the E2 Visa rules directly from their website which currently states that teachers here before 7/15/2010 do not have to submit those two documents.

[tokkibunni8]

[Junior]

[tokkibunni8]

[mmstyle]

I was told that I would need nothing new until 2012. Per my official SMOE "this is what you need to do to renew" document, I don't need a cbc or a new diploma copy.

If you already apostilled the diploma last time, do you need to do it again?

[jmdude1]

i just got off the phone with immigration (02-1345).

in my situation, i am transfering my visa to a new school. i was told that i 'technically' should have a new national CRC and degree copy stamped/signed/sealed/bronzed and whatever from the fine folks at the korea consulate in toronto. but, if i didnt have it for my new job starting in feb 2011, that it would be ok cause they are offering a sort of 'grace' period.
she also told me that if i dont do it this time, i will have to get it done for the time after that for sure.

[I-am-me]

You got it right....renew with same school and you dont need FBI check until next yr.

[mzeno]

thanks for the update OP!!

[princess]

[Andyc24_uk]

Fantastic news! I'm only extending for a few months, didn't want to go through all that hassle! Thanks for the info!