Korean Job Discussion Forums

ekumbier · Joined: 18 Dec 2009

I'm sorry if this question has already been asked; much of what I saw on the subject was outdated. I am currently working in Korea looking to sign with a different employer in March. I have my diploma with me, but that no longer suffices as an official document. I know that I need to obtain a notarized copy of my diploma with the stamp of the apostille from my state. I have no clue how to do this while remaining in Korea. I have contacted the embassy, and they informed me that they do not notarize diplomas. I feel very frustrated and a little bit in the dark in terms of what I have to do.

What exactly does it mean to get a notarized copy of my diploma? Do they need the original in order to authenticate a copy? Do they need a letter from me authorizing the notarization? Do I need to be there in person (if so, I'm in big trouble), or can my parents get it done for me?

Has anyone done this while abroad? Suggestions?

Sorry to ask so many questions, but the bureaucracy and new regulations are extremely annoying when I have my actual diploma sitting right here.

Riker · Joined: 28 Dec 2010

Contact your university's registrar's office. They will make a copy of your diploma or issue a new one and have the school's attorney notarize it.

Then send it to your particular secretary of states office.

Maybe you can get a family member to do this for you while your in Korea.

ekumbier · Joined: 18 Dec 2009

Thanks so much. I will do that.

princess · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: soul of Asia

kimchi_pizza · Posted: Sat Jan 08, 2011 5:54 pm Post subject:

Riker · Joined: 28 Dec 2010

millyfrend · Joined: 29 Apr 2010

You can send your degree/diploma home to your parents/friends or send it to an apostille agency. All you have to do is send your original diploma/degree and it'll get done. Just what other people wrote on the forum below.

You do not have to do the apostille in the same state as the diploma was issued. Why? Imagine going to NY strictly for school, but your home state is California. Why would the government make it difficult on you and many other people. You're not going to fly to NY to get an apostille if you went back home to California. So you can do the apostille in any state as all states fall under the United States and U.S. and South Korea are parties to the Hague Convention 1961 Treaty. Pick a state where you can do the apostille quickly if you have to meet deadlines.

greasylake
Posted: Fri Sep 10, 2010 6:46 am Post subject:

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$175 may seem like a lot to some people, especially if time is not a problem, and you have people back home to do the leg work for you. But if you are in Korea, time is an issue, and you don't have people back home to do ALL of your leg work for you, then www.apostillepros.com is well worth the money. For a diploma, they can get an apostilled copy of your diploma in you hands in a week. And by a week, I mean from first contact with them, to when it is in your hands. I dealt with them, and they are very professional. It is actually $240 because of the overseas Fed-Ex charge, but again, if you are in a time pinch, it is well worth it.
Yes, I was in Korea. I had an agency take care of it. It cost me $240, which included international fed-x, but but it was done very promptly. Yes, it was accepted by immigration.

trixied Joined: 26 Sep 2009
Posted: Sun Oct 31, 2010 7:52 pm
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here's a company a friend and i used to get our degrees apostilled. mailed out tuesday, back in korea the following monday. costs a bit but saves a headache.

http://www.apostillepros.com/

happiness Joined: 04 Sep 2010
Posted: Mon Dec 20, 2010 12:07 am Post subject:
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me too used apostilepros, love them!

Riker · Joined: 28 Dec 2010

My states office has a 1-2 day processing time for 20 dollars. Why would anybody pay 175+ dollars?

If time is of concern, use fed-ex shipping so total time is around 4 days for 30 or so dollars. Out of the country I'm not sure of the total time.

millyfrend · Joined: 29 Apr 2010

'Cause some states takes forever to process by mail, not in 1-2 days, for instance like Michigan it takes 2 weeks. Also, in New York, you have to get it authenticated before it can be apostille. You know how tough it is to get around New York. Taxi already cost a lot of money to be running around in the snow.

The original poster said they're not from the states. So if you don't have family members/friends to do it, it's somewhat of an inconvienence to do. Also, some people don't want to bother their friends and family members if they are busy with jobs/work. Also, most people on the forum have to meet deadlines, Visa and work deadlines.

If they try to do it themselves, they have to find a notary in South Korea and ship documents. Notary at the embassy charges $50 already. That's just for notary, doesn't include apostille.

princess · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: soul of Asia

The embassy no longer notarizes an affadavit for a degree. I was just there on Friday and they would not do this. They only put a notarized affadavit on my FBI CBC...and just for everyone's info, someone at my school just went and renewed over a month ahead of his visa expiring and he did NOT need the FBI check or the apostilled diploma. They said he can wait until 2012...so I plan to renew and give them these things later this year...especially since I don't want my CBC to expire and have to do another one...mine expires at the end of May, so I will turn it in after I get it back from the DOS...but you can go ahead and renew NOW.

nathanrutledge · Joined: 01 May 2008 Location: Marakesh

You can actually just scan/photocopy/email/fax your diploma to your university. They have the records there and will attach the notarization needed, then send it on to the SOS office for you. Of course, as some have said, each university is different and each state has different processing times.

For me, in Nebraska, at UN-Lincoln, I've always been in country and just taken mine in and done it in person. Took me a total of 20 minutes for the WHOLE process (the records department and the state capitol are on the same street).

My friend and fellow UNL grad was in Korea and needed it done. She scanned and emailed her degree to the office. They printed it, attached the notarization, and were willing to send it to the SOS who would have sent it back here in a few days. I just picked it up and walked it over for her saving a few days.

Long story short, it's actually really easy to do*. Just call and ask the U and the govt. office what needs to be done.

*for most people.