Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Riker]

Instead of filling all the threads up with your advertisement, why not ask to have it attached as a STICKY?

[nathanrutledge]

Then why does the California SOS office website say this about apostilles:

[SeoulESLteacher09]

will the FBI reprint a background check so they can put the seal and signature?

The person at my school said I should get the background check reprinted.

[nathanrutledge]

[Vetter]

Even after enclosing a letter requesting for the official signature and seal from the FBI, they forgot to do it. I immediately called the FBI. They had me return the original to them . They singed and sealed it and sent it back. This took about 1 week. I then made a copy of it and went to a notary public in my state. I signed the copy and had the notary notarize it. I then took the original along with my notarized copy to my secretary of state. They apostilled this all for me. It all took a little more than a week. Korea recieved it 3 days later.

[Vetter]

Nathanrutledge,
Yes, the US Secretary of State has the authority and ability to apostille an FBI background check.

[Vetter]

Nathan,
The State secretary of state can apostille a copy of the FBI CBC with your notarized signature on it.

[millyfrend]

Nathan, if you want the answer, just call the California SOS tomorrow. The website doesn't tell you everything as some things can't be explained on a website. There are always certain rules about certain documents. FBI Background Check is an exception. Also the reason why they don't have a FBI Background Check on their website is because the FBI only started issuing these letters this year. Before, the fingerprint card that you send to them, they mail them back to you with a stamp, no record (example: http://recountingrus.files.wordpress.com/2008/08/p1030680-2.jpg?w=600&h=450). So this FBI background check process is still new to the state process. Also, some states are going through budget cuts and they don't have money to update their website. Pretty sad state the U.S. is in.

But anything I say you will have your doubts, which is great because that's how you learn. So, if you really want to know the answer or anyone else for that matter...

Call the SOS, ask them if they can apostille a Federal Document (be specific and say FBI background check).
Their answer will be no.

Then you ask them, can I apostille the federal document if I attach a notary to it. Their answer will be yes.

So with your real Federal document without/with the sign or seal, you can apostille the document with a notary attached to it. The reason why people don't do it 'cause depending on where you are, you might have to go through an additional step which is authentication. Also, some states don't allow you to do it. California, New York and Texas do allow it.

Again, please call them for yourself and not just look at the websites.

But the funny thing is the original poster already know this...

This is what the original poster said, "If I make an affidavit and get it notarized in my state will that count as a state document??" But unfortunately, he said in his state, South Carolina, they wouldn't allow him to do it. So some states allow it and some don't. Please check your state.

[nathanrutledge]

And what does the notarized signature say?

"This is a true copy of an original presented me on this date."

So the STATE SOS will apostille that statement, because it's true, the paper is, in fact, a copy of one presented to the notary.

But that's not certifying the FBI stamp. Korean immigration might not know the difference, but the whole reason they changed the rules was because people were exploiting loopholes by going to other states for background checks. Now, we have another loophole, and because it's a technical loophole, all that it takes is someone at immigration to wise up and say "nope, this apostille is wrong" and reject it.

I stand by my original statement, but will amend it. You cannot take a FBI background check and get an apostille FOR THE CHECK ITSELF from any STATE secretary or state. You may be able to make a copy and notarize it and get THAT apostilled, but that is not the same thing, and it's not what immigration law here requests. It may be a loophole and it may work now, but they'll wise up to it and I don't want to be the person responsible when someone gets rejected for taking a shortcut.

[millyfrend]

Yes, but think about this. What's the difference when Korean Immigration ask you to make a copy of your degree/diploma (notarize and apostille)?

This is important as well. You spent 4 to 4+ years in college and that degree should matter. It separates the fakes from the real college grads.

You have the degree notarized and apostille. Korean immigration accept that. And according to a lot of people on the forum, they only accept copies of degrees (notarized and apostille). They won't accept the original degree.

Same concept as the FBI record check. When you make a copy of the degree, have it notarize and apostille. What does that prove? It doesn't mean your degree is real or they check that it is a real college. The notary just state that it is indeed a true copy. So that's why the FBI background check is still accepted this way.

Why are there notaries in the first place? They work for the public/government. They have to take an exam in some states and get sworn in. They log everything in their journals, so if they need to go to court to justify, everything is logged in the book.

So in essence notaries are working for the government (just like someone working at the FBI), that's why notary and apostille of the FBI background check would still be accepted in South Korea.

[nathanrutledge]

[millyfrend]

Not all universities notarize degree or diploma. Anyone can notarize anyone degree or diploma for that matter. I understand what you are saying but that's not how all government works though. For instance, most people go to different states to go to college. Someone that lives in Nevada and went to New York University for college. They're done with school. They go back to Nevada. They're not about to fly back to New York just to get an apostille. Right? If that's the case, everyone would be complaining to the government. And of course you don't want the school to issue a new degree with a notary as it may delay things.

Hence, in some state, you can go to a notary and say this is a true copy and have that apostille.

I understand what you're saying, but I nor you make up the rules. The original poster just said, what ways he can approach to get his document apostille and it is already stated. I'm not trying to prove anyone wrong or right.

Like I said, just call the SOS. If they do it a certain way, Korean immgration should accept it 'cause U.S. and South Korea is a party to the 1961 Hague Convention Treaty.

With the FBI Background Check, they can hold the state notary accountable if anything happens. It all ties back to the notary as the state have the notary name in the system.

So basically, if anything happens, the court would just ask, did you notarize this person FBI background check. Then the notary say yes. Same thing as the FBI worker. Notary works for the state. FBI work for the state, it just happens to be in D.C.

[nathanrutledge]

[millyfrend]

Huh?

Did you even read what I said in the first post? I said, you can have a friend or family do it (free). How is that a scam?

Plus I never said to make a copy of the Federal Document. I said to use the real document, but attach it with a notary. Thank god everything is still there on the thread, so you don't put words in my mouth.

Also, I said to call your SOS to double check.

[nathanrutledge]