Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jondepoer]

Hi folks,

I sent my CRC application (with fingerprints taken in Korea) to the RCMP, and it arrived at their offices on December 7th. The website indicates that checks take between 2-3 weeks to process, but I have read mixed opinions about how long it takes in reality.

I'd like to hear from people who have recently received checks, and especially those who applied from within Korea.

Please post when you ordered the check, where you were living when you applied for it, and how long it took to arrive.

Hopefully this thread can serve as a benchmark for other Canadians waiting on criminal checks.

Thanks.

[lalartu]

I did it in Canada and it was like a week or so the first time, but was much much faster the second time.

Actually, I didn't have to do the fingerprint check at all the second time, all I did was go to the main RCMP office in Vancouver and asked them for a criminal record check for teaching kids overseas.

They now have a type of a criminal check that is meant just for this and it literally took them 5 minutes to give me a piece of paper that was accepted in Korea.

[Linda868]

They received my fingerprints on Nov 4 or 5th. The last email I got, it wasn't even in their system beginning of January...so still waiting:S if that helps any. I got my prints done in Korea and sent it off to my sister to send off.

[cheolsu]

I sent mine around the same time as Linda and I'm still waiting. I emailed on December 22, but got no reply. I called a few days ago, but they don't take phone calls, your best bet is to leave a message, which they will TRY to answer within 2-3 business days. According to the information on that number, the current wait exceeds 120 days. I think we'll be waiting for a while.

[jondepoer]

Wow, that's not good news. I've also emailed, but no response yet. My girlfriend had her mother go to her local police station and get one for her. It just happens that the police station in her area does their checks on the Canada-wide database (the same one used by the RCMP). Unfortunately, my local police station checks provincial records only.

[ren546]

I sent mine at the beginning of December and still no word. However, I called the Korean Consulate in Vancouver and they said that they don't need the fingerprint check (?!?!). You can just go to an RCMP detachment and ask them for a regular criminal record check, apparently, since all systems are linked to the national database (which is unlike the U.S.).

Also, the "Vulnerable Sector Search" thing in Canada is somewhat complicated. Both of the police stations I went to said that they (RCMP) will not do the search for overseas employment. Again, I called the Korean Consulate and they said that the regular name check is fine (?!?!).

Maybe the Consulate is wrong, but I will take their word for it and find out soon enough.

[cheolsu]

Just got my RCMP fingerprint background check day. It took about ten weeks from sending it in Korea to receiving it here in Canada.

[jondepoer]

So, you're saying all I have to do is have my parents go to the RCMP office in my province and request the check?

I really hope you're right about that. I think waiting another 5-6 weeks would lose me the job I've found.

Has anyone successfully obtained and used a check from their local RCMP detachment to obtain an E2 visa?

Thanks to everyone who's contributed so far. We need to do our best to roll with these new Visa regulations. If any other Canadians have relevant information about how to speed up the process of obtaining a nation-wide criminal background check, it would be greatly appreciated!

[ren546]

Honestly, I haven't been able to get a clear or consistent answer from very many people on this. Most of the Canadians I knew in S.K. when I taught there in the past are no longer there, or they used the fingerprint check without looking into whether or not it was actually needed. I know it's a requirement for Americans because their criminal record system is different, but it doesn't seem like it's needed for us.

I didn't use Footprints Recruiting, but their site was somewhat helpful. They say that the RCMP check isn't needed, which is consistent with what the Vancouver Consulate said:

http://www.footprintsrecruiting.com/visa-information-to-teach-in-korea/137-e2-visas-canadians

I'm sending my documents away tomorrow, so I should find out in a few weeks whether or not it will work - although I think I may be getting an E1 visa so I'm not even sure I need the check. Who knows!?!

[bobbybigfoot]

[jondepoer]

I've talked to two people who've received checks from provincial police that were drawn on the federal database. They were both accepted by immigration, no problem. My employer has also instructed me to get *either* the RCMP fingerprint check, or the provincial check that uses the national/federal database.

So, as of now I am hoping my parents can just obtain one from my local RCMP detachment and FedEx it to me. There have also been reports that the police in Winnipeg offer fast turnaround on nationwide checks and will mail them out. I hope one of these options comes through for me. I will continue to update the group on my progress.

Between my girlfriend and I, we spent about $100 trying to get those stupid fingerprint RCMP checks. What a waste of money.

BTW, I'd be interested to hear who got their check in 4-6 weeks (somebody who voted in the poll). That would be the first time I've heard of a recent RCMP check taking less than 2 months.

Thanks!

[ren546]

Update: you don't need the fingerprint check, so don't waste your time and money. I just got my visa number without it.

I used an RCMP check from a local detachment - attached was a notarized copy from the Korean Consulate. That's it.

[paracelsus33]

You ABSOLUTELY DO NEED AN RCMP CRC under the new visa regulations. Also, from Korea, YOU ABSOLUTELY DO NEED TO GET FINGERPRINTS. The visa regulations have started to become widely known to the immigration officials in offices that previously didn't ask for anything but the old crc.
I am in the process of sending away for all this #$%@ right now, and I found out two days ago that the Education Board in Suncheon/Yeosu is also requesting copies as well as the Immigration Board-not just to show them and then take to immigration, but THEIR OWN COPIES. So, two more documents to pay to have notarized (or should I get three in case we need them to get bank accounts soon?). I have never heard of this before, and nobody else seems to have either. New rules seem to be popping up out of nowhere (with increasing frequency) related to health, criminal checks and degree verification. I am even a proud member of the new Fingerprinted Foreigner Club of Korea. I wonder if there are dues? And when do we meet to share our Korean crime stories? Does this mean I can't touch anything in the room salons or kiss bangs? Do fingerprints stick to sool mashee neun noraebang microphones? Damn, no more "help" it seems.

I would be slightly less peeved if the Korean government would just round up all the foreigners in some barren place in Gangwon-do, tattoo us, and make us teach 20 hours a day under a sign that reads "Bonics will set you pree".

[s.tickbeat]

1) If you're applying for your CRC from within Canada, you don't need an RCMP check, you need a check on RCMP letterhead. A local check from any detachment will do, since all the info lies in a single database. These checks are valid for 6 months, and need to be notarized at the consulate before sending them to immigration in Korea.

2) from within Korea, you need a fingerprint form, NOT because Korean immigration won't accept anything else, but because the Canadian consular offices here will not notarize anything other than an RCMP fingerprint form.

3) I ordered mine in June 2011 and it arrived in December 2011. This year, I'll be ordering mine at the 4-month mark (April) and probably receiving in November.

[paracelsus33]