Korean Job Discussion Forums

tottenhamtaipeinick · Joined: 05 Sep 2010 Location: Canada

I went to get my degree apostille and they put the apostille stamp on the back of the orginal document and didnt make a copy...Is this normal?

The school is asking for the apostille yet I cant send the original one to them for the visa process because I will never get it back!

What do I do?

Also recruiter is asking for sealed transcripts for a job I already landed after showing my results etc. Is this needed for the visa process?

blm · Joined: 11 Nov 2010

It's not normal. Your university should put there seal on the back of your original degree (that is not an appostille).

The apostille only goes over the notarary marks and you shouldn't have let the notary do anything to your original other than look at it.

If your in Brisbane steps are

Get your university to put there mark on the back of your original.

Take original and copy to a notarary and get them to notarise a copy.

Then take your copy to the government department of foreign affairs to appostille

tottenhamtaipeinick · Joined: 05 Sep 2010 Location: Canada

What I have is an original copy of a degree which has the Apostille on the back of it aswell as a stamp and signature in the corner from my University which says this is an accurate record.

When I contacted the Queensland Office they said that is all I needed and they I can't use a copy?

The recruiter has also told me this and has since sent me an email saying this.

Diploma: a copy notarized by a Korean consulate (keep original diploma with you and bring it when you come to Korea)

Does this mean if I now take it to a Korean consulate they will copy the document and approve it?

That seems like a big hassel that would be done during the visa process and not when I am sending documents to the school in Korea. Also the apostille criminal background check I just send the original right and not a copy?

ZIFA · Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 4:45 am Post subject:

What you should have done is...

a) Get photocop(ies) of orignal
b) Get photocopy notarised by public notary.
c) Get photocopy apostilled (On front, or more usually on back).
d) send to employer/ recruiter.

The original should be untouched. I think best to..take the apostille off the back, and start again.

if your school iws demanding the original be apostilled, tell them to get real.
Never ceases to amaze me how Koreans think foreigners original certificates are disposable and easily replacable. Rolling Eyes

Is this is their first time doing an E2?

tottenhamtaipeinick · Joined: 05 Sep 2010 Location: Canada

I have to fly on the 27th of March to Korea if I get apostille again will this delay the visa process a lot?

Bibbitybop · Joined: 22 Feb 2006 Location: Seoul

ZIFA · Posted: Mon Mar 07, 2011 5:16 am Post subject:

earthquakez · Joined: 10 Nov 2010

I second that. Do not pay for a ticket until the Korean Embassy in your country has sent you your passport with the sticker in it. Can I ask a question? Are you dealing with a recruiter from a govt program that places people in schools in the province surrounding Seoul?

That program seems to have some incredibly pushy, arrogant and incompetent recruiters judging from cases I heard firsthand last year and this year. I was actually privy to emails sent by one of these nasty fellows to somebody whose friends got me involved for advice because they didn't know how to help the person. Talk about incompetent and arrogant at the same time. He rushed everything, blamed the teacher for his own lack of knowledge and organisational skills and sent information that was not applicable to their nationality (when he sent the information that is).

In the end he screamed at them down the phone when they told him they did not want to pay for a ticket before getting the visa sticker in their passport. The person passed up that job and their only regret was the recruiter probably lied about them to the school and made them look unprofessional. If your recruiter uses an English name beginning with L be wary.

tottenhamtaipeinick · Joined: 05 Sep 2010 Location: Canada

Thanks heaps for the concern.

No I havn't paid for the ticket and it will be provided up front and I havn't as yet started the visa process :S.

I went to The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade today and once again they told me not do a notarized copy of my degree. I rung the University and they said on experience it is better to hand over an original apostille copy and they will happily send me a new copy in 5 days before I leave to Korea. Will the Korean visa process accept this?

So that is what I have done. Also my recruiter says I don't need to go to an interview in Sydney and I can get out of it provided I have enough documents and contact the consulate asap about situation and talk with them about a few things. Has this happened to anyone?

brucefox · Joined: 23 Jan 2011

That is some screwed up school if they want your original diploma stamped.

What everyone does.. and what the law requires you to do.. and what you definitely should have done since it is made so clear on so many documnents and consulate/embasy, recruiting agency, school websites:
Make photocopies of the diploma... get them notarized by notary public within jurisdiction of the consulate/embassy you are gonna get the visa stamp from, then send them all with your original to the consulate/embassy to be apostillized (or verified, both work in Korea but having the embassy/consulate do it is quicker and safer).
Normally you get back the stamped copied along with your original within 10 business days. I got mine back within 3 days because I sent it as priority mail along with a return envelope.

If they stamped your original degree, then you either didn't send them notarized copies for them to stamp, or you didn't specify that the notarized copies were to be stamped.

I suggest delaying the flight because you don't wanna lose your original and your school in Korea will give you a load of crap if you don't bring them the correct paperwork.

tottenhamtaipeinick · Joined: 05 Sep 2010 Location: Canada

I can get an original copy of my degree sent to me in 5 days from now?

The original is apostilled will this be accepted? I tried to get a notarized but it is nearly impossible to get a booking. The earliest I was offered was Friday afternoon. This is a pathetic requirement!

Can anyone please inform me if I will still get my visa insurance number?

blm · Joined: 11 Nov 2010

Since your university is prepared to issue a new degree (rare for oz) while this is a $&$@ up you will be ok.

Just send the original. If for some reason you have to do this again make sure not to skip the notarary step as that is what allows a copy to be appostilled

Also you should bring knives and forks. They are a massive rip off over here Smile

ZIFA · Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2011 4:33 am Post subject:

tottenhamtaipeinick · Joined: 05 Sep 2010 Location: Canada

Thanks for the help...the original is apostilled and yes I know stupid of me to not get it copied as I went with what the department of foreign affairs told me which was wrong and didnt check the actual website carefully in the rush of getting documents ready in a hurry.

Do you guys think that handing in the original apostilled Criminal background check will work?

Will they ask for the original when I go to the Korean Consulate in Australia or do I only need my passport and visa insurance number to get the stamp in my passport?