Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Globutron2]

Leaving Korea in February I thought it would be easy to simply return in a few months, aiming for late May/early June.

I use this post as an off topic rant as well as an informational warning to those trying to get to Korea from England, so I'll post in both Off and General. Feel free, people in charge, to remove whichever you feel necessary. Both if you like. Or all three...

So here's what went wrong (so far):

- I attempted to apply for a Criminal Check. This supposedly takes anywhere up to 40 days so I started in early March. Of course, the internet is almost useless for this and I had no printer anyway, so I went to the police station to get the form and send off. Two birds, one stone.
Nah, they have no idea what I'm talking about.

After 4 different police stations, the man at the main city headquarters told me to 'google it' to see what I have to do. Very helpful.

- Eventually I went for Disclosure Scotland. More expensive, but quicker and probably more reliable. It can be done online entirely, other than the sending of documents.
This should be done, they promised, within 9 calender days.

Not so. After 2 weeks, I called up. They have no idea who I am. They soon find out that they actually lost my email application, possibly because it was over, what was it... 5mb? (this is because, I imagine, the scans of documents proving my identity).

- I started again. No matter how hard you try, they will not - indeed cannot - provide any preferential treatment or priority, no matter who screwed up.

- After getting back from a somewhat eventful 5 day trip in Europe I see a letter saying 'Sorry we can't process this, for we need your mother's maiden name'. Bear in mind that this was at no point asked for any time before.

- I provide the name, and had to wait another week. Already we're in last minute territory.

- I already had a job contract signed by this point, and they were desperately trying to allow more time for me, by extending the only foreign teacher's contract from 28th May to the 4th June (or whatever day after that weekend).

- I finally get the Disclosure, and sent it off immediately to get the apostilles and notaries requires, with a private company that can do both at the same time, promising next day service for a horrifying price of �206, but I was running short on time so I went for it. Take note how this was sent to them on same day delivery on Monday morning.

- The company promised, when calling them angrily on Thursday that it will come before 1pm on said Friday, so I booked DHL to come at 2pm to send off to Korea along with everything else that is all ready and waiting.

They arrived at 4:30pm. I had to cancel DHL and ask to come as close to 5pm as possible. It wasn't possible. I tried Fedex, interparcel, TNT and so forth, none of which could help me out until the next Monday - The day the documents were supposed to arrive in Korea.

- As a last resort, I got my sister to come home from work early so I could drive down to the bloody airport myself and hand the package to the pilot myself by about 6:30pm. Since this is the first service of delivery did myself, it went without error, and a small fee of �61 ensured the arrival by Monday between 9-5. It did indeed arrive Monday Morning, Thank you DHL.

- All's left is to wait for a code from Korea, to go down to London myself with documents necessary and more money, apply for the visa and wait again. I should be out of here in a week, right?

- Then a volcano explodes.

[Setaro]

Hence why I apostilled my docs and collected my visa in person. You could have probably gone to Milton Keynes for the apostilles and done it in one morning for less than 206 quid.

[Globutron2]