Korean Job Discussion Forums

[isitts]

I'll also add this:

There's a sticky on E-2 visa regulations. I've copied and pasted the following from page 69 of "New E-2 Guidlines" sticky

http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=104249&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=1020
It's the 5th post down written by melirae1976
(for you skip down to the part about getting an apostille):

[begin quote]

I'm going through this now, so I'd like to offer what I have found through phone calls to the FBI and talking to the office in my state that issues apostilles (this is for Americans). I'm renewing for the third year and I need to submit both my apostilled diploma copy and my apostilled FBI check because my visa expires after 1/1/2011.

An FBI check can be done from here, but give yourself a lot of time (like 12 weeks) [<---doesn't take this long anymore. isitts] and plan to spend a bit of money sending things FedEx because you want to be able to track it! http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/background-checks/background_checks has all the forms you will need. There are links on the right side of the page. Make a few copies of the Standard Fingerprint Form to take with you to get fingerprinted in case one of them gets smudged. I went to a police station here and they did the prints for free.
The above website also contains the address of where you need to send the fingerprints and application once you have completed them. It is suggested to send them FedEx or DHL so that you can track them. Also, make sure to request that the copy of your background check is authenticated by the FBI so that you can send it to the US Dept of State for an apostille. Explicity state this on the application to save yourself the delay.

Obtaining an Apostille on Your FBI Background Check
Once you have received a copy of your background check, it then needs to be forwarded to the US Department of State Office of Authentications. This is the only office that can do it- your FBI check cannot be apostilled at the state level because it is a federal document, so you must mail or hand deliver your document to the Authentications Office. The FBI will not send your background check to another federal office.

US Dept of State Authentications Office
[email protected]
phone: 202-647-5002 202-647-5002
fax: 202-663-3636
15 day turn-around time for mailed in documents.
Fee: $8 per document- check or money order to US Dept of State. Credit cards can only be used for walk-ins.
Walk-ins: 7:30-11am M-F, 15 documents per day only.

U.S. Dept of State Authentications Office
518 23rd St NW
SA1 Columbia Plaza
Washington, DC 20520

Diploma Apostille
You need to make a photocopy of your diploma to have apostilled, as Korean immigration will not return documents submitted. This procedure will not necessarily need to be done in the state where your diploma was issued, but check with the state you plan to have it done in to make sure. The reason you can get the notarized copy in a state different from the one it was issued is that the notary is not certifying that you did the work to obtain the diploma, they are simply certifying that the copy is a true copy of the original document. You will need to have a notarized photocopy made and most states have a certification form that needs to be completed and attached by the notary. Once you have the notarized copy, then take it to the appropriate office for the apostille.
Here�s a link that has the location of the offices for each state that provide apostilles.
http://www.apostilleinfo.com/usa.htm

[end quote]

[little_kitty]

I've sent 3 e-mails (over a period of a month) and tried to fax an inquiry and have received NO response from the Office of Authentications--the fax just rang and rang. I sent my FBI background check to them in the beginning of May.

Anyone else have this problem? I need my documents soon. My visa needs to renewed and I have no documents!! Should I start over and get a new background check and then pay an Apostille service? Any advice?

[Kepler]

[Kepler]

[isitts]

[little_kitty]

Yes, they are getting slammed with these background checks....but the least they can do is let people know how long it's realistically going to take. Don't tell me 15 business days when that's not even close. I just can't believe no one has responded to any of my e-mails! On their website it says "you will receive a reply in 48 hours". Really? My first e-mail was a month ago. Still no response.