Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Fighter]

Ok so I've been really wanting to teach english in Korea for some time now, and I've finally decided to go through with it. From what I've gathered from numerous sources (see http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=204025&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0) the FBI CBC is what takes the longest, and is what I should get started on first.

I'm not entirely sure how to go about doing this though. I found this:

http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/background-checks/standard-fingerprint-form-fd-258

Do I just print that off, go to a police station and get prints done? Then what? I need to mail it to the FBI in D.C.? I think I saw a couple places mention that there are alternatives to sending it to D.C., as in perhaps I could somehow do it in state? Or there's another branch in Virginia or something? I'm in Ohio, if that matters..

I really want to get started on this as soon as possible, but I want to make sure I properly understand what I'm doing as well. It's all a bit confusing though, especially since I'll be dealing with bureaucracy and I don't have any experience in most of this.

Also, I already have my passport, so I do believe that getting the CBC is my number one concern at the moment, if I understand everything correctly.

Thanks!

Edit: Also, a friend I met at a seminar recently is going to Korea through Aclipse (http://www.aclipse.net/). Any opinions on this organization? Just checking ha

[marsavalanche]

[jizza]

1) fingerprints at police station
2) prepaid return envelope
3) include letter - request to authenticate the document for apostille (Korea)
4) CBC Checklist
CBC - each copy $18
FBI CJIS Division � Record Request
1000 Custer Hollow Road
Clarksburg, WV 26306

Apostille with US Dept of State: ($8 each) - check or money order to US Dept of State.
U.S. Dept of State Authentications Office
518 23rd St NW
SA1 Columbia Plaza
Washington, DC 20520




There is mass confusion on this board about the apostille of FBI CBCs. A few people have got it right, but their voices are being drowned out.

To cut to the quick:

1) You should only have your FBI Criminal Background check apostilled by the US Department of State. (The Secretary of State of your state does not have the authority to certify the FBI's seal and signature.)

2) The US Department of State will apostille your CBC if the FBI (CJIS division) places its official seal and signature on the document.

3) The FBI will 'seal' and sign your CBC only if you ask them to. So when you send your packet off to the FBI, include a letter stating that you are seeking employment in Korea and must have your CBC apostilled.

[http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/background-checks/faqs] see #9.

If you choose to try and get your state to do the apostille, good luck. It may work out for you. But it may backfire. Your state may refuse to do so, costing you precious time. And possibly (but highly unlikely) Korean Immigration may not accept it.

Some of you have been able to get your FBI background checks apostilled by your state. I would bet that you got your FBI CBC notarized by someone in your state instead of certified (official seal/signature) by the FBI. In that case, your state government is saying, "Yes, this notary stamp is official." However, your state government is not able to certify the authenticity of the actual background check. Only the US Department of State can do that by certifying the FBI's seal and signature. I believe that is ultimately what Korean Immigration policy is aimed to do: obtain officially certified documents authenticated for international use.

Having said all that, if you submit your FBI check to Korean Immigration with an apostille from the great state of Alabama, California, Nebraska, etc, they will probably be overcome by the nice shiny glamorous official State apostille and let you in.

Personally, if I'm going to go to all the trouble of getting this stuff done, I'm going to do so as legitimately as possible. I don't want to give anyone along the convoluted path to E-2dom any cause to reject my documents. Unfortunately, here in Korea, even when you do things right, sometimes it still isn't good enough.

(Take my comments for what they are worth to you. I practiced law in the States and have been through this process before. So not all of this is coming solely out of my ass - just some of it).




An FBI check can be done from here, but give yourself a lot of time (like 12 weeks) 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
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
SA-1 Columbia Plaza
Washington, DC 20520

Mail Service
The Authentication of documents takes approximately 15 business days to process from the time of receipt**. Please include a cover-letter (see example) with your name, telephone number, address and email address. Please indicate the name of the country where the document will be used. We suggest using a self-addressed stamped envelope for faster return of your documents. Documents received without a return envelope and postage will be returned through the State Department regular mail, which can result in a 2-3 week delay. You can use Fed/Ex, UPS, and express mail services for faster receipt/return of your documents. However, you must enclose a prepaid airbill and envelope.

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

[DLat]

Thank you for this most informative post!

[cincynate]

The secretary of state of Ohio has the authority to apostille the FBI cbc check. Only a few states can do it, most people have to send it to DC to get it done, but Ohio is one of the exceptions. As soon as you get it back, take it to Columbus and have it apostilled. It can be done that day in about 5 minutes. You also have to have your degree apostilled there, so do it all at once.

[marsavalanche]

[SeoulNate]

[Feloria]

The confusion and conflicting information about this pain in the ass process is madening!!

And not from Dave's posters, but from the "official institutions" themselves!!

Case in point: On the FBI website it clearly states that the fingerprint cards that you can print out online are for "identification purposes only"--
you have to use the official cardboard-like cards from police stations for CBC's.
The police station in the small town where I'm staying now wouldn't let a
civilian request a fingerprint card, so I traveled 2 and a half hours to the closest big city(Minneapolis) to get the fingerprints done.
Now I hear of many people using the on line print out, and it working just fine--UGH!!

[Feloria]

OP--

Also, the turn around time to get the fingerprints apostilled is NOT 15 days anymore--it can be as long as 6-8 weeks!!

[Adventurer]

1)You could call a police office to ask if they have prints good for the FBI (They should, I used the paper from the West Virginia police people).

2)I paid 20 dollars for the finger prints.

3)I filled out a form for the FBI website. Add your credit card information, the finger prints.


4)Add also (very important on a separate piece of paper) that you are going to send this afterward to the Department of State and need the seal and signature from the FBI. They'll understand.

Except it to take 5 weeks from the time they charge your credit card. Expect them to charge it after 2 weeks or so. You're looking at 7 weeks. Then, getting the apostille at the Department of State is a separate process you do, and that takes up to 4 weeks and in some cases more, in some cases less. You're better off buying an airplane ticket or a bus and going to Washington D.C. than sending it to the Department of State and going in person. I should have done that. I am trying to retrieve my papers and see about flying in.

[Fighter]

Wow thanks so much for all the informative posts! You guys have been so helpful!

So here's where I'm at, I've filled out the applicant information form for the FBI CBC, and I'll be paying with credit card (which I've found the form for as well), so no problem there. But then there's a few return mail options. What do you guys recomend, FEDEX, prepaid, or first class? I really have no experience with either of the three so I'm not sure where I would begin. I'm planning on stopping by my local post office tomorrow morning, but any advice here would be welcome.

After I figure that out, I'll print off a few copies of the fingerprint card and stop by my local police station, so hopefully I can get all that done tomorrow morning.

A couple other things. Jizza, what do you mean by number four on your list? The CBC checklist? From what I gather all I need when I mail this off is the application form, the fingerprints form, the credit card payment form, and a letter requesting authentication for apostille. Is that right? Also, about that letter, what all should I ask? Is there a format or anything I can use or is this something they expect to be fairly informal?

Thanks again, I really appreciate the help!

[Feloria]

Hi- I used USPS Express mail, NOT Priority mail. With Express mail you get a tracking #, so you know every step as it happens.
When you go to a police station, see if they will give you the actual fingerprint cards for background checks--I know the ones you can print out online have worked for people(according to this forum), but it can't hurt to be 100% sure if possible.
I'm going to check something, and then post again in a few minutes--

[Feloria]

Hi again--the FBI link that Jizza put up has the application form on it.
It's quite detailed, so you should use that form specifically.

Also, there are various agencies that will do fingerprints and supply the fingerprint cards. You can get all that info online, if you so choose.

Good Luck!!

[Modernist]

Regarding those fingerprint cards, I know that the agency I used REQUIRED the 'real' FBI-style cardstock. They absolutely would not accept a printed-out piece of paper. Just prepare yourself to have to pay for this separately depending on the size of your town and the niceness of the local police.

I would also agree that you should ALWAYS have a tracking number when mailing things through this process. It's a good habit to get into when you're over here, too.

[Fighter]

Ok, so I got my fingerprints done and I found the nearest Fedex so I'll be able to just go there when I need to mail everything.

So, if I understand things right, this is what I do next:

1. The fingerprint card (I got an official one)
2. The Applicant information form from the FBI website
3. The credit card payment form
4. A letter requesting that my CBC be "sealed and signed".

Now, I'm a bit confused about number four there. Marsavalance said that I SHOULDN'T request the seal and signature since my state is one of the few that can apostille it for me. BUT, doesn't it need to be sealed and signed before it gets apostilled? Or do I just need to request that they "authenticate" it?

Also, what all should I include in the letter? Basic contact information and then my short blurb about requesting... well whatever it is I need to request?

Hopefully I can get this mailed out tomorrow!