Korean Job Discussion Forums

michi gnome · Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Location: Dokdo

Is there any talk that Korean immigration might ease up in the near future on this ridiculous Apostille seal process?

I haven't been on this forum much in the recent past, & if this topic has already been beaten to death, my apologies & I'd appreciate links to any info that has been shared.

After finally receiving my FBI background check, after a wait of about 3 months, I went to the place in downtown Chicago where I have obtained an Apostille seal in the past on a State background check. Was informed that as of March 2011, all Federal background checks must be sent to the State Dept. in Washington, D.C., where it will take another 8 weeks to be processed and returned.

At that point I will have been waiting about 5 months, likely close to starving & getting ready to live in a cardboard box, before I can even think about accepting a job and getting ready to fly over.

No surprise, but this has got to be turning tons of people away from teaching in Korea.

For my first job in Korea about 5 years ago, it took less than a week from phone interview until I was in the country. An overnight visa run from Busan to Fukuoka, and I was ready to start teaching. Ah, the good old days...

I'm wondering when schools might begin lobbying immigration to change some of these rules, if ever, to get teachers in the classroom more quickly. Probably not as long as the job market is flooded...

Background check gods, please have mercy

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

Not going to change any time soon (if ever).

Most people don't have the long delays that Americans have.

Getting an apostille in most countries (other than Canada - not a signatory to the treaty) is a relatively quick and painless process.

The problem lies in the fractured and disjointed US government systems. Complain to Washington; join the millions of other unhappy souls with complaints about the US federal systems.

.

Stan Rogers · Joined: 20 Aug 2010

Let's be fair and point the finger at those who are really responsible for the stiff rules and new regulations.

Korean parents don't want convicted criminals/fugitives/child molesters and so forth having contact with their children. I don't blame them.

marsreloaded · Joined: 23 Sep 2011

michi gnome · Joined: 15 Feb 2006 Location: Dokdo

no sympathy asked for (at least not from humans). just relating a simple story, friend.

& you might want to lighten up a little.

cheers

& i agree with the other comments about placing the blame where it lies.

but no other country seems to have these requirements, so I wonder if at some point Korea might ease up on the FBI check & apostille, & settle for the old police State check (at least from the U.S.)

Zyzyfer · Posted: Mon Sep 26, 2011 8:46 pm Post subject:

A state check opens up too many loopholes, how can immigration prove you're a resident of said state etc etc. I do think the apostille is overkill, a simple notarization should be way more than sufficient.

DaHu · Joined: 09 Feb 2011

Had you followed the rules from the beginning, you wouldn't be that put out. Seems instead of sitting around you should have been doing something.

akcrono · Joined: 11 Mar 2010

Leon · Joined: 31 May 2010

You can pay like $200 some dollars to have an expediating service do it for you, I used one and got it done in a week when I needed it asap for a job.

ArgentineDreams · Joined: 09 Sep 2011

At least the tedious process for Americans does weed out people who aren�t dead set on going to teach.

Weigookin74 · Joined: 26 Oct 2009

swinewho · Joined: 17 Aug 2009

mwalls · Joined: 25 Aug 2011 Location: WA, USA--soon to be Namhae

Yeah, I'm going through it now. It is kind of a pain, and the eight week wait for a simple apostille (which can be done same-day, in person) is astounding. I ended up finding a fairly reputable service for $150 and had it done in about a week. Expensive, but better than a plane ticket to DC or the lost wages over that eight weeks. As far as I know, there's no other way to speed up the process--only mitigate annoyance by being prepared.

The two month processing time is really the fault of the U.S. State Dept., for reasons passing understanding. When I was researching it earlier this year it took two weeks tops.

In the scheme of things eight weeks isn't life-altering. Anyway, best of luck.

plchron · Joined: 26 Feb 2011 Location: Korea

I hope you didn't already send it to the department of state in DC.

IF not:

1. go to a public notary and fill out an oath form stating that the document in question (FBI check) is true.

2. Go to your secretary of state and have them apostille that oath form.

3. Staple the FBI check to the back of the form.

and your done.

**** call your sec. of state in illonois and make sure that they can apostille public notary oaths without more paperwork. I come from california and one more document was needed in between steps 1 and 2