Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jhicks99]

Brief history:

First came to Korea Oct 2008, taught for one year. Supplied Immigration with original diploma, sealed transcripts (approved by consulate in Toronto) and notarized background check. Finished contract, went back to Canada for 4 months.

Came back to Korea for a different employer (my current one, start date March, 2010). Supplied new transcripts, notarized copy of diploma and new background check.

Renewed March 2011 for 1 year, no documents required.

Now my boss informs me that to renew again in 2012 I'm required to get new sealed transcripts and a notarized copy of my diploma and have them stamped by a Korean consulte or embassy IN CANADA along with a new background check that also has to be notarized and stamped at a consulate in Canada.

She contacted immigration multiple times and was told this is required for all Canadians renewing at this time. We have several Canadians here who will be renewing in March.

This seems like the biggest pain in the butt ever. Are any other Canadians out there facing such a similar headache? I'm supposed to arrange for all of these documents to be ordered from Korea, have them notarized and stamped in Canada and then forwarded to Korea? Even though I've now taught with this same employer for 2 years, have been accepted by immigration twice in the past and have zero issues with my employer or the law?

Can immigration be this stupid? I know Korea isn't a very efficient country when it comes to work practices, and I can imagine a government office being that much worse... but it almost seems easier for them to hire someone new then renew someone existing here.

Are we being fed the wrong information or are all this absurd hoops really required? They've seen this documentation several times already from me and others. Do they really must think we have fake degrees and were since convicted of crimes in Canada despite living in Korea since our last background check? Seems like a massive waste of mine and my bosses time, money and energy and Korean taxpayer money if you ask me.

Anyway, just want to verify this upcoming headache/nightmare has no alternatives. Thanks!

[bobbybigfoot]

What kind of Criminal Check do you have? City check? RCMP?

Was your degree notarized by a Korean embassy/consulate?

[ttompatz]

EVERY Canadian who has not supplied a Korea consulate certified COPY of their degree and a Korean consulate certified police check WILL be required to submit one for their next extension, renewal, change of status or new visa.

Everyone who HAS already submitted said documents are fine and will just need copies of the same (can be obtained from Kimmi) to submit to the MOE in 2012.

Your extension in 2011 fell inside the grace period (2011) from the change in requirements (announced in 2010) that was given to allow everyone time to meet the new requirements.

If you need it for a March renewal you better get on it or you will be going home. I hope you have someone at home to assist and do the legwork because you are already too late to get it done by mail from here.

.

[jhicks99]

Thanks ttompatz.

In February 2010 they received a certified copy of my degree. Do I still need a new one? How do I obtain a copy from kimmi?

As for the background check... We all got our fingerprints done and have forwarded them to the RCMP for a federal background check, who will then forward them to the Korean Embassy in Canada for us who will then forward them back to Korea. All parties have been contacted and agreed to this process. So I think we are on the ball when it comes to background checks (it made sense to take care of all of us Canadians here at once), we started the process two weeks ago.

For the degrees, it seems some will have to get a new certified copy. As I already have already submitted mine, I just need to get it from kimmi? Sorry if I'm out of the loop and have no idea what you're talking about there.

We spoke to the Korean embassy in Canada who advised they will only certify a copy of a degree if transcripts are supplied along with it, which means those would have to be ordered for those that didn't submit a certified copy. Much thanks for your information!!!

[ttompatz]

[bobbybigfoot]

Not so fast Ttompatz. There are exceptions to every rule.

I just had my girlfriend call Immigration regarding my file (not the hotline, the actual office here in Seoul). The immigration officer confirmed what my school told me this summer. "Everything is fine."

My 2008 Canadian Embassy notarized, City check with Vulnerable Sector through the RCMP database is ACCEPTABLE and I DO NOT have to submit an RCMP check or have any check certified by the Embassy back in Canada.

I did, however, have my degree notarized by the Korean Embassy and that was submitted to immigration last July.

Further, the officer confirmed that my Visa is good until 2013 (though she wouldn't give the exact date for privacy reasons). I had thought this was an error when I saw that my ARC was stamped valid until 2013 but apparently not. For some reason, I was issued a 25-month E2 Visa extension. I have no idea why. My contract with my school is only for one year.

Anyhow my point is this: for people with unusual circumstances, contact immigration directly.

[ttompatz]

[Skippy]

[bobbybigfoot]

Ttompatz, your original post stated that EVERY Canadian needed a KOREAN embassy/consulate stamp. No mention of Canadian Embassy.

Glad you've clarified this.

I submitted a notarized copy of my degree, so that is done.

[bobbybigfoot]

[Skippy]

[jhicks99]

I'm just amazed that rather than check their file they tell me I need to jump through a million hoops and get a new notarized copy of my degree and have it stamped at a Korean consulate when I gave them that very thing less than 2 years ago. Now I have to trudge down to immigration, have them dig it up so I can in turn give it back to them for my visa renewal? In the mean time since I have no confidence in this process I have to arrange for this document to be obtained in Canada while I'm in Korea "just in case". Madness.

Also it bothers me that they don't understand that any background check in Canada, whether it be a city police dept, provincial or federal is checked against one database, the SAME database. So an RCMP check from 3 years ago is no different than a Winnipeg Police check. Why use logic when you can just start making us jump through hoops like monkeys?

[mpsy925]

I'm also in the same situation. I am looking to transfer my visa with another school and I've just had the interview.

What they're asking is that I scan my ARC so they can check with immigration to see what they need to transfer and renew. I came late March this year and had a vulnerable sector and had all of my things notarized for the year. But I'm wondering if that's uncommon or unusual. I personally don't feel comfortable giving out my information. Also, not sure if I need to get a RCMP check since I've come this year.

Any thoughts? Ideas? Or just western paranoia?

[Skippy]

[jhicks99]

Skippy, if immigration understands that all Canadian background checks are essentially one and the same, why am I (along with multiple co-workers) being asked to get a new RCMP in order to renew for this year?

I got mine through a local police dept in Nov, 2009 and had it notarized by a notary and then stamped the Toronto consulate. Why am I being asked to get a new check if that's on record and haven't left Korea since (other than to travel)?

My supervisor arranged for all the Canadians here to get our fingerprints at a Korean police dept earlier in the year and mailed them all off to the RCMP after talking with them first to get our check. Thankfully the ball is rolling on that, but I don't understand why we're even doing this if others are saying their existing federal background checks on file are ok? It seems to me that immigration doesn't know that all checks in Canada are checked against the same database to allow some to renew with old background checks and to make others obtain new ones...