Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Feloria]

OP-
May I ask what the CBC looks like?
Does it have the official seal on the lower left hand corner?
Is the paper light blue with the special water mark?
Are the CBC and apostille attached with that special connector thingy on the upper left hand corner?
If what you received is legit, then I'm happy for you and other future applicants; I hope for your sake it is.
Good Luck!

[bd1887]

Turns out they just got it done through some other company and immigration didn't accept it, so no it wasn't worth 450k. Fortunately they're offering a refund, and my recruiter is profusely apologetic.

I tried getting ahold of my congressman since then, and they don't know what I'm talking about. So, it's back to square one.

Just in case anyone is just skimming through this thread:

DO NOT USE APOSTILLE.KR

[pmwhittier]

I'll pass along my tale in hopes that it helps. I sent my request for a CBC with fingerprints to the FBI on October 18th, 2011. I received the completed CBC on December 22nd, 2011. The next day, I sent the CBC to Rush Docs via USPS priority mail. The CBC got lost in the mail. As of January 12th, the tracking (which I paid extra for) showed it leaving a sorting facility halfway between my house and the apostille agent, never being delivered.

On January 12th, I went on Google to find my local Representative's website. On his website, there was a link titled "How Can I Help?" On that page, they had an authorization form which enables them to speak on your behalf with the FBI. I printed the form, filled it out, and faxed it to the Representative's office. Within 15 minutes, a wonderful lady from the Representative's office called me to discuss the issue, get more clarification about my problem, and ask which FBI location I used to send my request.

She then called the FBI. About 10 minutes later she called me back and told me to send another request to the FBI (request, fingerprints, $18 cashier's check) and let her know the tracking number. I sent the request in the afternoon of January 12th via Fed Ex overnight service. Then I let her know my tracking number.

The Representative's employee called me back the next day. She told me that the request had been received, and the FBI pulled it from the mail room and (per the Representative's request) gave it to a director to be expedited.

Monday, January 16th was a federal holiday. On Thursday, I got a call from the Representative's office letting me know that the CBC was complete and being sent out that day to Rush Docs. They received it Saturday (January 21st) and sent me an email letting me know that they will be getting the apostille on Monday and mailing it to me that afternoon.

So, to summarize: with the help of a Congressman, I got the CBC done in less than a week. Cost: $18. The apostille will be done tomorrow. Cost of that: $38 (including shipping). Total turnaround time is less than 2 weeks. This saved me from losing a very good job.

[Skippy]

[colleenrh]

Whoa, these sound like great experiences with congresspeople. Can I ask what you all said to them? Can they help it get apostilled quicker, or just speed up the first step with the FBI? Thanks for this info.

[Wanda]

I mailed my CBC application (fingerprints, application and money order) on Jan 24th. The FBI recieved the package Jan 26th. I contacted my congressman on Monday, Jan 30th and requested help with expediting my application because of an job offer I had received. They faxed a release of information form within 10 minutes, I filled it out, faxed it back and with two hours I received this email:

Dear Ms. Wynn:
I am writing to acknowledge receipt in my Jacksonville office of your completed privacy release form. To be of help, the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services Division, Clarksburg, West Virginia, was contacted about the processing of your background check. When information from the agency is received, it will be forwarded to you. The importance of your deadline is noted.
Sincerely,
Ander Crenshaw
Member of Congress

By 5pm the same day, I received this email:

Dear Ms. Wynn:
A representative from the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services Division advises that your background check will be expedited. I do not have a time frame yet. It is my understanding that you will be contacted by someone from the agency.
Sincerely,
Ander Crenshaw
Member of Congress

I will let you know how this works out for me. Who knew a congressman could be so helpful?

[Skippy]

[Wanda]

" Sounds great. Why note return the favour and spend some time figuring out if you can vote (for her) while overseas."

Trust me... if this works. I will be sure to vote by absentee ballot.

[Wanda]

[wanderkind]

Hey, I realize these have all been American, but in case any fellow Canucks are reading, does anyone know how recent a Canadian CRC needs to be for an E2 visa application right now?

I had one initiated the day before I left Ontario and it arrived over 2 months later at my home, but since I haven't seen it I don't know when the 'done on...' date is. Either way, I feel like I basically have 3 weeks or so til it becomes useless for my visa app, and I'll be well and truly boned.

[Skippy]

[socks_optional]

One and a half weeks after contacting my Congressman I got my CRC back. If you decide to try this make sure you have the tracking number handy. They need it to track down your request. I almost had a heart attack looking for that little piece of paper.

[young_clinton]

[socks_optional]

When you mailed it to the FBI did you request tracking to make sure it gets to them? If so, thats the number that they want. Apparently they can't find it amongst the other requests without that tracking number. At least thats what they told me/the congressman's office.

[locthebloke]

Hi, all.

I'm currently in the process of getting all my documents together and the CRC is basically the only thing I have left to get (besides filling out the application when it arrives).

Based on tracking, the FBI got my prints March 8th. After seeing this thread I decided to try this route to have it expedited. They basically told me No way, Jose. Got a letter from the congresswoman (probably a secretarial) that just explained that the FBI works on matters in the order that they get them and that a congressperson cannot ask them to take things out of order for processing. The letter also said that it's taking them 5 weeks just to get things out of the mail room!!

After reading that others have had success going through their congressperson, this just kind of peeves me off.

Wondering, is anyone else in the process right now? I'm curious if you had success with your congressperson or if the process has simply changed to the point where you can't do this anymore?

My friend who is in Korea now said it took him 3 weeks to get his CRC back (he left last summer). If I had known it was going to take 5 just to get out of the mailroom, I would have done it sooner! I know the wait time depends on volume of request, but this is just ridiculous. Good to know my tax dollars are hard at work. Isn't bureaucracy wonderful?