Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jgarvey23]

My girlfriend and I are planning on applying directly through EPIK for the Fall 2012, except we have 2 issues working against us. 1) She is currently teaching ESL in Thailand & will not be back until April 16th, at that point we can do her fingerprinting and then expedite the FBI Background check which I was told if expedited will take 1-2 weeks. I will be applying for my background check in mid february. 2) We cannot start until October 1st due to a wedding which unfortuanetly we cannot miss.

I need advice as to whether getting out FBI Background checks to EPIK on or around May 2nd or 3rd is too late for the Fall program & second question is can we opt to go on October 1st? I have heard that a select number of locations are open on October 20th! Is this true

Please help me as we want to stay away from Hagwan/ private due to its lack of vacation...

[overdrive2023x]

If you're a US Citizen, there is no way to expedite an FBI Background check unless you can somehow talk to your congressman to call the FBI and put a special request for you. However, even by doing that, I still think it'd take more than 2 weeks to do.

[jgarvey23]

Given it does take longer, do you think if EPIK receives all of our documents by Mid May that would be too late to acquire a position?

[overdrive2023x]

Advice:
Talk to your recruiter. If you don't have a recruiter, start talking to one right now.

The FBI background check thing I don't think will pose that much of a problem. Because she can print out a fingerprint form from the FBI website, and do the finger prints herself (Im sure she can buy the ink somewhere in Bangkok) and then send them to the US so that you can send them to the FBI with yours at the same time.


But in my opinion:

The October start date request is going to kill your chances. If you're really set on teaching in a public school, I would wait until the Spring Intake. EPIK just wants to fill their positions, not try to appease every applicant that applies. The only appeasement they do, is by noting your location preferences. But a lot of people get placed in provinces and cities they never listed. EPIK just wants to fill everything.

[jgarvey23]

Thanks for the advice.. I spoke with my recruiter and nothing came of the conversation, once he found out my g/f was in Thailand he immediately told me they do not accept applicants from thailand due to the FBI background check never working out due to the fingerprints. He was not helpful at all...

Although he did say he could get us placed for OCT 20th start date we would just have to be extremely flexible in regards to location which we can be.

Do you actually think she can do her own fingerprints? I am unsure of whether it is tough or not?

[overdrive2023x]

Yea,

Info about the process
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/background-checks

and

How to start the process
http://www.fbi.gov/about-us/cjis/background-checks/submitting-an-identification-record-request-to-the-fbi

Read the 2nd link's page, and then on the right hand side is the finger print card you can print out. A couple people I know did it this way, and the FBI accepted them no problem. Just make sure when she does it to maybe have her do multiples in case one doesnt come out as well as another. Then the FBI can scan it into their system, and start the CBC process.

By the way, you CANNOT do the channeler service they mention on the first page, because the US Department of State won't apostille it, making it useless to EPIK.