Korean Job Discussion Forums

[laughingcurtis]

Hello everyone,

So I'm going to start teaching in Busan at a Hagwon in Hwamyeong-dong on March 2nd. Everything was going smoothly and all of my documents are currently in the process of getting a visa issuance number. I thought everything was fine until I got an email from my recruiter. She told me that the Busan office of education now requires foreign teachers to submit an apostilled copy of a degree and background check even though you already submit them to kimmi for the visa. And apparently this just began at the beginning of February.

This wouldn't have been a problem if I knew about it beforehand and could've gotten 2 of each of the documents. Now the problem is that it takes about eight weeks to get a background check from the FBI and another week to apostille it, copies of degress can be done much faster. Obviously I wouldn't be able to take this job if I couldn't have all my documents ready on time. I'm just wondering if anyone has heard about this or can verify its accuracy. Thanks.

[ontheway]

[Knucklehead]

Really?

My recruiter said you need originals -- photocopies will not be accepted. But as it is a new rule, me thinks no one really knows let alone the education office.

k

[laughingcurtis]

Hey guys,

Thanks for the responses. It would seem like photocopies would be alright especially since a lot of people have already gotten visas and other documents and made arrangements because Feb/March is a prime teaching time. My recruiter also said they need to be originals and of course she doesn't work on the weekend, so there'll be no definitive word until Monday. Since it is so new I wonder if it actually goes into effect right away.

[Rutherford]

If you go in to immigration they can print you a copy of the documents they have on file and stamp them as being the "official" ones registered with immigration.

[shostahoosier]

Maybe I'm confused, but if you're working at a hagwon, why would the office of education need your documents?

[jrwhite82]

The office of education is still involved in regulating and managing hagwons. There are certain standards hagwons must maintain and they must register employees with their disctrict education offices. Most (all?) Provincial Offices have changed their requirments to make all the hagwon and public teachers have their documents on file with them.

[shostahoosier]

[ttompatz]