Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Good Will Riker]

Folks, after reading through some of the AFEK posts in regards to the whole "F visa's new CBC + apostille requirements," I need a few questions and help answered in this regard. Thank you.

I am an F-4 visa holder from California, who has been living in Korea for a little over 3 years now and currently reside in the outskirts of Seoul with part-time English work as my main source of income for me and my wife.

Needless to say, as a part-time F-4 visa holder I have never had to go through any of the "CBC + apostille + health check" or dealt with SMOE, immigration, or any of the legalities behind this and am an in the dark complete newbie and green to this whole process without knowing what to do.

Please tell me what to do, because I need some answers as a complete, unaware newbie to this whole new requirement:

1.) If I do decide to stop being a part-timer and decide to find a full-time English work out there in the coming years, if I just have all of my required documents submitted to SMOE, immigration, etc. in advance then do I need to reorder all of these docs ALL OVER AGAIN each time I am hired at a new place of English employment here in Korea (hagwons, public schools, universities, etc.) or is having all the docs already submitted to SMOE, immigration, etc. ONCE AND IN　THEIR OFFICIAL FILES sufficient enough for me to find employment from now until eternity without having to re-do this process each-and-everytime I find a new job?

2.) Plain and simple: What do I need to do step-by-step to get all this done from start to finish, and how do I ensure I do things correctly from my own end so as not to repeat this process? For example: I only obtained my F-4 visa 3-years ago and started working. That was it. I never had to do any of the CBC + apostille + transcripts + healthcheck + any of this at all, so someone has to explain to me in detail. Thanks. The villagers who I work with around here in the boondocks can't really help me out here, so you guys are my only source of help for all of this.

3.) Is there any part of this whole process which I　can get done just from within Korea (i.e. criminal background check, medical check) and not bother having to contact any of the bureaucrats stateside? I've heard that some hagwon wonjangs just accept the Korean criminal background checks from the F-visa holders without having to order the CBC from stateside.

4.) Is there an official Korean government website which spells out these new rules for the F-visa holders. If not a Korean government website, any official website -- or at the very least a reputable website which clearly establishes the rules for this whole process which I can take a good look at.

The reason I ask all these questions is due to the fact that I work mainly with 100% Korean native working staff around me who obviously have no answers to any of my queries in regards to these new regs.

Thanks for the help; I really appreciate this, everyone.

[NYC_Gal 2.0]

1. I was told by immigration that if I changed jobs, I was okay and didn't have to submit them all over again, as long as I didn't leave the country for more than 3 months at a time. I'm on an E-2 visa, but I don't see how this would be any different.

2. Go to a main police station in the nearest city. Print off the FBI fingerprint form a few times onto nice card stock paper. They say that regular paper is okay, but better to spend a few chun won and play it safe with quality card stock paper. Also, print off the credit card payment form and fill that out. The police station will help you fill out the fingerprint card. Have several sets made, as sometimes the FBI rejects sets that aren't "up to standards." I had 5 sets made and sent them all. Send them via Fedex, so that it's insured with tracking.

3. You can get the health check from an approved hospital. There are only 2 in Incheon that are approved. I'm not sure about where you live. Just call and find out if they are qualified. They recently changed the rules, and people used to be able to go anywhere for the check.

4. I don't know, as I'm not an F-visa holder.

Best of luck!

[Good Will Riker]

Thanks for the help, NYC.

I just want to clarify a few points below:

[Good Will Riker]

Thanks for the help, NYC.

I just want to clarify a few points below:

[ttompatz]

apples and oranges.

F-class visa holders only need to submit the CBC/etc IF they are working as a teacher.

It has NOTHING TO DO with immigration. It does NOT affect your visa or status in Korea.

It is a MOE (national ministry of education) policy and is for ALL teachers regardless of visa class or nationality.

If you want to teach you will be required to submit the documentation to the MOE.

IF you do NOT want to teach then it is a non issue.

.