Korean Job Discussion Forums

[narratoralex]

So I just got back my FBI background check, and now I need to get the Apostille stamp. What is the quickest way to do this? Is it possible to do this in person in a major city? Or does anyone know of a service that isn't too expensive? Thanks.

[ghostrider]

I used http://www.usauthentication.com/ . If you live near D.C. you can take care of it yourself. Mailing it directly to the State Department is not recommended unless you're willing to wait up to two months.

[nicwr2002]

If you go in person, you better get there as soon as they open. I forgot exactly when, but I think it was around 8 am. They close at around 12:00 noon. If you go early you should get there 30 minutes before they open the doors also. I did it and I got there right at opening time and there were already around 10 people with waiting numbers ahead of me. There were people with stacks of documents needing special stamps and what not. It took me almost 2 hours to get my documents for just 10 people ahead of me.

[Mw182006]

[Kepler]

Average turnaround is ten business days. One apostille (state or federal) is enough to satisfy Korean immigration.

[surendra]

Be careful. I believe it HAS to be Federal. When I got mine in April '12, I physically went to DC. If I could have went anywhere in my state (MAryland), I would have. DC is annoying.

[SoylaMBPolymath]

To the poster who is from Texas, I am also from Texas. Austin, to be precise. The State of Texas will not provide an apostille for your FBI background check. You MUST send your background check to the State Department. It's been almost two years since I went through the whole Korean visa rigmarole, but when I did I received my background check with apostille back within two weeks. It was much faster than the background check itself. Also, I'm not sure if this is still the case, but you had to supply a cover letter with the background check requesting an apostille with the raised seal.

Lastly, I always read of people who are insistent that they received their visas with only a state level apostille, but I was not willing to take the risk. The Korean Immigration policies aren't always as hard and fast as you're led to believe by this board (for example, I didn't have to attend a consulate interview, though many claimed I would indeed be required to do so), but in some instances it's better to err on the side of caution.

[pjstarbuck]

The FBI background check MUST be apostilled by the U.S. State Department - State-level governments cannot apostille Federal documents. Some people might tell you that but don't count on it. I asked the California Dept. of State when I got my degree apostilled in 2010 and they confirmed this.

Going through the third-party courier suggested by the above poster is definitely the quickest route, unless you live in/around DC and can go in person to get your CRC apostilled.

[Mw182006]

I'm in Austin too Soyla. I was trying to remember whether I had any friends still in the DC area (if I did I doubt I'd subject them to this process anyway), but I think I'll use one of those courier services to be safe. Too bad I can't get by with a state level apostille, I was in and out in 15 minutes yesterday for my diploma authentication.