Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bakather]

Hi,

First, let me say that I know a state issued apostille is not the correct way of having the FBI CRC done. However, I did not realize this before I sent my documents off. According to EPIK's website, this is a valid way of doing it.
My question is has anyone been rejected because of this? It took me four months to get my check done because of my poor fingerprints, and my documents are already in Korea. Does anyone know of someone actually being rejected? Or has anyone gotten through with the state apostille lately? Thanks! I've invested so much time, effort, and money into this already!

[newb]

Yes, here's one.

[bakather]

I saw that. But it isn't 100% clear that is why. They thought his was forged. I don't think that just a state apostille would make them think it was forged because they have seen countless state apostilles (they used to accept them.)

Since this would be the end of the road for me if the state one won't work (I have to be back in the States by the end of August 2014 for law school--if I'm accepted)I want to be more certain. I think I would have to break contract if I go get that one redone by the US State Dept. The one I have is sitting at FedEx in Korea because I put a hold on it to keep it from being delivered. I did see a post on a recruiting website about SMOE not accepting them, but even the recruiting site said that only applied to SMOE. Of course, that info is almost a year old. Thanks for answering me.

[sirius black]

Immigration as a whole has seen thousands of state apostilles but I doubt very seriously if individual examiners have seen and recognize all of them. The larger states (Calfornia, New York, Texas, etc.) sure, but would they really know if an Alabaman or Maine apostille is legt or not? Also, would the Gumi or Jeonju immigration office have seen enough of a variety to know? Maybe Seoul or Busan office...maybe. And depending on the qualify, I doubt that they could tell even the popular states if a person got a fairly good quality fake. NOT saying to do that or try. You could get in a heap of trouble if your state or the federal government finds out, its an offense to fake official documents. I'm just doubting their ability to know the difference. I went to school in a small populated state and when I brought my docs to immigration in my medium sized city, the lady glanced at it and that was it. I think the real truth is they have no idea what is really legit on the state level. The FBI check, yes, its the same for everyone, all the offices have seen plenty.

[ttompatz]

[bakather]

I hope it is ok! My recruiter is going to send it back to me if he sees a problem with it, but with the time that might add to getting my visa, I don't know if I could go confident I wouldn't have to break contract. I am at a public school with a separate department of education (not EPIK) in a rural area.

[ttompatz]

[bakather]

Well the reason I would have to break contract is if I had to redo it and the visa process was delayed because I will probably need to be back in the states at a certain time next year.

[spilot101]

According to EPIK's regulations (for US citizens):

"FBI CRC's should be apostilled by either the Department of State or the applicant's state's Secretary of State (See attachment)."

I chose the latter route and my package was (unsurprisingly) approved by EPIK. If I understood correctly, there's still a chance to get rejected by KI when you apply for an alien registration card?

[ttompatz]

[spilot101]

Visa confirmation stage that takes place in the Korean Consulate General (where I sent my visa application package) you mean, not with the local immigration officials mentioned at the beginning of the post?

[spilot101]

[ttompatz]

[spilot101]

Cheers

[eventually]

I worked in Korea last year (EPIK) with a speedy non-official FBI check and a state apostille. I don't know how I didn't get called out on that.