Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Zalithian]

Hey everyone. I'm a senior linguistics major at a well known public university here in the US. I'll be graduating in December, but I'm having a problem which could lead to me not getting my diploma on time for EPIK's main intake in February. I've spoken to the registrar's office several times to try and get this sorted, but the person in charge there claims it's not possible to get my diploma expedited. At this point I have roughly a 50% chance of not being able to submit my apostilled diploma on time. I'm guessing that means I'll be pushed to later intake or just plain out of luck. My EPIK coordinator told me it's not possible for them to make an exception if I cannot get them an apostilled copy of my diploma before the deadline. I have all my other documents, including the letter of expected graduation, apostilled CRC's, etc.

Has anyone dealt with a situation like this before? Were you able to get your diploma expedited by speaking with higher ups like a Dean or perhaps someone else? I'm going to continue speaking with school officials to see if I can get something done, but I'm not hopeful about it.

If I cannot secure my EPIK job by getting my diploma to them on time I am considering other options in advance. How does one go about contacting other schools directly for positions? Can you do that from the US or do you need to be in Korea? Which MOE's/POE's do not fill positions via EPIK or GEPIK?

Sorry for the long post and many questions. I'm just trying to plan ahead (something I've heard is difficult when dealing with Korea). I also searched for diploma but did not find anything useful.

[ttompatz]

Until you have your actual parchment in hand the point is moot.

You REQUIRE a certified true copy of your parchment with an apostille affixed as part of the visa application process.

Not having one means NO VISA.

See you next April.

.

[young_clinton]

Chock up one more disappointment caused by rigid paperwork requirements for getting hired.

[Zalithian]

[ontheway]

[Zalithian]

I see. Thanks. I'll press a little harder at my school.

[mayorhaggar]

I know you can apply with a note from your school stating that you are expected to graduate, or that you have graduated. But I don't know what the deadline situation is for submitting the apostilled copy of your diploma. I know that you can bring the copy with you to Korea and turn it in during orientation, but I dunno if you can turn it in later if you don't have it yet.

[CentralCali]

[ontheway]

[young_clinton]

Exception: Current students must initially submit a Letter of Expected Graduation and send the official apostilled copy of their diploma upon receiving it. The original diploma must be sent to Korea if it will not be issued before the teacher departs their home country.

The above was typed directly from the Required Documents on the EPIK website at www.epik.kr.

Evidently the degree certificate doesn't even have to have been issued from the university when you leave for Korea, you have to have the certificate mailed to EPIK when it is issued, if you have already departed for Korea.

Looks like you have nothing to worry about OP.

[Zalithian]

[Quirkyfire]

I'm going through this same tango with my University- they won't have my diploma ready by EPIK deadlines, which is beyond frustrating. If you log on to the EPIK program facebook page, they address the "Exception: ...." quoted above. Looks like you have to have your apostilled diploma in to them by July 20-25 (this is for next Fall's intake). They are quoting about a month before you start (assuming you have the otherwise required letter from your University indicating your graduation date. I'm still struggling through the red tape trying to get my diploma earlier- but my school, like the OP, says there is no expedited process. 3 month wait for a diploma I spent over $100,000 for? Come on.

[Zalithian]

It's rather silly. I made some progress with the registrars office but there would still be a chance I wouldn't receive my diploma on time. I saw the ombudsman yesterday so hopefully he can figure something out.

[bakather]

I was scared I was going to have this same issue. My recruiter told me that I could just do the letter of expected graduation and bring the diploma with me to Korea. This was at the beginning of this year.

[Zalithian]