Korean Job Discussion Forums

[taobenli]

Hello wise ones,

I've just finished my PhD (not in Korea, in the U.S.) and will be moving (back) to Korea to teach in my discipline at a university. I need an E-1 visa, and my husband and daughter will be on dependent visas for now.

I have spent time in Korea as a researcher, but haven't taught there, so the E-class visa application process is new to me.

Is this the correct order for things?
1. Apply for FBI country-wide criminal background check ASAP (as I heard it can take up to 6 weeks), pay for an expedited service to get it apostilled quickly. (Can anyone point me to good online links for these?) Then this results in a hard copy of criminal records plus visa issuance number, correct?

2. In the meantime, take copies of my M.A. and B.A. to be notarized (or apostilled?) somewhere. (Where??) I am nervous about this, as though I JUST received the PhD, U.S. universities are slow and I will likely not receive the physical diploma until I am actually in Korea. I guess just the M.A. is fine for the E-1 visa itself, though.

3. Once I have the visa issuance number, bring copy of highest diploma, invitation letter, employment contract, and visa issuance number to the Korean Consulate. Also a photo. And bring along my husband and kid with their passports (U.S.) and photos (?) to get dependent visas at the same time. (I am confused about WHERE the visa issuance number comes from, though--on the Korean Consulate website it says "Visa Issuance Number from Korean Immigration Services." Is there a step I'm missing here?) How long do E-class visas usually take? I heard just a couple of days, but...

I haven't bought tickets yet but was aiming for August 12th, so we have a little time to settle before I start teaching Sept. 1st. Is this doable in this timeframe???

My future colleagues seem cool (I've met them) but the admin at this university have not been super helpful (not surprised)....

[SeoulNate]

Application is exactly the same as it is for an E-2, except that they want all of your degrees to get appostiles. You can follow the general E-2 guidelines for all documents and there are millions of detailed guides here and on other sites, so I won't get into the process too specifically.


The only one I will address, since you seem confused, is number 2.

You can get the copies of the documents (except the FBI check) notarized from any public notary(make sure you check their license to check the validity of the notary stamp, local courthouse is probably your best bet), then take the original and the copy to your secretary of state's office and have them appostile it. For best results, drive and get it done on the same day, don't mail it.

[SeoulNate]

One addition as well.

EVERY university in the US will perform a rush service on your degree if you request it. It might cost you some $$, but I would recommend doing it as you will need the degree.

[Trevor]

I applied for an FBI check from China. It has a big red official looking stamp from some government forensic lab. I sent it off as-is. What's this apostile thing? Did I screw it up already? It's getting mailed to my friend in the U.S. because sending it to China is dicey. If I have to, my friend can Fedex it to me.

[drcrazy]

[SeoulNate]