Korean Job Discussion Forums

rapier · Joined: 16 Feb 2003

I am just 5 minutes after a full scale argument with my boss and supervisor.. the issue? Non return of my personal property.

I was recruited in country- so I had to hand over my original certificate and degree transcript in order to process my E2 visa- nearly a year ago..
After that deal I of course asked for them back: but they said they needed them for alien registration. A little unsure i allowed it.

A month later I asked for all my documents back, but there was tension over some other issue at the time, they thought I was about to do a runner, so insisted on hanging onto them. I let it go because I didn't want to create a lot of ill feeling by calling police etc so early on into my contract. I reminded them several times over the year, but always some excuse- I resolved that if I ever needed them quickly I could simply call the labor board to get them for me and back me up.
And so today: I now have only 3 weeks left on contract. I asked for my certs: He gave me my degree certificate, but no transcript.
After a sleepless night last night, todays row- (I'm still seething).. he reckons he has to keep hold of the original transcript for tax/immigration purposes.
But How can I get another visa/ job without my original transcript??? Many schools only accept the original..

What to do? Call the Labor board? Police? embassy? what? I guess he'll use this rift as an excuse to fire me a week before the end of my year or something..OMG, what now??

peppermint · Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 9:57 pm Post subject:

Don't stress it, universities will issue new official transcripts readily. Chances are that you can even order one from your school's website.

chronicpride · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

I don't know what your boss is talking about. Immigration has squat to do with transcripts. It's a hogwan's personal request, not anything needed for visa issuance.

You can still get jobs without it. The only time that immigration has ever asked a school who I dealt with, about seeing a particular teacher's transcript, was after they received a degree that was missing the university's seal, which came off in transit to Korea. They wanted to rule out that it was fake.

Don't sweat it.

rapier · Joined: 16 Feb 2003

kangnamdragon · Joined: 17 Jan 2003 Location: Kangnam, Seoul, Korea

Universities send original transcripts.

rapier · Joined: 16 Feb 2003

I've just called the embassy: There is no legal basis for an employer to hold onto your original certificate, but if they want to keep a notarised copy of certificates for their records, notarisation costs 69.000 won.
Theres no way I am going to pay for an official copy for them- that they Do not even need.

kermo · Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 10:55 pm Post subject: I hope this is comforting...

I'd like to try to bolster what has been said already, and affirm that (at least at my university in Canada), there's no such thing as an "official" transcript (you mean that sheet with the courses and grades and such?).

When you apply for graduate school, or for numerous jobs, you order these suckers (I've paid around $10 a pop) and send them out. I've never gotten one back!

So, check with your university. I would expect that you'll find there's nothing to worry about except the hassle of getting a new one, and shelling out a few bucks.

As for why your boss is keeping yours, I have no clue. Maybe he's a little over-worried? I think you will be just fine.

peppermint · Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2004 11:08 pm Post subject:

my uni offers them free- though I'd have to pay to get them here, I think.

FUBAR · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Location: The Y.C.

It will cost you about 30,000 to get them sent over. About 10,000 to get the official transcript and 20,000 to get it sent over. There is no such thing as an official notarized transcript. In order for anyone to notarize the transcript, they would have to open the envelope on the transcript, thus breaking the seal on the envelope making it an unofficial transcript with a seal.

I have two options for you. Go get your transcripts back and risk getting fired or pay the $30 and ensure that you haven't given the boss any reason at all to be fired.

ladyandthetramp · Joined: 21 Nov 2003

pecan · Joined: 01 Jul 2004

Not sure if this is new to you Rapier, but if the envelope your transcripts originally came in has already been opened, your transcripts are no longer valid.

Why you would want invalid transcripts returned to you is a mystery, especially since it is apparently causing a problem at work?

You can easily order ten at a time from your university (it is very cheap). Inside the envelope that they get shipped in, will contain ten sealed envelopes. Once the individual envelopes are opened, the transcripts will no longer be considered valid (no seal, no deal).

Not that it matters, but I have never known any perspective employer that would return any of the documents that a potential employee sent out, or a potential employee that expected to have their documents returned.

Nut

peppermint · Posted: Tue Sep 14, 2004 12:04 am Post subject: Re: Order

rapier · Joined: 16 Feb 2003

Well I calmed down- and requested a proper meeting withwj-nim to discuss it properly and lay out my concerns. He also has a former reference as well- which he is likewise refusing to return (why???).
However he has mysteriously vanished from the office for the day..

What is it with these monkeys and their obsession with getting their greasy mits on my documents? My former hagwon was a similar story. That time the director insisted on keeping my original degree. Eventually I noticed he'd framed it in his office. I had to sneak in and remove it when he was out one day, replacing it with a quick photocopy, that he took weeks to notice. My co-worker only got his diploma back after a year, by which time it had been folded multiple times and resembled an antique treasure map.

Highly unprofessional and unreasonable behavior- their way of trying to hold some power over your head.
And totally needless: I've proven to be a trustworthy worker here- and theres honestly no reason for me to do a runner now..childish..I said if he wanted a safeguard, he could "keep my watch" until the last day instead...

To be continued. Definitely, to be continued..

T-dot · Joined: 16 May 2004 Location: bundang

official means a transcript in an unopened envelope.

just order another from your school's website. if its a headache don't worry about it, move on.

just tell the new hagwon that it is coming in the mail.

J.B. Clamence · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

What country did you go to university in, and how do transcripts work there? In the U.S., as others have said, there is no such thing as a one-and only original transcript. When you need them, you pay your university registrar's office to mail them to whoever needs them. Some universities do it for free. I have a few copies of my transcripts in sealed envelopes. The envelopes say that they are "unofficial if opened by student". So your transcript isn't even official if it's out of the envelope. Losing it is no big deal. I've sent my transcripts on request to many different places over the years for grad school and jobs, etc., and I've never had them returned (nor should one expect them to be returned). Just order some more from your university (order more than one, you may need them).