Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Gia3000]

��Send your original university degree diploma; it will be given back to you.�� This is what the school/recruiter told me.

Is it normal? From all the info I��ve read on Dave��s, I gather that doing this is not advisable.

Here��s the e-mail I got from the recruiter (who was only forwarding info from the school):

Because the immigration office got much more strict than before, you will have to send your original degree. A notarized copy doesn't work anymore at some immigration offices and the one taking care of [insert school name here] only accepts the Original degree.

So, is this normal? I mean, the copy of my diploma is certified by the Korean consulate and notarized.

Argh! As if this isn��t enough, they want me to be there on December 6th so they can ship me off to Japan first. I��m getting the special treatment for newbies!

[joe_doufu]

A notarized copy would be fine, but it must be notarized by a Korean notary (at your local consulate/embassy) not by an American notary, of course. And even this, they should only ask you for after the contract is signed (by both parties), you have a copy of it with their signature in your files, and you're ready to ship out. They need it for the visa, not for the job application.

[senorvivo]

It is my understanding that procedures have changed since October, and that original diplomas must be forwarded to Korea prior to issuance of the E2 visas approval. A friend recently sent a notarised {by Korean embassy in Ottawa] copy, along with all supporting docs, sealed transcript etc, and it was knocked back by immigration in Busan. She had to send the original before they would issue her a PIN /confirmation number to take to the embassy in Canada to get her passport stamped. Don't know if she got it back yet though, she has been there a couple of weeks.
Costs money, but you can always get another one issued by your university if neccessary, just a drag waiting for it.

[Zark]

If you plan on working overseas for any extended period of time - it is very worth your while to get an extra original or two of your degree and to stock up on official transcripts. They really don't cost all that much compared to the hassle of not having them when you need them most.

It is not uncommon for employers (or even recruiters) to hold your degree hostage. If you have a spare - no problem.

I keep a couple extras of each of my degrees - and then I NEVER feel like I can be held up by a difficult employer.

[Wrench]

[joe_doufu]

Just tell them it's a notarized copy or it's no deal. Did you speak to immigration directly? Doubt it. The hagwon owner told you that immigration wants your degree, didn't they? They want your degree, not immigration. By simply saying no you'll discover that somehow, they'll find a way to do without. If not, remember how easy it was to get that job offer? Get another.

[senorvivo]

That may well be true, but looking for another job offer puts you back to square one, waiting for contracts, checking them out, couriering new contract and info over to Korea at 60-90 bucks a pop,[plus another 5 days to get there] etc etc. In my friend's case, she did not have the luxury of time, and was just really anxious to get things finalized.
Guess time will tell if she was prudent, no guarantees in this life.

[joe_doufu]

[antoniothegreat]

[senorvivo]

But....but....but.......this site is full of tales of woe from people who find that their contract means zip once they are actually in Korea, or at least it's very much "open to interpretation" so it seems to depend more upon luck than anything else. Even if you get a good contract, having to fight tooth and nail to have it honoured would make for a crappy work situation.
Having signed a very dodgy contract myself, but also having spoken to 3 past and present teachers who were overall very positive, I guess I will find out if indeed the gods DO take care of idiots and innocents. I leave next week.

[joe_doufu]

[OiGirl]

[Teufelswacht]