Korean Job Discussion Forums

[seoul101]

Hello,

I've recently become aware that transcripts cannot be more than 3 months old when applying for a new visa (can they make things any more difficult?!).
I just checked one of the open transcripts I have and, unsurprisingly, it is not dated when it was printed off by my University. Only with the date I received my degree.

Is this a problem? Does anyone have experience with this, or would care to comment?

Many thanks for any help!

[alabamaman]

Immigration propaganda comming down the pipes again

[seoul101]

alabamaman, just telling it how it is! Or at least how I've been told...

What's the score on this one?

[Mr Crowley]

Someone is giving you wrong info. I got my visa 3 weeks ago with transcripts that my university sent me last year. Although, immigration is known to change their mind, or "policy" on things from one day to the next.

[alabamaman]

I've used transcripts that were over three months old. The seal was still in tact. You are hearing a grotesque rumor from some individual who hasn't been to the concerned Korean Immigration Office himself/herself. You can always walk down to your closest Immigration Office and ask the exact same question youre asking us. They probably won't have a clue. They don't have a clue as to what a Letter of Release is sometimes. What matters is that it's the real McCoy, and that the seal isn't broken.

[seoul101]

Thanks guys, those are positive responses.

It's funny, why would a recruiter give this info? Are you sure it's not something that's came out in the last few days?

[prairieboy]

Actually, 2 weeks ago, this happened to a teacher at my company. Immgration rejected the transcripts because they were more than 3 months old.

We were informed that this is the policy now. Transcripts must be no more than 3 months old.

The teacher had to order new transcripts to submit.

It might be someone at immigration doesn't know what the policy and is handing one of us a line.

That's the nature of immigration. New policy today, abandoned tomorrow only to be picked up again the day after, etc. etc. etc.

I said it before...it's retarded.

It's sealed, stamped, mailed direct from the university...how could it not be a proper, true, original and legitimate transcript? Immigration... and the E-2 visa... Thank god I don't have to deal with that anymore, the F2-1 is much better.

[own_king]

Your transcript will be fine as long as the information on it is current. That rule only applies, if you have taken courses in the last three months. It just means that the information on it can't be outdated. Most of us finished school more than three months ago, so don't worry.

[canuckistan]

[dimnd]

My transcripts are two years old and the ones used for my job last year were a year old. They were degree transcripts that corroborated my diploma. Maybe that is also a difference. Also, no other courses were taken as the sealed transcripts which I turned in were ..as I said...degree transcripts. I have 2 more dated 2004 but think they are fine also along with 3 more diplomas I ordered.

Any comments?
Peg

[EdInstead]

This time limit thing is nothing more than an attempt to control the teacher as much as possible. They do not want teachers to be able to leave contracts easily, or quickly. They are doing as much as possible in order to deter this. They don't want you to have sealed legal copies of your transcripts sitting around, ready for immediate use. Thus the 3 month rule. As far as "dated" is concerned, they're often looking for a mailing date, as I've heard.

Those of you who live here long enough (and are actually teaching here) will learn that Korea is all about control and hierarchy. Korean employees are also treated like servants, and cannot easily go from job-to-job. It's their way. If a Korean leaves a job quickly, that record follows them for the rest of their lives.

Bosses have always counted on that fact, and can easily mistreat their workers for at least a year (which is often the minimum Korean employees will put up with hell). It truly is an owner-slave mentality. Rarely will a Korean leave a job in under a year, or even two. They will endure it, just so they don't have it on their record that they left early. Bosses play this for all it's worth. Bosses even want control over that employee after they have left (release letters, recommendations, etc.). It's all about power-tripping and confucist ego.

Foriegners are different. We don't care, can get another teaching job the same day, and will quickly go elsewhere if mistreated. This disrupts the whole system, and quite frankly, is not something Koreans are mentally prepared to deal with. The realization that they don't have control over the employee is just too much for their pride to handle.

It's the same with immigration. And quite frankly, if they allowed you to come and go from jobs as you pleased, they would have to increase their staff ten-fold due to all of the sucky employers here, and people leaving.

So what is the result of all of this? We now have an estimated 20,000+ waygooks here working illegally on tourist visas. Koreans have no control over them, unless caught. Lost tax revenue, etc... all because of a big ego trip.

Way to go immigration. Perfect illustration of the flawed confucist mentality still at large.

The funny thing that you know drives them absolutely insane is the fact that they can do nothing about the illegals, unless the illegals are caught. If they do, then they know the Koreans who are richer and more powerful than they will shit razors, because their families will encounter visa difficulties in Canada, etc., when they begin clamping down on Koreans living/working over there.

[lastat06513]

That's why when I return to Korea, I will not apply for a visa and instead work part-time.

Yep, you've heard it from me, lastat, the TRUE devil's advocate has gone renegade.

And screw all of you who say it is illegal!!!
I am an ESL vet, I've earned the right to do privates!!!!!
And I will bet I will thrive on it, you'll see

Guys and Gals..........see all of you next year~!

[seoul101]

Seems this 3 month thing is turning out to be true - lets hope it gets trashed sooner rather than later. This sort of thing is what makes me look to another country, so Korea will just lose out on qualified, legal teachers and make do with illegal ones.

So the postage stamp is what they go by - mine is just in a plain envelope with the University stamp. Would it work just to send it home in an envelope then get someone to post the transcript envelope with a postage stamp on it (thus leaving a recent date on there)?
Hopefull that's not too confusing.

Thanks!

[seoul101]

lastat, I don't blame you. If I were you, I'd call myself an 'English Mercenary'.

[lastat06513]