Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ginger7]

I just graduated in May but still do not have my diploma. My college told me that I would get it at the end of August, but now they are saying the week of September 11th. I was just hired by a great school for an October start and we were discussing me leaving by September 25th.

I know my college would send a sealed letter saying that I have graduated but I know that my future employer wants the actual diploma. I have read that the Embassy requires the actual diploma, but depending on the mood of the officer, sometimes you can get away with just having a letter.

Am I SOL here? Should I try offering a sealed letter to the school or ask if they have later positions available? Would a visa run be expensive to take care of myself? I don't want to pass up this job because of my college's incompetence. In my opinion, my college should pay for the visa run. This might be the third decent job that I will have to pass up because I do not have a piece of paper right now. This is the most frustrating thing I have ever encountered. I made it so I have no obligations and can leave at any time and now I am just a sitting duck. A frustrated sitting duck.

[Schneepat]

I wouldn't kiss this job goodbye just yet, but things have to go really smoothly. If your diploma arrives by September 11th you have two weeks, and at the school I worked for, we occasionally had to process visas within that kind of time frame.

The easiest option (for you, at least) is for the school to fly you out the moment you get your diploma. You would have to be supplied with a one way ticket into Korea as well as an onward ticket to Japan. Upon arrival in Korea the school would put you up in a luxurious 5-star hotel while your visa is processed in-country. It takes between 5 - 8 working days, and then you would have a 2-day vacation in Osaka while your visa is being processed.

The more stressful option is for you to Fed-ex all your papers and the diploma to Korea the moment you receive them. That takes about two days. Then the school processes your visa and sends you a issuance number once it's processed. They'll email you the number, and then you have to get your passport to the nearest Korean consulate. Getting the visa stamped in your passport takes anywhere from 2 - 5 days depending on what country you're in.

The first option is pretty good if you have some money to live on in Korea while you're waiting for the visa. The school might not be too keen on this option as they are the ones who have to foot the bill to Osaka. They also will have to find someplace for you to live. That promised apartment that you will eventually move into is probably still occupied by the current teacher. If your school has lots of experience with bringing teachers over (i.e. it's a big school), this option will be really easy to go through.

The second option is better if you live in or near a city with a Korean consulate. If you are not driving distance from one, you'll have to rely on courier services, and that two weeks will probably not be enough.

So, in short, don't give up on the job if you think it's a good one. If the school is as good as you think it is, they will easily be able to handle the visa process in 2 weeks.

[corroonb]

I'm in a similar situation but I can't get my degree until November 9th. The school probably won't accept a letter. Every recruiter I've spoken to says that the actual degree is a necessity. Don't worry about finding jobs because there will still be plenty at the end of September. Goodluck

[ttompatz]

[ginger7]

Thanks to all who replied. I was pretty upset and your posts were soothing...

I think I lit a large enough fire under the Dean of my College's butt to get him to work something out with the printers. He said he should be able to mail my diploma to me next week.

So I will be in Daegu in about a month and that is fantastic news.

Also, good luck to you corroonb!

[PRagic]

No dipoloma = No visa. Enjoy the rest of your summer.

[wylies99]

When I completed my bachelor's, I ended up with higher honors than they originally thought- I pulled out a couple of tough A's in my last undergrad semester. So, I had to wait for a diploma with my correct honors. It took almost three months for me to finally receive it.

This is the computer age- nothing should take THAT long.