Korean Job Discussion Forums

[blah]

Panther Modern hit the nail right on the head. My experience dealing with immigration offices in Taiwan, the Philippines, and Korea have taught me quite clearly that no two offices interpret policy in the same light. The only consistency to be found in Asia is inconsistency.

For all the newbies:

Forget about what the actual law is. In Asia, relationships outweigh the letter of the law. Whether based on kinship or bribery, the paper shufflers engage in relationships that leave legislation in their shadows. We enjoy no relationship with anyone important, so we pretty much just have to do what is required.

Don't bother relying on past experience to guide you through the details of what to expect in the future. Implementation of new laws is left to the interpretation of those with signing authority. When office personnel rotate, expect rules to do the same.

Don't even expect the same office to conduct business the same way twice. Always err on the side of bringing extra documentation. It is always better to have too much than too little.

Always ask the same question to as many officials as it takes to hear the same answer at least twice. I can't tell you how many times I have phoned ahead, only to be given information considered false to the person who eventually served me in person. For this reason it is also a good idea to get the name of everyone you speak with.

Photocopy everything. They always seem to want copies along with originals -- even if they tell you otherwise.

Get about 50 passport sized pictures of yourself. You will eventually use them all.

Feel free to add to the list if I have missed anything.

Blah

[tokki]

I just checked my University's website and it looks really simple to get new transcripts. I can request them by fax and I can have them within a week in sealed envelopes or I can even have it faxed over to Korea if Im rushed for time. I will probably just fax a request to them and have a bunch of copies sent to my wife's parents' house while Im on vacation. The thing is that I wasnt asked for transcripts for the job I just finished So I dont know if I will need them. Better to be safe than sorry though.

[Coffeecup]

Seems to me that "Blah" pretty much typed out the most helpful and descriptive response in this thread so far.

I was going to say that from all of the varying replies, there can be only be one conclusion: that immigration officials must be checking only randomly on more detailed issues such as transcripts. Perhaps for every 5 visa app folders that come across their desks they'll go ahead and require the works for one(?).

Otherwise it sounds like Blah put it best, it probably depends not only on who is in charge at that particular office and on that particular day, but probably depends just as well on what mood he is in. Otherwise, what could be the reason for so many varying responses on whether all these esl teachers were or weren't asked for transcripts?

On the otherhand however, does anyone really think that the Hagwon owner ever or sometimes comes into play when trying to get the immigration to 'waive' or overlook the transcripts? Does anyone think that sometimes the school owners either ask (or pay) the immig. officials to 'forget about it?'

[thegadfly]

Official transcripts are usually available from American Universities for a small fee, and you indicate to whom they should be sent. I have had them sent to me so that I have several in hand, and it hasn't caused a problem -- if you get grief, you can always have them sent to a friend.

In the US, you can get Consulate Notorized copies of your degree for $2 each, and they can be requested by mail, though you do need to pay for postage both ways and you have to part with your degree in the mail...but you can get the document insured, make sure it is tracked, have it signed for in both directions.... I have done it 3 times now and have made some extra copies in case more are needed in the future....

I have not yet encountered a situation where I couldn't just show the original when requested and give them an official or certified copy...even when I was told they needed the original...but as has been said, mileage varies, and what worked one way for me may not work the same way for you....

[slideaway77]

Hi

Any Brits out there know what the score is with Sealed Degree Transcripts?
I graduated from Staffordshire University in 2000 but I never recieved these at the end of the degree, I did receive module scores at the end of each academic year which I take are degree transcripts? These were never on official headed paper so are they valid?

I want to teach a few years in Seoul but don't know if I can supply these documents if requested each year.

Any advice from someone whos got these from their UK university?

[Don Mario]

The instructions I got from the job placement agency
and the school board in Korea specifically requested
a notarized copy of my university degree (by the Korean
embassy in the country I was in at the time) and a sealed
envelope of my transcripts.

Ask your university to send you 1/2 dozen and pay for them with Visa!

It s all you ever need, right?

DM

[em79]