Korean Job Discussion Forums

[nader2007]

My recruiter says I have to mail my actual diploma to the school I'm negotiating, as part of the visa process. Is this normal? Has anyone had problems with this? I'd hate to have any problems getting it back, your diploma is kind of important and irreplacable.

[StAxX SOuL]

It�s pretty standard procedure...

Once you have an offer from a school, to get the E2 Visa process started you need to mail your diploma to them... it used to be the case that a notarised copy sufficed but I think that might have changed more recently... ask whether a notarised copy would be acceptable, otherwise just FedEx it to them, that�s what I did and it was ready waiting for me at my school when I started... just make a point of getting your diploma back when you get there as some schools like to hold on to diplomas as an insurance against midnight runs but subsequently manage to misplace the diploma...

[Fresh Prince]

I mailed my diploma and everything was fine until I asked the school to return it to me during. At first they told me that they lost it and so couldn't give it back to me but when I told them how expensive the replacement cost was, they confessed that they actually had it but that they wanted to keep it in case immigration called and wanted to see it.

I explained to them that I needed it to apply for another job that would start at the end of my contract, and that it was very important to me to get it back. The refused to do it, explaining that if they gave it back to me, there would be nothing stopping me from leaving the school and finding another job. I ended up getting it back after a couple of months of pestering them, but I would recommend researching alternative ways to get your visa, instead of sending the diploma.

[ella]

NEVER mail or give anyone your original diploma. Go to the nearest Korean embassy or consulate and get official copies made. If anyone in Korea refuses to accept those, walk away. They're trying to pull a fast one. I swear they use the diploma thing as a litmus test to see how green/ignorant you are and what else they can pull on you. Don't do it.

[Bibbitybop]

[nader2007]

good news, I talked to my college, and they can print me up a duplicate for 20 bucks. Problem solved, I guess.

[Missihippi]

[nader2007]

I think it depends on your situation; I am dealing with a recruiter and their process is to get the visa situated before you get there.

[ironmaninkorea]

just mail the original, every university will replace your degree for a fee, its only a piece of paper, jeeez. stop bitching and moaning, life is more complex, this is not one of those decisions.

[Zutronius]

I was told that notarized copies would also be acceptable.