Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Huemeister]

As I posted a few weeks ago, I was rejected for a position after they saw my criminal bacground check (as per the new visa regulations). For those who didn't read it, I was arrested twice 25 years ago when I was 17, for possession of marijuana and burglary. (In Texas, 17 is considered an adult, so it stays on file). I should add that I was never convicted for these offenses. Also, I had already worked one year in Korea with of course no arrests or any trouble whatsoever. Still, the school I had applied to - and was hired by, before they saw my background check - said they could no longer give me the position due to the arrests, even though I was approved for the visa. I feel I should disclose the name of the school since I spent around $100 U.S. to acquire and ship my documents over there. It's called Mokpo English Village in Mokpo. Here is an e-mail response from the school on Dec. 20, after I had disclosed that I had been arrested when I was younger:

"Hi, John

I checked with the immigration office about your two arrests. They said it doesn't matter if you don't have any convictions. You don' t need to worry about that, and send two documents asap.

Liz"

And here is the e-mail I received after I sent my documents:

"Hi, John

I'm sorry to inform you of bad news.
I received your documents on Monday. After reviewing your documents, I wasn't sure whether the headquarters would approve your employment because of the reasons of two arrests. So I reported to the headquaters about the reason of two arrests.

I have got the answer just now. Unfortunately, they did't approve your employment even though the immigration office said okay.

When you mentioned two arrests, you didn't say about the reasons. I know it happened when young, and you don't have any convictions.
But it's beyond my power about the matter.

Once again I'm sorry and I'll send all of your documents asap.

Sincerely,

Liz"

So, they told me not to worry about the arrests, but then when they saw the report, and that it included (gasp) possession of marijuana, they rejected it, since as we know marijuana may as well be heroin in Korea. Or, they thought I would steal them blind. Either way, I was NEVER CONVICTED in a court of law, but found guilty by Mokpo English Village.

Just thought I should share this with my fellow teachers, lest they waste money sending docs to Korea that will get them rejected from a job.

[Snowkr]

That really is a shame to hear.

Still, I appreciate the fact that employers are not backing down on this CRC thing.

[mrsquirrel]

So you didn't tell them what your arrests were for.

Was that deliberate because you knew that dope and burglary looks bad or just a slip on your part?

[DrTommyTom]

I have been looking into this criminal background check thing for some time now...I've managed to dig up some information, both with my consulate here in Canada...and one website in particular that has been helpful...

anyways, I have a criminal record...non-violent misdemeanor...I thought this would screw me in the application of my visa but it hasn't so far...

heres the info i got from ESL planet...

What on my criminal background check will prevent me from getting an E2 visa?

It is ok.. a speeding ticket will not disqualify you.
What will disqualify you is:

* any drug related offence
Yes that is right! If you were caught hiding a joint in your high school locker, you will not be given an E2 visa. There is a zero tolerance with drug related offences.
* any sex related offence
Anything at all here..ZERO ZERO tolerance
* Any violence related offence
Any crime relating to a violence matter diqualifies you from getting a visa
* any jail term
If you have been to jail for a crime, you will be ineligible for an E2 visa...for anything..jail means no visa!


<http://www.esl-planet.com/FAQ.aspx>

[gangpae]

You've got admit - arrested for burglary - has a pejorative sound to it. I am bewildered by the fact that, although it happened so long ago, you haven't done anything to have it expunged from your record.

[kprrok]

Two arrests, even though not convicted, for those crimes don't look good here.

Burglary...as a hagwon owner or boss this could look like you might steal things on your way out. Or not pay bills. It could show a lack of honesty.

Marijuana...this country is crazy about foreigners and drugs, they don't like it, and are afraid that if you were arrested once, maybe you didn't get arrested several other times. This means you could bring the evil drugs here!

If you didn't tell them what the arrests were for, gotta say it's your own fault. If you did tell them, and they still said "send the docs" and stuff, it's theirs.

NOTE: the two descriptions above are POSSIBLE ways to look at the arrests. I don't know for sure why they didn't like them, but I can understand why they didn't.

Also, you weren't convicted by Mokpo EV, they just didn't want to hire you for the reason that you were arrested for crimes before, which means you were suspected of them, probably for at least some reason.

KPRROK

[Zyzyfer]

What's interesting is that immigration had no problems with it. What I don't like as much is a school also passing judgement on a criminal record, unless they were requesting it as well as immigration.

[caniff]

[DrTommyTom]

[Bibbitybop]

1. It's good to see someone (ESL Planet) has some qualifications regarding background checks. Is that info through immigration, too?

2. A lot of people are forgetting that in the USA, innocent people are arrested all the time. INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY has meaning in the USA. If the OP was arrested for anything but not convicted, we must treat him, and Korea should treat him, as innocent. Don't let scary words like "drugs," "burglary" or even "rape" have any affect unless they are accompanied with the word "guilty."

3. It's good to hear immigration didn't bar him from an E-2, but stupid that some BS English Village did. OP, English Villages suck anyways, you'll be better off somewhere else.

4. Caniff is right about "sex offenses." Many non-sexual offenses are considered by law to be sex offenses. Just ask the truck driver who almost hit a 14 year oldgirl when she jaywalked. He got out, very scared for her, tried to convince her she almost died, but she wouldn't listen to him. He grabbed her arm in a plea to reason with her.

Later, the judge told him he regrets the decision, but according to law, simply touching the girl requires him to register as a sex offender.

USA Sparkling.

[Snowkr]

Good response.

I especially like the "USA sparkling" bit. Wish more people here would remember what kind of idiotic laws and policies exist in own home countries before starting to bash Korea.

[Jackofall]

I mentioned this on another thread regarding the background check; it might help you.

I have a misdemeanor disorderly conduct charge which I paid 200usd for and no jail time. The charge was in South Carolina so I will run up to North Carolina and get a check there. Since the states pretty much keep to themselves on most low level crimes it will come back clean.

I think it will be well worth the time to do it that way, rather than worry that it may turn out like what happened to you. Oh, and I applied for that school too but I turned it down..to little money and the guys I spoke with said it was better than the ones around there but not that great.

[The_Conservative]

[Beej]

[yingwenlaoshi]

Your CRC might not have to be the school's business if it's only needed by immigration. If immi had no problem with it and it had been only sent to them without your school having seen it, you'd have been hired.

If you want a job in Korea, send all your documents directly to immigration next time. Your boss doesn't need to see your transcript, diploma, CRC or health check. It's immigration's business. Your boss shouldn't have his or her grubby little hands on these docs.