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ccikulin
Joined: 23 Mar 2008
Location: Sunae-dong, Bundang
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 Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 12:35 pm Post subject: Info for new graduates hoping to work in Korea |
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I know there has been a lot of confusion on the topic of what you actually need to get an E-2 Visa to teach English in Korea. I was a little worried about this myself as I just graduated a month ago and won't be getting my actual diploma until the end of August but wanted to start working this summer. As it turns out I was able to get my visa with a letter of graduation from my university with an Apostille (notary) from the secretary of state. The certificate was free and the apostille cost $10. So anyone who just graduated or will be graduating and wants to go to work right away, you can do this.
I already got my visa and will be flying to K tomorrow to start a new public middle school job in Bundang near Sunae station. So it worked for me. |
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thematrixiam
Joined: 31 Oct 2007
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 12:43 pm Post subject: |
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you might want to include you also need a criminal background check with vulnerable sector search in it.
also feel free to make multiple copies of your degree/letter and background check. get them all notarized by a lawyer, then stamped by the korean consulate.
If you plan on staying another year, or quit your new job and want to get a different one, it'll make life easier.
Also, the criminal background check is only good for 3 months. |
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aerialsimulacrum
Joined: 11 May 2008
Location: Space is the place
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 12:50 pm Post subject: |
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| thematrixiam wrote: |
| also feel free to make multiple copies of your degree/letter and background check. get them all notarized by a lawyer, then stamped by the korean consulate. |
The OP is in America and so only needs to get an apostille put on the notarized copy by his/her state's department of state (or equivalent authority).
I don't think it matters that a lawyer, specifically, notarizes the copies, since the apostille is what certifies that the notary is legitimate. It is like an international notary. My copies were notarized at a credit union and my state's office put the apostilles on with no problem.
Last edited by aerialsimulacrum on Mon Jun 23, 2008 12:51 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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ccikulin
Joined: 23 Mar 2008
Location: Sunae-dong, Bundang
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 12:50 pm Post subject: |
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| thematrixiam wrote: |
you might want to include you also need a criminal background check with vulnerable sector search in it.
also feel free to make multiple copies of your degree/letter and background check. get them all notarized by a lawyer, then stamped by the korean consulate.
If you plan on staying another year, or quit your new job and want to get a different one, it'll make life easier.
Also, the criminal background check is only good for 3 months. |
That's right, thanks for the note. I had to get a criminal background check with an apostille as well as 3 copies of sealed university transcripts.
Also note, not even the hogwans and schools in Korea are really clear about this. I was told by several hogwan recruiters that I wouldn't be able to get a visa without my original diploma, but after talking to the Consulate in Chicago I was able to submit the letter of graduation instead.
Good thing they told me I couldn't get it, because I ended up spending more time reading the forums here and ended up getting a much better job than I was originally looking at. |
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thematrixiam
Joined: 31 Oct 2007
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 12:53 pm Post subject: |
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| ccikulin wrote: |
| thematrixiam wrote: |
you might want to include you also need a criminal background check with vulnerable sector search in it.
also feel free to make multiple copies of your degree/letter and background check. get them all notarized by a lawyer, then stamped by the korean consulate.
If you plan on staying another year, or quit your new job and want to get a different one, it'll make life easier.
Also, the criminal background check is only good for 3 months. |
That's right, thanks for the note. I had to get a criminal background check with an apostille as well as 3 copies of sealed university transcripts.
Also note, not even the hogwans and schools in Korea are really clear about this. I was told by several hogwan recruiters that I wouldn't be able to get a visa without my original diploma, but after talking to the Consulate in Chicago I was able to submit the letter of graduation instead.
Good thing they told me I couldn't get it, because I ended up spending more time reading the forums here and ended up getting a much better job than I was originally looking at. |
Never let your hogwan tell you they need your original degree.
Send them to the immigration website if they say that.
They like to hold onto your degree and use it as leverage to avoid runners. I didn't get mine back til halfway through my contract. some people never get theirs back.
a copy with stamp works just fine |
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aerialsimulacrum
Joined: 11 May 2008
Location: Space is the place
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 1:17 pm Post subject: |
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This is a checklist I made based on information my recruiter gave me. I am applying for a public school program, and some of the required stuff was issued as forms provided by their office, so maybe some of the documents will be different for other cases such as different PS programs or those going to work in hogwans (marked *).
_ Application form*
_ Formal resume
_ Notarized and apostilled university degree copy
_ Notarized and apostilled teaching certificate copy if applicable
_ Sealed, official university transcripts (I think you are supposed to have these sent to the employer in Korea, not your address... but am not sure)
_ Clear photocopy of passport information page - passport must be valid for at least a year
_ Notarized and apostilled criminal record check from within the last three months
_ Employment verification, for full time teaching jobs, with signature of the employer* (I guess this is just a signed letter, and this may be only for the public school programs anyway)
_ Self medical evaluation form*
_ Two letters of reference, from different people, on original letterhead with full contact information
_ Four passport-sized recent color photos taken within the last three months
_ Three signed copies of employment contract*
_ Deposit agreement*
And to repeat, for Americans, do not travel all the way to the Korean consulate and ask them to stamp your document copies because they won't do it. Contact your state's department of state and find out how to get an apostille.
(edited for wider applicability)
Last edited by aerialsimulacrum on Mon Jun 23, 2008 1:26 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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thematrixiam
Joined: 31 Oct 2007
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 1:21 pm Post subject: |
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| aerialsimulacrum wrote: |
_ Sealed, official university transcripts (I think you are supposed to have these sent to the employer in Korea, not your address... but am not sure)
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nah you don't need this. You can get the uni to mail it to you. only send the transcripts as needed. I think your school only needs one.
you may or may not need one for your ARC card. I don't think so though. |
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PRagic
Joined: 24 Feb 2006
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 1:25 pm Post subject: |
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Call three different government offices and get three different answers.
Call three different Korean government workers at the same office, get three different answers.
Glad this worked out for the OP, but I wouldn't put any eggs in this basket if I were a new grad working with a different consulate. |
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ccikulin
Joined: 23 Mar 2008
Location: Sunae-dong, Bundang
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 1:25 pm Post subject: |
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| aerialsimulacrum wrote: |
This is a checklist I made based on information my recruiter gave me. I am applying for a public school program, and some of the required stuff was issued as forms provided by their office, so maybe some of the documents will be different for your case (marked *).
_ Application form*
_ Formal resume
_ Notarized and apostilled university degree copy
_ Notarized and apostilled teaching certificate copy if applicable
_ Sealed, official university transcripts (I think you are supposed to have these sent to the employer in Korea, not your address... but am not sure)
_ Clear photocopy of passport information page - passport must be valid for at least a year
_ Notarized and apostilled criminal record check from within the last three months
_ Employment verification, for full time teaching jobs, with signature of the employer* (I guess this is just a signed letter, and this may be only for the public school programs anyway)
_ Self medical evaluation form*
_ Two letters of reference, from different people, on original letterhead with full contact information
_ Four passport-sized recent color photos taken within the last three months
_ Three signed copies of employment contract*
_ Deposit agreement*
And to repeat, do not travel all the way to the Korean consulate and ask them to stamp your document copies because they won't do it. Contact the Wisconsin department of state and find out how to get an apostille. |
yeah that's about the same as what i had to get. the main thing I was trying to say is that if you just graduated and dont have your diploma yet, you can get by with a degree certificate that you can usually get as soon as your grades are finalized. |
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jboney
Joined: 14 May 2008
Location: Northern Seoul
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| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 10:33 pm Post subject: |
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| aerialsimulacrum wrote: |
_ Two letters of reference, from different people, on original letterhead with full contact information
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(edited for wider applicability) |
I never heard of this. Is this common for working at public schools? |
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