Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jellobean]

Given all the CRC horror stories I've heard, I was surprised at the ease with which I got my CRC. In total, it cost me $31 in fees and a few more bucks in postage. I thought I'd post the process for any who might be attempting this.

Note: You must be in Ohio (to be fingerprinted) and might need an Ohio adress (can't say for sure because I used my parents adress in Ohio).

1. Go to the local county Board of Education and get fingerprinted for a BCCI (that's the abbreviation for the state check). Show a US driver's liscence (mine wasn't from Ohio but it was okay). Cost should be $25. (For $60 you can get the FBI as well, but my mom still doesn't have hers back a month later and I had the state check in about 4 days.) What happens here is they digitally send your fingerprints to the state for the check and then mail you the results. Since all teachers in Ohio have to have this (and the fed check) done, they gave me no trouble. When they asked which school district to mail it to, I just said none.

2. Contact the BCCI office and tell them you need a signed notarized copy of the check. I sent a signed request via email. I did this after I received the first unnotarized check, but if you do this right away (the day you get printed) they will probably send out the first one notarized.

Apostile by Mail
3. Send $1 and a written request to get the county certificate needed for an apostile. Again, if you do this the day you get fingerprinted, you may be able to get the certificate with your check, they come from the same office (or at least county, the same switchboard lady answers the phone). You will need a Madison county certificate because that is where the BCCI is done and notarized.

4. Send $5 and a written request to get the apostile. I did this in combination with the county certificate. I put the $5 check, request and an envelope addressed to me in an unsealed envelope addressed to the state with the request for the country certificate and the person who does the Madison county certificates just mailed everything on to the state for me to save mailing time.

Apostile in Person
3. If you don't have the country certificate, take the notarized CRC and go to Madison county and get the certificate. Cost $1. While you wait.

4. Take the notarized CRC and county certificate to the state office. Cost $5. While you wait. (Columbus)


All of the government workers I dealt with were friendly and prompt, although I did have to hold for quite a while when I first called for the notarized CRC. My CRC was mailed out the day after I got fingerprinted and the certificate and apostile were processed in 1 day at each location. Mailing time was the only variable and it can be eliminated (for the certificate and apostile -- not sure about the BCCI) by going in person.

The only place I can see you having problems might be with a county board of education, but if you go in dressed well and have an address in that county to mail the CRC to, I think you should be able to use charm if they give you any problems. I'd guess this is easier in smaller more rural counties but maybe not.

If you need any further information like addresses and phone numbers for the offices, just send me a pm.

[Illysook]

I live in Columbus, so I went to the Franklin County Sheriff's department and paid 5 cents for my background check, then trotted around the corner and upstairs to the county law library to find a notary($1.50, then down to the 3rd floor clerk's office to have the notarization certified(2.50) From there it was a few blocks to the Ohio Department of State for the Apostille (5.00).

It took about an hour or so, cost me $9.00 and I didn't have to get my fingers dirty.

In the future, don't pay for the more expensive and more time consuming background check unless you are going to teach here in Ohio.