Korean Job Discussion Forums

[IWantToTeachInKorea]

I got some help from afsjesse regarding my CRC a couple of days ago, now I'm confused about the notarization. I've scanned the Clearance Letter the Sherrif's Department gave me...was I supposed to get his signature notarized or am I supposed to sign somewhere and get that notarized?

Here's a scan of it:

[img]http://img212.imageshack.us/my.php?image=clearanceletterin7.jpg[/img]

Thanks!

[yingwenlaoshi]

[IWantToTeachInKorea]

The problem is that I've gone to a couple of different notaries and they've all looked at the document and given me this confused look. I think they keep telling me that there needs to be a place to sign. There was a lady at Kinko's who said that she could attach an additional page (a special form) that I could sign and she could stamp. I just can't seem to get a straight-forward answer.

But thanks for the advice, I might just end up doing that and taking it to the embassy.

[suki]

Are you talking about the CBC? And you're in the states?

You're supposed to get it notarized AND apostile'd.

My state's apostile section did both at the same time. Google your state - and be sure to tell them it is for Korea.

[IWantToTeachInKorea]

[suki]

A notary is just a person who has a license to verify the authenticity of documents and/or signatures.

The CRC or CBC is just something showing that the sheriff (or whatever it is in your state) has run your name and nothing shows up = no criminal activity on record in your state.

If your sheriff doesn't know what you're talking about (I went through the same thing) look up "criminal background check California." In my state, I could order one on-line. Once I received it, I photocopied it and then sent it to Apostile office for my state and asked them to notarize and apostile it for Korea. Google "apostile California" to find out more info to see if California's office will also notarize. If not, you will have to find out if the sheriff's office has a resident notary and/or find an independent notary that will sign for it.

The process took about 5 days for each step. Heard this can take twice as long, so if you've got a tight deadline, best get on it stat...

[IWantToTeachInKorea]

Actually the process for me shouldn't take more than a day, as I'll be driving from one place to another and doing everything in person. In California, you apparently have to get the CBC notarized, then get it authenticated by the county clerk, and then get an apostille from the Secretary of State's office.

I was given this link by another user on the board and it's very useful if you live in CA:

http://www.sos.ca.gov/business/notary/notary_authentication.htm

And there's obviously a fee for each step which is why I didn't want to go all the way through with it and then find out something was wrong with the notarization. But the one thing I still don't understand...how is the notary supposed to verify something if he wasn't there to witness the signature of the police officer? He didn't even sign it, he printed his name (not sure if it matters).

I think this is a lost cause. I've e-mailed my person of contact with the school and am waiting to see what he says. With my luck, if I order one online, it'll get rejected and they'll tell me I need to get one in person. I'm gonna look into this some more.

[suki]

I think the Secretary of State recognizing it is your State's official Criminal Background Check is good enough. Notarization doesn't only mean witnessing a signature.