Korean Job Discussion Forums

[SAbabe]

I am sitting here and I feel like crying. We've applied to Epik last year, had the interview and got all the documents ready. We've just received a call from our agent, saying that from Jan 2009 Epik does not accept any applications if you have an DUI on your record.

My boyfriend has an DUI record from 15 years back, when he was a student. He only received a fine, but it reflects on his Criminal record check. We confirmed with our agent last year if this would be problem, he contacted Epik and they said it was fine. Now they come with this new rules. They haven't even sent our documents to immigration.

Please give us some advice. What should we do. We both resigned from our jobs, sold our cars..... and now this.

[oldtactics]

EPIK isn't to blame for this - they're rejecting you because immigration won't give you a visa if you have a criminal record. Your boyfriend's options are to either apply to get the charge wiped from the record or look for employment in countries that don't request a CRC.

There might be a way to apply for a CRC from a different city/district and avoid the DUI showing up, but it depends on where he's from and where he ordered the check from.

[Gnawbert]

If you're still in the United States, you can simply get a criminal check from another state and if there's no record of problems, you'll get a clear check. Procedures vary of course, but contact another state if you need.

Incidentally, the only way I discovered this massive loophole was when I was walking my girlfriend through the process a year ago, since she resided in a different state for 6 months and I wanted to make sure the CRC would be accepted by Kimmigration.

[the oak llama]

...

[maingman]

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

English Program in Korea (EPIK)
Office no. 301
National Institute for International Education (NIIED)
43 Ihwajang-gil, Jongno-gu
Seoul 110-810 KOREA
tel: (+82) 2-3668-1400
fax: (+82) 2-765-9947
http://www.epik.go.kr

[sobriquet]

He broke the law

He has a criminal record.

Simple as that. He can't work here.

I hate drink drivers. Scum of the earth.

[pocariboy73]

[Biblethumper]

We all make mistakes. We all stumble and fall to temptation. Unfortunately, we also all ahve to learn to live with the consequences. I myself have been dogged by youthful indiscretions for my entire career in Korea. Luckily for me, I had no criminal charges laid, but dealing with persistent rumours and stories can be equally damaging.

Nonetheless, I have learned that we must all deal with the hand we have dealt ourselves.

[moosehead]

[cedarseoul]

If your heart is set on EPIK but you need the money soon, I'd follow the suggestions of others on this thread and then find a short-term contract with a hagwon (maybe a summer program?) that will get you in-country and working prior to the next round of hiring.

[agoodmouse]

Exactly what age was he when he received his DUI?

[sobriquet]

[megandadam]

dui is different from DWI

maybe he smoked a little J and drove. the point is this person is asking for advice on what should be a helpful forum and gets your unhelpful answer.

15 years ago, who knows it could have been from anything. point is, follow their advice and get the check in a different locale or from the fbi.

and if it was driving while drinking - wake the F up and never do it again!

m&a

[sobriquet]

[subicslugger]

Odds are immigration will approve his visa, even with the DWI. This seems to be a policy that EPIK is implementing, not immigration.

If EPIK rejects you because of the DWI, find a different job elsewhere. Once everything is submitted to immigration, it all depends in the individual officer who processes the paperwork.

Plenty of people have received visas with DWI's and there are also quite a few that have been rejected, its a roll of the dice.