Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sojusucks]

Recently, I was talking with a young American woman about all the times she has renewed her visa and I've discovered something quite interesting.

During the previous Immigration rules, an American citizen could use an apostille from the US Embassy.

Currently from what I've been told, the US Embassy will no longer provide an apostille but will provide an affidavit form.

I have looked at the Immigration website that my friend sent me as I questioned the accuracy of what she said: http://www.immigration.go.kr/HP/IMM80/imm_09/1184186_37493.jsp. The site stated:

[Ya-ta Boy]

[buymybook]

I have gone a few rounds with the embassy, they first told me they would provide and affidavit but later rescinded....

After they e-mailed me, I went there but failed to get an affidavit. I later e-mailed them again a few times and complained. You will see that they apologized to me below(They e-mailed me 4 times which can be seen below...

Unfortunately U.S. embassies and consulates cannot authenticate diplomas or other documents from U.S. universities such as transcripts or degrees nor provide notarial services related to such credentials. Please refer to the following website for additional information: http://seoul.usembassy.gov/notarial_services.html

We can furnish you with an affidavit (please note: we are not certifying your written statement) or you can prepare a statement beforehand about your circumstances and bring it to our office for notarization. The cost is $30. You should check with the appropriate authorities whether this document alone would suffice. Please see our website for information regarding notary services: http://korea.usembassy.gov/notarial_services.html. No appointments are necessary.
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We are sorry to give out wrong information but State Department regulations say we cannot verify diplomas or transcripts. We are unable to provide you with affidavits that state the words diploma/transcripts/true copy/original.
Once again, we are sorry for the miscommunication. The staff at the window did in fact provide the right information.
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This is what is stated on our website:
U.S. embassies and consulates cannot authenticate diplomas or other documents from universities and other schools in the United States or provide notarial services related to such credentials," a procedure is delineated for persons who need US academic credentials abroad (copied below). If Korea is a member of the Hague Apostille Convention (para 3), once the person in Korea has the document, they need only get it officially translated into Korean there --- no need to come into the Consular Section.
In an effort to be of assistance to persons who wish to present academic credentials from the United States for use abroad, the following step-by-step guidance is provided.
I. COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES AND OTHER POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS
1. Obtain from the registrar of the University an official true copy of the credentials bearing the seal of the university. The registrar should then execute an affidavit attesting to the validity of the document before a notary public in the registrar's office or elsewhere at the university. Frequently the business office of colleges and universities have notaries public.
2. Take the document to the clerk of court of the county wherein the notary was licensed or commissioned to obtain a notarial certificate suitable for use abroad.
3. Transmit the document, with the notarial certificate to the state Notary Public Administrator for application of the state seal. If the country where the document will be used is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, the state Notary Public Administrator will affix an apostille certificate and no further authentication is necessary. See the Hague Conference on Private International Law Apostille Page for a current list of countries party to the treaty. The treaty is in force in more than 87 countries.

In an effort to be of assistance to persons who wish to present academic credentials from the United States for use abroad, the following step-by-step guidance is provided.
I. COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES AND OTHER POST-SECONDARY INSTITUTIONS
1. Obtain from the registrar of the University an official true copy of the credentials bearing the seal of the university. The registrar should then execute an affidavit attesting to the validity of the document before a notary public in the registrar's office or elsewhere at the university. Frequently the business office of colleges and universities have notaries public.
2. Take the document to the clerk of court of the county wherein the notary was licensed or commissioned to obtain a notarial certificate suitable for use abroad.
3. Transmit the document, with the notarial certificate to the state Notary Public Administrator for application of the state seal. If the country where the document will be used is a party to the Hague Apostille Convention, the state Notary Public Administrator will affix an apostille certificate and no further authentication is necessary. See the Hague Conference on Private International Law Apostille Page for a current list of countries party to the treaty. The treaty is in force in more than 87 countries.
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Unfortunately, as stated on the state department website and our Embassy website, we cannot furnish you with an affidavit in this case � as it pertains to diplomas/transcripts and such. That is probably what our staff at the window meant.

[moosehead]

to my knowledge the US embassy has never provided an apostille for any documents whatsoever - why should they?

I have, however, provided them with an affidavit I prepared and they did notarize it - this was in regards to my crc - and Kimmi accepted it, no problem.

no conspiracy, nada.

I think some people are just a tad bit confused over what an embassy can and cannot do.