Korean Job Discussion Forums

mrgisa · Joined: 30 Oct 2008

Hi All,

I currently work as a public high school teacher in Gyeonngi Do (GEPIK).

When I finish my contract in August, I want to move closer to my wife's family's home in Jeonju and start working in Daejeon, Gwangju or Jeonju. She talked to the folks at EPIK and they are saying that I'll need to do another CBC again.

...

Considering the MAJOR P.I.T.A it was to get it the first time around, I'm absolutely baffled as to why I have to get it again. I know government bureaucracies are idiotic, but this one takes the cake!

Is there any way I can get this waived or bypassed? I remember reading some rumours that they were *considering* this a one-time deal for those teaching in Korea. Did that fall through?

Thoughts/Advice?

Mr. Gisa ^^
p.s. if there is no way to get this waived, does anyone know who I could make my thoughts about this known to in government? There seriously has to be a better way...

jkelly80 · Joined: 13 Jun 2007 Location: you boys like mexico?

I just had to go through it again. If you can get a LOR and go with your new employer to immi then they can just grandfather your visa over with no new submission of documents. Otherwise it's the same ol' BS.

Fishead soup · Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Location: Korea

You said you wanted to get closer to your wifes family. Is your wife Korean? If she is you qualify for an F-2-1 visa. Then immigration doesn't require a brand new Criminal Background check. Your public school might require to see a photocopy of your original Criminal Background Check.

mrgisa · Joined: 30 Oct 2008

Thanks guys for your advice!

Fishhead soup (nice name BTW) yes, my wife is Korean and I just renewed my F-2 visa (for the second time) about 3 weeks ago. She called the folks at EPIK to ask about this and the girl she talked to apologized, saying that she knew what a PITA it was and that it was just a requirement that they needed. I know they are two different government divisions but why would I need to do it again if I already did it once for one division? Sorry for complaining, it's just beyond logical comprehension...

I don't think my wife mentioned I have an F-2 though. I'm sure my CBC is somewhere in the bundles of paperwork in GEPIK and that I could retrieve it if I asked. Since I have not left Korea since I got that document, I guess it's still valid?

It was a major PITA to go through the first time, but twice? Seriously, this process needs to be totally revamped. I've worked at over 5 schools and every single bloody time they ask for the same darned stuff (diplomas, transcripts). If Korea is really serious about learning English, they should seriously streamline and make this process easier. I bet some good teachers just get so fed up with doing this that they go elsewhere, which is really sad because this place really needs GOOD teachers!

Thanks for your input guys. I'll ask my wife to ask about this option and let you all know when I find out some more info.

The last aces I have up my sleeve are to email the GEPIK coordinator/immigration and see if there is anyway around this...

Cool

Mr. Gisa ^^

Fishead soup · Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Location: Korea

Live and learn never give up the original. I have one from the RCMP.
the photocopy looks identical to the original

mrgisa · Joined: 30 Oct 2008

I did mine through the local city I live in (faster than the RCMP which was important at the time). The problem with photocopying is that I am fairly sure that at the local level, they actually date the check and I think the check has to be within the last 6 months or something.

However, that's a very smart idea. I guess we have to do things like that in the face of stupidity.

I will do my application with EPIK this weekend and see what they have to say.

Cool

Gisa ^^

Fishead soup · Joined: 24 Jun 2007 Location: Korea

mrgisa · Joined: 30 Oct 2008

I did the CBC from here (wrote the local police, got the instructions, wrote a letter authorizing my parents to get it, mailed the letter, parents went to get the check, mailed it back to me, submitted it here).

I am a Canuck, but I find it amusing that as soon as the Korean government enacted this, that the Canadian embassy slapped the same requirements back upon Koreans visiting Canada with a visa.

If I have to do the whole thing again I will, but I'd really rather avoid it. It seems like a noticeable chunk of my first paycheque goes towards paying for things that let me work here and I'm not made of money...

Cool

Gisa ^^

Hello · Joined: 25 Apr 2009

Since you didn't leave Korea from the time of your previous check, try getting a Korean one instead. It worked for me anyway. (GEPIK)

muffintop · Joined: 29 Dec 2008 Location: SK

Does that mean start over with everything?

UncleAlex · Joined: 04 Apr 2003

DJTwoTone · Posted: Sat May 16, 2009 3:10 am Post subject:

You have an F2. Don't back to work for the public schools... I may be a bit bitter at this point, but they are just going to use you and cast you aside, much like the hogwons... Go to work for yourself... Earn the same amount of money, and have more time to spend with your family...

Draz · Joined: 27 Jun 2007 Location: Land of Morning Clam

mrgisa · Joined: 30 Oct 2008

First, please allow me to apologize for the delay in replying. I have two separate email accounts and rarely check the second...

I have successfully submitted about 80% of the stuff EPIK needs for me to get a gig. They said that the original would be fine so long as I do a Korean criminal record check as well (by phone). That will be twice I've gone to the police station in one year for very strange circumstances. Wink

I'm just glad they are reasonable about this. Who knows how much better the whole process will be in 5 years time (mind you there is a 99% chance I wont be here by then).

DJTwoTone, I know how you feel. The mindnumbing senselessness that is the public system baffles me the more I work here. While the pay is okay, it is stable and the conditions are relatively safe and decent (compared to other avenues which are much more of a risk - I can at least speak for the Hagwon side of things in that sense). The work is challenging, yet somewhat rewarding with benefits (classes cancelled because of tests, no classes during midterms, etc...). My students are really sweet and they help me weather through the sea of stupidity. I will miss them...

I just see this as a tour of duty and some time to do some soul searching to see if teaching is something I can make a career out of (while keeping my sanity).

I hope others will have the same fortunes as me in this sense!

Cool

Gisa ^^