Korean Job Discussion Forums

Marissa0687 · Joined: 26 Mar 2009

Has anyone heard anything concrete about Immigration changing the rules for CBCs for E-2 visa applicants? I have a local background check and was positive this would be acceptable. Now, I'm hearing from a few recruiters that recent changes to Immigration policy require a statewide check for U.S. applicants. Does anyone know for sure? Anyone get approved or denied recently with a local (city) check? Thanks in advance.

Tobias · Joined: 02 Jun 2008

I've noticed this is becoming something the employers are asking for.

moosehead · Joined: 05 May 2007

sounds more like clarification of the original requirement than anything else - you are the first I've heard of that only obtained a city check - in fact I've never even heard of this kind of check before - everyone always talks about a state or provincial check -

if I were you I'd definitely go on and see about getting the state-wide check done for your app or you might be rejected.

chris_J2 · Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Location: From Brisbane, Au.

The CBC will need to be less than 6 months old. It may also need to be apostilled, depending on whether the US is a signatory to the 1961 Hague Convention on certification of docs. And I think it is?

"In the United States, apostilles are usually affixed by the secretary of state in each US state or territory. It may be necessary for an intermediary official to affix a certification that the original signatory (notary or clerk) was authorized to sign the public document, leading to a complex process for obtaining the apostille."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hague_Convention_Abolishing_the_Requirement_for_Legalisation_for_Foreign_Public_Documents

[d] Which States and Regional Economic Integration Organisations are Members of the Hague Conference?
The Hague Conference has currently 69 Members: Albania, Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Chile, China, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Estonia, the European Community, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Republic of Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, The former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Montenegro, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, Spain, Sri Lanka, Suriname, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, United States of America, Uruguay and Venezuela.

Source: http://www.hcch.net/index_en.php?act=faq.details&fid=6

ie, ALL of the citizens of English speaking countries contracted to work in Korea. I've added the above, because a Canadian in another thread previously claimed exemption from the need to apostille docs in that country. South Korea became a signatory in 2007.

lifeinkorea · Joined: 24 Jan 2009 Location: somewhere in China

chris_J2 · Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Location: From Brisbane, Au.

Korean Immigration might not accept an affidavit to issue your visa issuance number / E2 visa. I'd check with them.

moosehead · Joined: 05 May 2007

Mush · Joined: 01 Apr 2009 Location: Busan

Epicurus · Joined: 18 Jun 2009

moosehead · Joined: 05 May 2007

that's interesting but also sort of bizarre - especially considering the huge number of suburbs - is it supposed to just cover a particular city's jurisdiction? what if someone was convicted in the same state but a different city?

is there something I'm missing here or what?

SandyG21 · Joined: 26 Oct 2008

Well they don't do local Criminal background checks in my city/county - just the state does one. Then the FBI can also do one - expensive and takes alot of time though.

cruisemonkey · Posted: Sat Jun 27, 2009 8:58 am Post subject:

To answer the original question and title of this thread -

NO THEY HAVEN'T.

Now... boys & girls you can go ahead and speculate to your hearts' content about anything you want. Rolling Eyes

chris_J2 · Joined: 17 Apr 2006 Location: From Brisbane, Au.

Chambertin · Joined: 07 Jun 2009 Location: Gunsan

I have been working with a few recruiters, and there is a mark difference from what they say to what is required.

As it stands this is what is needed for the CBC to be valid.
- Minimum of state (provencial) level check + Apostille
Should be from your home of record state to avoid problems

- Apostille stamp verifying the authenticity of the document
the US is a member nation. For a US endorced stamp info check the official HCCH website.
http://www.hcch.net/index_en.php?act=authorities.details&aid=353

- All other member nations
http://www.hcch.net/index_en.php?act=conventions.authorities&cid=41

Sec. of State is generally the authority and may have walk in service not listed on this website. You should call your county level office to confirm as the local office will probably have no clue as to what you are talking about.

If you want to check you can look yourself or call. Korean embassy website is flash and I dont feel like decoding it to provide a direct link. ( I doubt I could anymore anyway )
English, then left side menu for Visas
http://www.koreaembassyusa.org/

eajones · Joined: 24 May 2009

I also obtained a city-background check (I was told by the rep from my school that immigration would accept that), but last week she called me to tell me that immigration was no longer accepting those and that I would need a federal or state check (which then needs to be apostilled). So I had to drive 3 hours to my state capital to get it done within a day because they needed it ASAP.