Korean Job Discussion Forums

[buji]

For a variety of reasons, I'm looking to give notice and leave my current hagwon. It's a bad situation but I really don't want to go into all the details. I've read that if you haven't finished the majority of your contract (which I haven't) that you must go through the entire visa process over again if you want to pursue work at another hagwon.

Fair enough. I have my all the necessary paperwork except for the CRC (criminal records check) because I already turned that over to immigration for my current hagwon. So... how can I possibly get another CRC here in Korea without returning to the States? I can't afford another round trip ticket for that. Does anyone have any suggestions, or experience in a matter like this?

I'd greatly appreciate the help. I'm pretty screwed if I can't work this out.

[Tigerstyleone]

Your CRC is acceptable if its no more than 6 months old.
Get a letter of release and transfer your visa to the new hagwon.

If you need a new you then you have to do it all by mail. Its stressful and a pain in the arse and at times almost not worth it.

[maingman]

U.S. Citizens:

You must receive a criminal background check from your State police and then receive an Apostille from the state verifying the authenticity of the document. Important: The bakground check must be issued by the state and mailed or handed to you as opposed to an online search that you print off. There should be a signature from the person who did the search. If it is an online search you do your self and print, it won't be accepted.

Here is a step-by-step of the process:

Call or visit your local police department and request a contact number for obtaining a criminal background check at the state level. Alternatively, do a Google Search on your state for a state-wide background check.
Once you receive the check, you must have it authenticated by the state. To do this, you must mail or bring it into the authority (usually Office of the Secretary of State) that does this. Here is a link with information on where to send the background check to receive Apostille verification:
http://travel.state.gov/law/info/judicial/judicial_2545.html
In most cases, it is the Office of the Secretary of State that issues the Apostille. We have a list of the latest links, contact and fees here. The links change frequently, so it is best to call before sending your documents to get the Apostille.

Note: In addition to the Apostille stamp, there is also a paper that they issue with a list you see below with the items 1-9. Please be sure that you receive that paper as well as the stamp.

Technically each state is allowed and does have their own form but each one should have the following information on it

Name of the country from which the document emanates;
Name of person signing the document;
The capacity in which the person signing the document has acted; in the case of unsigned documents, the name of the authority which has affixed the seal or the stamp;
Place of certification;
Date of certification;
The authority issuing the certificate;
Number of certificate;
Seal or stamp of authority issuing the certificate;
Signature of authority issuing certificate
Immigration is unable to recognize apostilles that don't fit these guidelines.

[D-Jay]

The last time I ordered my criminal records check from Korea (which was more than 1 year ago), I ordered the FBI check (which took about 5 weeks between the time I mailed the fingerprint card and the time I received my results back here in Korea), and then I brought it to the US embassy in Seoul for an apostiled affidavit. Is this option still available?

[Whitey Otez]

Wow, this would have been useful to me thirteen or fourteen months ago! I accomplished the task, but the way I did it was much more cumbersome: I got a money order mailed in from my American bank account, got fingerprinted at the local cop box, mailed in my request from, got the letter back, and got it apostille'd for a fat wad of money at the US Embassy. The whole process took a month.

Were I to have done it again, I'd have used my Korean bank for the money order, and had the document sent through the state level apostille. I did enjoy visiting the US Embassy, but just to make jokes about how great it is to be back on US soil.

someone else said it right, though. With a letter of release, you should be able to transfer your visa without the hoops.

[Old Gil]

FYI it does not need to be from your home state!!!!!!!!! I got one from Missouri that was accepted, and I'm from Illinois. immi didn't feel like accepting my home state's CBC. Bunch of wackos.

[buji]

my hagwon director is being stubborn and refusing to give us a letter of release (because we insulted her honor or something by suggesting that she wasn't living up to her end of the contract). she's going to make our lives very difficult because of something petty.

i'm therefore stuck with the only option of getting another criminal records check from overseas. it sucks. i'd like to do this in the fastest manner possible since every day i don't have this paperwork is another day that i'm out of work and bleeding the little money that i have here.

thanks to all those who've replied.