Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Teachurrrr]

Has anyone successfully received a state-level CBC from the state of Mississippi or Louisiana? How long did it take for you?

I am currently in Korea (as of January) with a great job offer. This will be E-2 number 8 (Maybe?)

I was concerned Korean Immigration would not accept my Mississippi Sheriff's (State-level according to a Mississippi Secretary of State Official) CBC. Concern confirmed, as it was rejected.

I am concerned that the rap sheet I received from the Mississippi Criminal Information Center (MCIC) will be denied because it's only a printout from the internet (I went to their office in Mississippi and received it) and has a DUI misdeamor conviction listed (even though it was dismissed) that could negate the whole visa process. Is there another Mississippi State Level Entity that gives a CBC?

I am concerned that the Louisiana State Police (LSP) CBC (I should have no criminal history) might never arrive since noone seems to be accountable.

I feel like I am at everyone's mercy.

Can any fellow teachers from Lousiana and/or Mississippi relate their experience in getting (or not getting) a CBC from their state? I would really appreciate some insight as I feel like I am in a real bind trying to get a state-level CBC for the purpose of a work visa.

Also, I wonder what might be the pros and cons of getting a state background check from another state (where the government functions - i.e. they will process the CBC within a certain timeframe) even though one not been a resident for a long period of time. I guess I could claim Florida and Maryland. Any experiences in those states?

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Here's my CBC happy fun experience for those who want to read this wall of text. Cheers.

In June 2008, Korean Immigration accepted my local Mississippi Sheriff's CBC complete with Apostille (No Criminal History) for my 7th E-2 Visa. My friend's younger brother (who is a detective for the sheriff) told me it is a statewide check.

In December 2009, I got an updated version of my CBC from the local Sheriff's Office (basically they changed the date). Yet, I read that Korean Immigration requires state-level CBCs that THEY recognize as a state-level CBC. So, to play it safe, I inquired with the Mississippi Governors Office, Highway Patrol, Department of Public Safety, etc. concerning a CBC at the state-level. Each person sounded puzzled and had no idea how I would get a state-level CBC for the purpose of employment overseas.

So, I called the Mississippi Secretary of State Office (who gives the Apostille) and inquired. They told me that the sheriff's CBC is accepted as the state-level CBC. I told her that a Korean Immigration official might not agree because the sheriff's CBC does not specifically read "State-level" with a jumbo letterhead "The State of Mississippi." She assured me I have the right document and even gave me their office number to give to the Korean Immigration official just in case they needed to confirm this.

Literally a few days before the new year, I found out there is a Mississippi Criminal Information Center (MCIC) near the capital city that will provide a CBC. I drove there immediately. After dealing with Cletus the Slack-Jawled Yokel, I received a rap-sheet printed off from the Internet. It's black and white, no letterhead, and no notary. It surprised me that there was one misdeamor conviction listed (a DUI from 1998). I inquired why this was on my record as it was dismissed in court also in 1998 (Lawyer beat it). So we go through the procedure of 1) official clams up, 2) then talk about how busy everyone is, 3) then make even more excuses before acting like they are going out of their way to help, and 4) after a big drama, they decide to do their job (maybe). So, I called the circuit clerk in the county where the charge was made. She said the charge was dismissed, so she will send this information to the MCIC so it will be taken off the record. Great. Then, the MCIC said they can only add the dismissal paper from the clerk to my rap sheet. They are not authorized to remove the mistake, don't know who is authorized to remove the mistake, and inform me I have to hire a lawyer to have it expunged.

I arrive January 3rd in Incheon. Since dealing directly with schools no longer exists as a option on Dave's and other job website (at least not at the volume of previous years), I am forced to deal with recruiters. I even cold call hagwons to no avail. It takes about two weeks and lots of frustration before I land a good position in Seoul. All of my documents are in order (with CBC concerns) and the school gives them to immigration. They turn down my CBC as it is local, not statewide. What a surprise!

On Jan 17th, I call the U.S. Embassy to get the specific details about their affidavit for stateside CBC's sent to Korea (thus sidestepping the need for an apostille). I call Korean Immigration to find out exactly what they will and will not accept concerning CBC's (Has to have the state name at the top, apostilled, no website CBC's etc.).

On Jan 19th, I find an option for a CBC from the Lousiana State Police (LSP). Both MS and LA are home states for me. I ask my aunt to call them and get the specific details (what they need) and the expected timeframe in which they complete the CBC. So, I send the forms and fee. The LSP have to mark your payment as rendered before they take 7-10 business days to process the CBC, then send it regular mail (no overnight options, I inquired) which takes 7 - 10 days from Baton Rouge to Seoul. They should have received the forms and payment on Jan 23rd, so I thought maybe I would get the CBC around mid-February. So we wait. And wait. And wait.

I send inquiries via email to the LSP. No reply. My aunt calls them numerous times, but they make excuses that they are busy. That may be, but shouldn't someone have an expectation to know the status?

On Feb 15th, I contact both Lousiana Senators (Dem Mary Landrieu and Rep David Vitter) via fax and email to ask if a staffer could make a courteosy call to the LSP and inquire as to the status of the CBC. Vitter's office sends me a spam email. Landrieu's office actually called the LSP to inquire, then called my aunt. The staffer named Sharon said the LSP marked the CBC as paid for on February 17th, and it will take between 10-20 days to process it. According to my aunt, she was very jovial about it and didn't seem to be concerned with how the LSP doesn't seem to be accountable for processing the CBC's. It's just a guess if and possibly when one might receive a service that one paid for. Oh well. I thought it was worth a try. Useless.

On Feb 17, I call the LSP and inquire about the CBC's status. Cletus is back! After many excuses and a big drama concerning accountability and how you can not know the status of a CBC nor know if or when it has been sent, she relents and "goes out of her way" (according to her) to help me after a polite warning that a bad attitude will negate the whole process. (It makes me proud to be an American, because at least I know I'm free ... or am I?) After shuttering with anxiety and disbelief, I wait for her to tell me the CBC has been marked as paid as of Feb. 3rd (which conflicts with what the Senator's staffer was told by the very same office). She said she does not see where it is has sent out or mailed. Surprisingly, she said she would mail it out today. Thus, if she is telling me the truth, then it should arrive in 7-10 days regular mail. Thus, I'm hoping it might arrive between Feb 26th (Friday) or March 1st (Sunday). So, I will follow up with the LSP on March 1st if I have not received it by then.

After spending 1 year in the U.S. (Dec. 2008-Dec. 2009), I could rant about horror story after horror story concerning any airline, school system, county, city, state, and federal government that I came in contact with. Maybe am I wrong, but it seems after an 8 year exodus from America, the culture has changed drastically. I understand that things take time to process, but worrying if something is even going to be processed completely destroys any confidence I have that an American government official, or in the private sector for that matter, will know how to do their job, or be willing to do it. Will services be rendered? Will they give me a CBC I paid for so I can be employed in Korea? I worry. I have never had this worry in Korea or even the Philippines. At this point, Mississippi or Lousiana are making 2nd and 3rd world bureaucracy look efficient. Rant complete!