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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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T-Bone
Joined: 19 Jan 2005
Location: Yongin
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 Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 5:29 pm Post subject: Official transcript without a seal |
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Hi all,
I'm a long-term lurker on these boards, and have decided to make the trip to Korea (yay me).
I requested copies of my transcripts from my university, explicitly saying "I need an official seal or signature."
I got my transcripts in the mail today. On the back of the envelope is this verbiage:
"The enclosed document contains its own authentication with seal and signature. No other seals, signatures or markings are necessary on this envelope."
There IS a faint raised seal on the top flap of the envelope, but no markings or anything on it -- just a blank raised semicircle.
My first instinct (based on what I've read here) is that this will NOT in fact be acceptable. I imagine any bureaucrats that need these documents will not comprehend the English and reject them because they do not have what they are looking for.
Should I call them back and insist on getting a signature? I am thinking that even a clerk's signature would be acceptable for what they are looking for, i.e., a seal/signature without applying critical thinking skills.
Does anyone have any insight into this? Thanks in advance for any useful thoughts or commentary.  |
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Hamlet
Joined: 18 Mar 2008
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| Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 5:43 pm Post subject: |
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| "The enclosed document contains its own authentication with seal and signature. No other seals, signatures or markings are necessary on this envelope." |
They seem to misunderstand the purpose of the stamp on the envelope. They think the purpose of the stamp on the envelope is to "authenticate" the document. The stamp on the envelop is not there to "authenticate" the document.
The stamp on the envelope must be placed on the seal of the envelope (where you lick it). If you then open the envelope, you cannot reseal it. The purpose of this is to stop people from opening the envelope, changing the transcripts, and then sealing the envelope back up.
I would contact your school, tell them exactly what you need (as detailed above), explain that what you are requesting is required for you to secure a work visa in a foreign country, apologize for the inconvenience, and then ask them to politely accommodate your request.
If you do not have this stamp, by the way, your transcripts will be rejected by immigration.
Good Luck! |
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aaron.southkorea
Joined: 20 Jan 2010
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 8:00 pm Post subject: |
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delete
Last edited by aaron.southkorea on Thu Aug 12, 2010 11:25 pm; edited 18 times in total |
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jmuns
Joined: 09 Sep 2009
Location: earth
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| Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 8:12 pm Post subject: |
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| my school was the same thing, no seal/signature. it wasnt a problem for me. you will be fine. if you are nervous have someone sign their name on it, but that isnt needed. |
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Hamlet
Joined: 18 Mar 2008
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| Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 9:15 pm Post subject: |
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| my school was the same thing, no seal/signature. it wasnt a problem for me. you will be fine. if you are nervous have someone sign their name on it, but that isnt needed. |
That's cool that this poster had no problems, but, as often happens at immigration, different people have different experiences. My transcripts were rejected, even though they were sealed, because there was no stamp across the sealed part of the envelope.
My advice, again, OP, since you have not left home yet, is to just be safe and get the proper stamp or signature. |
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T-Bone
Joined: 19 Jan 2005
Location: Yongin
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| Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 11:32 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the replies, everyone. I figure there's a chance they may accept it, and yes, if I just scrawl something I bet it would be fine.
But I have to go with Hamlet's advice: better safe than sorry. Thanks for reminding me to be polite while I explain exactly why I need what they ask for. A little sugar goes a long way. 
It seems a lot of things with the Korea ESL situation are a crap shoot, and I bet I could easily get the documents accepted as is. However, I want there to be one less thing to worry about.
Another concern I have is that although my degree is in English, the actual certificate just says "Bachelor of Arts" without specifying what discipline. I think I will get that corrected as well.
Hamlet, you said your initial transcripts were rejected by immi. I trust you were able to correct the situation? |
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Hamlet
Joined: 18 Mar 2008
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| Posted: Thu Mar 11, 2010 11:52 pm Post subject: |
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| Hamlet, you said your initial transcripts were rejected by immi. I trust you were able to correct the situation? |
Yeah, we tried begging the immigration people, but we got nowhere. I couldn't "fake it" like the above posters suggested because immigration already knew my situation.
So I did exactly what I suggested in my earlier post. I contacted my school, told them what I needed, explained that I was trying to meet immigration requirements in a foreign country, apologized for making extra work for them...and then asked them to help me out. They gave me what I needed, and all was well. |
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