Korean Job Discussion Forums

ModernNomad · Joined: 25 Jan 2010

Hi, I'm starting the application process, and I need some clarification about the background checks.

What state do I get it from if I have moved a lot? My passport says Virginia but haven't lived there since I was 2. I grew up in North Carolina but I went to university in Canada, and I have been living in France for the past year. Hence my confusion. My only valid address in France. My mom still lives in NC so I could give her address, but will I have to provide an address anyway?

The other thing is, while I lived in NC for 20 years, I may or may not have some things on my record, and I don't know what show up or what Korea deems disqualifying. There were a few speeding tickets over the years, which I resolved, and once I 'failed to appear' in court for a traffic ticket, although I did appear later. I doubt that's important. Also, ten years ago I commited a non-traffic related misdemeanor, and I don't even know if I was charged (because I was young and on medications and basically out of it). They gave me some community service, but I never gave fingerprints or a mugshot. Does that mean I wasn't charged?

(Might as well ask for my friend who's in the same situation. He has lived in a few states but mostly NC where he has a dismissed DUI. He did have to provide fingerprints and a mugshot.)

So the questions are:

Should I get the check from NC, VA, Canada, France?
What if I have no address there anymore?
What would disqualify me?
Would something appear on my record if I didn't take fingerprints and a mugshot?

Advice would be great if anyone has answers.

eoneinna · Joined: 05 Mar 2010

These are pretty intricate questions, I would either:

1. Ask the recruiter you're working with

or

2. Ask EPIK, GEPIK, SMOE...whichever district you're applying for. Here's EPIK's website: http://www.epik.go.kr/

Phone number is at the very bottom of the page!

Rules and procedures are always changing so it is best to just go straight to the source.

Good luck!

SteveJobs · Joined: 12 Mar 2010

you should definitely ask your future employer what the best course of action is. I was under the impression that if you were not finger printed then you're not int he system?

Senior · Joined: 31 Jan 2010

Good grief.

Get a check done in the state you live in now. If it comes up blank then you are set.

How hard is that?

SteveJobs · Joined: 12 Mar 2010

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

For K-immigration purposes the CRC must come from the country of origin.

For example:

If you hold a US passport you need a CRC from any state in the union and it must have an apostille.

If you hold a Canadian passport you need a CRC from any Canadian police service and must be verified by the Korean consulate in Canada.

I have NOT lived in Canada for most of my adult life but my CRC must still be from Canada.

for those who have PREVIOUSLY held an E2 you can get your CRC authenticated at YOUR embassy by swearing an affidavit of authenticity.

.

ModernNomad · Joined: 25 Jan 2010

Thanks for the helpful replies. I'm asking you 'nobodies' first because I didn't want to give a potential employer the impression that I have a scary criminal background (which I don't) by telling them all this upfront. I also don't want to go through the whole interview and visa process just to find that I'm disqualified.

Steve, I'm teaching in a public school in France for the year, and I studied in Canada for 2 years. Neither being my home country, I didn't think I could get a valid CRC from either.

ttom, any state in the union, even if I don't have an address there anymore and haven't lived there for 26 years?

Thanks!

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

ModernNomad · Joined: 25 Jan 2010

Woohoo! One more question and I'll give you a break: the EPIK application asks for all my addresses from the past 10 years. Are they going to want a CBC from every state I list, or just one CBC from any one state?

Thanks for the answers!

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

ModernNomad · Joined: 25 Jan 2010

Cool, thanks for taking the time, ttom.

akdk · Joined: 03 Apr 2010 Location: los angeles

What exactly does an acceptable background check look like? I received just a letter from the California department of justice that basically says "you haven't committed a crime in the state of CA."
Does that suffice?

ModernNomad · Joined: 25 Jan 2010

Sounds like enough but doesn't it need the apostile seal? I just read on the epik website that they will ask for CBCs from every state you've lived in for the past 10 years.

akdk · Joined: 03 Apr 2010 Location: los angeles

UGH. EPIK is driving me crazy ... I completely understand their bureaucracy (no crazies working with their kids, fine), but there is so much unclear info out there. 10 years of CBCs for most of us would be ridiculous, so, no. That sounds like too much, even for EPIK. It was enough for me to figure out where I have been living for the past 10 years!

ModernNomad, I believe you just need ONE recent CBC from within the past 6 months, notarized and apostilled. Just pick a state that you are somehow connected with and go with that.

ModernNomad · Joined: 25 Jan 2010

thanks, akdk. it does say past 10 years in the application though. i think i'm giving up on the epik idea anyway. the application process is just too complicated for a job that doesn't let me choose my location. by the time i get all that stuff in, they'll be down to filling positions in the boonies.

i prefered the china application where i sent a CV, they asked me where i wanted to live, i picked a city and got on a plane. so easy. half the salary compared to korea though.