Korean Job Discussion Forums

[sallymonster]

After finally getting my visa issuance number, I went to the Korean consulate in Seattle to apply and interview for my visa.

When I got there, however, they had a problem with my transcript. My college (a small private four-year college) doesn't give "credit hours" for completed courses like most colleges in the US do, but has its own system that gives 1 "unit" for every semester class completed, and after you get a certain amount of units you can graduate. So the officials think I didn't get enough credits to actually get a bachelor's degree. They want to see my degree, which I sent to Korea to get the visa issuance number. Luckily I have a notarized/apostilled copy that *hopefully* they will accept when I take it to them tomorrow.

But it gets worse. Right before I left, the official said that I also needed to show a copy of my criminal check, which -guess what!- I sent to Korea to get my visa issuance number! I have no idea if my recruiter or school made a copy that they could send to the consulate.

I am at my wit's end here. I was supposed to be in Korea by now if not for this process being so frustrating! I'm afraid my visa will get denied or is going to take too long. Does anyone have any suggestions?

[oskinny1]

I don't see why you would need to bring these things in since you could not have gotten your visa number without them in the first place. I think the consul guy is just ignorant or an ass.

Not sure why you sent your original diploma if you have notarized apostilled copies.

This should be a lesson to all you other new people though, get multiple copies of everything.

[ChilgokBlackHole]

[oskinny1]

[balzor]

[You]

The guys in Seattle don't know what they're talking about. Last year, they tried telling me they couldn't accept copies of documents, but only originals of all my documents but my recruiter told me to just tell them they can only have the copies. So I did the "my recruiter said blah blah...etc" and they went with it.

I think you have to just tell them how it is. Although, your situation is different than mine, I would try the strategy I used and see if it works. Just tell them immigration has all of your paperwork.

[sallymonster]

Thanks guys. Luckily my recruiter had made photocopies of my CBC's, which she just e-mailed to me. Hopefully that will work for the consulate. Btw, I have already tried telling the consul officials that immigration has my documents. My recruiter doesn't even know why the consulate is asking for additional stuff!

[Morticae]

Ugh! I live in Portland so I will have to deal with the Seattle one too.

I have my original degree, sealed transcripts, and made copies of all documents I sent overseas so I will force them to accept it

[fergalreid]

I might ask my recruiter if I should get another CBC done because, yeah, I was under the impression that the document check for the visa is done in Korea. Which I am still pretty sure it is! I guess it's as easy for the embassy to ask for everything again from the applicant as it is for Korea to communicate with its embassies.

[sallymonster]

[UncleAlex]

[utahrafi]

Good thing I found this post... I am in Portland and have my interview w/ the Seattle consulate on June 10th. I called yesterday to schedule it and all he asked me was if I had official transcripts and the forms (which I have).

I am hoping not to have to go down the road of getting additional copies of other docs because I fly out on the 18th.

Will wearing a suit and smiling a lot spare me the consulate's wrath? That is, will they request copies/originals up front or is there something to avoid doing/saying to keep this from happening?

Specifically, @sallymonster, did the fact that he questioned your transcript lead him to asking for the crim background?

Sorry for all of these questions that probably have obvious answers I probably already know and there is not much I can do. I am just trying to strategize...if at all possible

[sallymonster]

[bettypie]

[Morticae]

Woohoo go PDX'ers! STUMP TOWN POWER! lol.

So, is the consulate interview an actual interview... or do they just ask fact based questions, or have you fill out paperwork? Basically.. do you need to do some interview prep?