Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Browncoat Fox]

Alright, I should be getting my physical degree from my school sometime this next month (December) and I need to get a job in Korea asap (Need to pay back student loans, and don't currently have a job or any unemployment). Any help on how to get my "checklist" completed, and in what order would be greatly appreciated.

Before I was told I should have all my documents ready before I even start applying to recruiters. Does this sound right or should I start sending resumes now while I wait on this all to clear?

I figure my next course of action should be sending in for the FBI background check as that can take a while, and I assume I wouldn't find a job and be over there before January 1st when it becomes required (as opposed to non-FBI background checks before).

I know I need to secure and send fingerprints for this first, but where do I do this, and do I need to do anything special with them? (Have them signed and sealed by whoever takes them?)

And I just ask the FBI to have this notarized and its good to go?


Then I know I need a physical. Can this be by any physician? Do I need to ask them for a drug screening or is that part handled by your employer?


Then I get really confused when it comes to the Korean Embassy/Consulate. I live in San Diego and I think the closest one is in LA, so I need to make sure I bring as much as I can to make sure I get everything done in 1 or 2 visits.

So I need my degree (or a copy), and get it notarized there? And if I want to use a copy, does it need to come from my university or can an actual photocopy be notarized?

Then there is something about having an interview at the consulate as well, I would assume this needs to be done after securing a job. But when so much is required to do before the job, that seems confusing to me. (And I also assume this is separate from any phone/skype interview you have with your employer, correct?)



I think that is the extent of what I know I need to do right now. I would greatly appreciate if anyone could clear up my confusion (about specific points as well as how much needs to be done before applying). And PLEASE let me know if I am forgetting anything. I have been wanting to do this for months, and yet finding answers to these (probably simple) things have just been really difficult to sift through (especially since the immigration laws and requirements seem to have changed 5 times in the past 3 years)

[ttompatz]

Make it easy for yourself.

Get your FBI check done ASAP. You WON'T be over here before Jan 1 if you don't have your documents in hand NOW.

After you get it, get an apostille on it. (the "how to" has been repeated here many times for California)

Next. COPY your degree, get the county clerk to notarize it then get the secretary of State to apostille it.

Get a couple of sealed transcripts from your university. They may no longer be an immigration requirement but that does NOT mean they won't be needed by the consulate or your employer.

AFTER you have (in your hot little hands):
PASSPORT,
Degree COPY with apostille,
FBI check with apostille,
2 sealed transcripts,

THEN you are ready to apply for jobs. Accept the best one that comes along, get your visa and get on the plane.

It will be a wait, wait, rush kind of thing.

AFTER you sign the contract it typically takes 12-21 days to get your paperwork done and fly over to start work.

IF you are a belt and suspenders kind of guy you may want to get 2 copies of your CRC and Degree with an apostille just in case something goes wrong over here. It will make it easier for you to get a new visa and change jobs if the 1st one doesn't pan out.

.

[jrwhite82]

This is all very good info. About the notarizing thing though. Some notaries won't notarize a copy of a document unless they themselves make the copy. So speak to them before you meet them to find out if you should bring the copy or they will do it.

[Browncoat Fox]

Great, thanks so much for the replies!

So just to clarify on the degree apostillizing.

For the copy, does that mean I have any notary copy my original degree and notarize it, then bring it to the Korean Embassy for an apostille?

Or do I have to contact my university for some kind of "official copy" to then have notarized and apostilled? And does it need to be done by the Korean Consulate or am I remembering that wrong?