Korean Job Discussion Forums

[missty]

I am currently in the process of trying to get all my documents signed, but am having issues as my family are doing this for me in the UK and I'm here in Korea.

SMOE are asking me to have a copy of my degree apostilled. The solicitor says that he needs to see the original before he can sign the copy. The original is here with me in Korea, has anyone else had to do this too?

Also, the solicitor only signed a copy of my criminal record check and not the original. They say they don't need to sign the original because they can only authenticate a copy???

As you can tell I am getting really confused and frustrated as I am not there to do it myself. Will I need to fedex my original degree to England just to get them to sign a copy? That seems a ridiculous amount of effort for something to me.

Any help would be appreciated thanks!

[Porksta]

I'm not 100% sure how it works in the UK, but in the US it went like this:

Get background check and degree
Take both to a notary (same thing as solicitor?)
Notary makes a copy and stamps the copy
Send notarized copies to apostille to verify the notary

The notary makes a copy, but cannot just stamp a copy you bring in. They have to see the original document to verify its existence.

[missty]

Thanks for the reply! That does make sense that they would need to see the original first. haha. I was just hoping it wouldn't have to come to that.

I guess I'll look into getting my degree done here, and have the criminal check done back in the UK. I've done all of this before but wasn't abroad at the time, so its just a huge headache trying to get my family to understand what they need to do, and I am getting confused in the process! Argh!

[Hotpants]

I'm hoping that I'm never going to have to go through these E2 hoops - too much of a hassle to do every time you want to switch jobs.

From what I gather, you can get the notarization part done here in Korea - Byeonyok (I think that's how it was spelled) is a notary office located in the YMCA (5th floor, I seem to recall). I don't know how much they charge, but I'm sure there are other places, too, and probably still beats Fedexing your original.

Then, you can ONLY get the apostille from the FCO in Milton Keynes. You can either process it online, by paying a fee through their website, then mailing the notarized docs. Or, if you're lucky enough to have family in the area, you can mail back the notarized docs.

Another avenue is to request a new diploma from your uni back in the UK (processing times and charges can vary, but again, gotta be cheaper than Fedex). Then, your folks back home have the original to notarize and apostille back in the UK.

I wish I had such kind folk in the UK to help me out!