Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cedarseoul]

We recently hired a new couple at my academy, and they sent their docs to Korea. They are Canadians; they got an RCMP background check with NO fingerprints. Immigration told us today that they will not accept this document; they require fingerprints as part of the process.

I wasn't aware that fingerprinting was a requirement on the Korean end. I know that Americans must run prints for the FBI check (I did this myself recently), but I figured K-Immi wouldn't care as long as we had the national check with the consular stamp...

Am I just ignorant of the law? Are fingerprints, in fact, an immigration requirement?

[greatunknown]

Wow I hope not! I was told by the Korean Consulate in Montreal that my RNC (Royal Newfoundland Constabulary) CBC would be fine, it say's right on it that its a national criminal background check from the CPIC database. I wasn't fingerprinted... What exactly is the point of the fingerprints supposed to be?

Do they think RCMP and FBI are similar in any way shape or form? it sounds like they are getting the Canadian and American background check's mixed up.

I don't think there's even such a thing as a province wide background check, they're all national are they not?

[ssuprnova]

As far as I know RCMP = nationwide check.

I've heard that you would need to submit fingerprints if there is anything on your record. Mine was clean and Kimmi never asked for any fingerprints. That was last October and I don't think much changed since then.

[greatunknown]

[maladict23]

I can't believe you are asking this question and you claim to run a business. Don't you know that most people who offer advice on this forum are completely hopeless.

[greatunknown]

One of the recruiters I've been in contact with is Footprints. They seem to be very organized and well run. I asked them this very question and here is the response I received.

"Thanks for the email. From how you�ve described it, I don�t think you�ll have a problem with your Criminal Record Check. I would recommend sending us a scan of it though so we can look it over for you.

With Korea, it becomes confusing as they have the same requirements for the Criminal Record Check for all countries, even though every country has a different way of doing them. In the USA, the only way to get a national level check is to get a fingerprinted FBI check, not a state check. In Canada, every Criminal Record Check is the almost the same (RNC, OPP, QPP, TPD, VPD, RCMP) where they all check the national database and are thus all national checks. Usually in Canada there are different levels of checks, a name search, a fingerprints search, and a vulnerable person search. We don�t see Korean Immigration differentiating between these.

There was some noise about the policy changing to every country needing a national level check and a fingerprint check, but as far as we can tell, this has not come to take effect. I hope this helps.

If you have any questions or concerns, please don't hesitate to email or call.

Regards,"


From my own research I can say that all police background checks in Canada use the CPIC database and are therefore considered national background checks. There are no province wide checks as far as I know. I am still confused as to what the point in getting fingerprinted and waiting months for an RCMP background check is.

Since reading this and other similar threads I've double checked with the recruiter(s) that I am using and checked with the Korean Embassy in Montreal and they all tell me the RCMP fingerprint check is probably not necessary...

I guess I won't know for sure until I send my documents to kimmi.

[cedarseoul]

[gordo]

I am pretty sure you can get a police check in Canada that is not in fact a national check. My local police station took my prints on a special from used for the RCMP and they had to be sent to Ottawa. That form stated that it was in fact a national check.

However, I was in a hurry that day running errands and although I paid the local PD I forgot to send money to the RCMP as well. I decided to use Commissionaires. They electronically sent my fingerprints to the RCMP and I got the form back to me within 7-8 days and the Toronto Embassy approved it.

The digital fingerprints cost me the same amount as I would have paid to the RCMP and local PD and I got it back to me in 7-8 days as opposed to the 3-4 months it states on the RCMP website for fingerprints.

I know some people have stated on here that the embassy won't accept Commissionaires, but the form I got back had no indication that Commissionaires even took part in this process. It was accepted no problem at the Toronto Embassy.

If your potential employees are in a hurry and they live in Ontario, I suggest they try out that option.

Cheers