| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
thebektionary
Joined: 11 May 2011
|
 Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 10:12 pm Post subject: i'm bummed. i just have to vent. |
 |
|
a principAL (THANK YOU PORKSTA... SPELLING AND GRAMMAR LORD, I BOW TO THEE) of this private elementary school (with two months of vacation in a great location with high pay) emailed me and told me that he really wants to hire my boyfriend and me but can't because our visas probably won't be finished before march 2nd, which is the first day he needs teachers to start. i sent my fingerprints last week, about two days after i decided that i wanted to go back to korea. march jobs are the latest that are being posted now. if you send your fingerprints now, technically you can't even start searching for a job until next month.
i really hate the american government for this right now. i know everyone is angry about it and one more bout of anger isn't going to help anything, but the fact that this takes as long as it does is ridiculous. it used to be that you found the job, then started the visa process. now you need to start the visa process a month or two before you even find a job.
something needs to change. this is terrible.
Last edited by thebektionary on Mon Dec 05, 2011 1:48 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
Modernist
Joined: 23 Mar 2011
Location: The 90s
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 10:25 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Isn't the national security state a wonderful thing?
The main reason this is a problem is that getting a Federal-level background check used to be a rare thing, hardly ever necessary. The DOJ facility in West Virginia was planned and staffed on the assumption that relatively few people would request checks on a regular basis.
NOW, they are totally swamped by request numbers, and when they go to Congress and ask for funding to hire more employees or add equipment to the processing system, what do you think the idiot Tea Party Congressmen will say? If they ask to change the law to alter the processing mechanism, how easy do you think that is?
They are doing the best they can with a hugely flawed system. They aren't incompetent or lazy. It needs to be fixed but it's no one's priority in the current climate. Blame the ROK government at least as much for INSISTING on FBI checks when there's no evidence that it would make any difference in locating candidates with criminal records. Like so much else here it's only about image ['the FBI is the BEST check!' Whatever that means...] You could easily have your CBC in time if you were allowed to use a state-level check. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
TheUrbanMyth
Joined: 28 Jan 2003
Location: Retired
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 10:29 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Modernist wrote: |
| I. Like so much else here it's only about image ['the FBI is the BEST check!' Whatever that means...] You could easily have your CBC in time if you were allowed to use a state-level check. |
No. The state-level check was accepted until recently. Then it was discovered that some people with criminal records simply used another state in which they had no criminal record to get their CBC.
That is why it was changed, to stop people from using this loophole. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Airborne9
Joined: 01 Jun 2010
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 11:11 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Modernist wrote: |
| Blame the ROK government at least as much for INSISTING on FBI checks when there's no evidence that it would make any difference in locating candidates with criminal records. Like so much else here it's only about image ['the FBI is the BEST check!' Whatever that means...] You could easily have your CBC in time if you were allowed to use a state-level check. |
Like what TheUrbanMyth said. Furthermore Korea is completely correct to request a national CRC from a person trying to enter its country especially if they are going to be working with children. I would blame the slow, inefficient US system
OP I sympathise with your situation. When I was coming over here first s a few years back they changed the documents needed for the visa and i missed ount on a good job. Fortunately the market here was much better also the EU and US hadn't completely gone to shit back then so I was able to get another one pretty easily. I hope things work out for you. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
plchron
Joined: 26 Feb 2011
Location: Korea
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 11:16 pm Post subject: |
|
|
you have 2 1/2 months until you will get your fingerprints back fromm the FBI. (they sit on your envelope for a month and then open it and process it in 6 weeks). You can take that FBI CBC and get an apostille from you state government. You can realistically get the state apostille in 2 days if you are driving distance from the secretary of states office in your state or 1 week (california) if you have to mail it in.
look at other threads about getting the apostille from the secretary of state in your state. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
thebektionary
Joined: 11 May 2011
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 11:26 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I don't blame the Korean government. It's totally reasonable to switch to a federal check since it's so easy to go over state lines to get another state's check apostilled. I know someone who did it because they had a really stupid record that wasn't their fault from when they were really young.
I too blame the American government for the reason poster #1 mentioned. I don't know what the process involves but there should be a place you can go and get it done right in front of you like there is with so many other things. How long could it take to run fingerprints through a computer system and see that there's no record?
I'm from Florida. I do live far from Tallahassee (I'm near Miami so it's 7 hours) but I went to college there, still have a lot of friends there, and go there semi-frequently, so getting the apostille won't be a problem. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
thebektionary
Joined: 11 May 2011
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 11:28 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| How long does it take to get the visa stamp after the documents are received? Do you mail it to any Embassy or physically go there? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Modernist
Joined: 23 Mar 2011
Location: The 90s
|
| Posted: Sun Dec 04, 2011 11:59 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Quote: |
| No. The state-level check was accepted until recently. Then it was discovered that some people with criminal records simply used another state in which they had no criminal record to get their CBC. |
OK, I'll concede that the Korean government is being reasonable in this case. But do you all really believe that this is so easy to fix but they just won't do it? They're just 'sitting on' piles of checks for weeks...why? Because they want to screw you out of a job? Because they are just stupid? What? Things are NOT that simple.
The reason it's slow is because the DOJ doesn't have the staff to process the number of requests coming in, and they can't add more because Congress would rather spend its time arguing about biblical law and naming post offices as opposed to solving problems like this one.
| Quote: |
| there should be a place you can go and get it done right in front of you like there is with so many other things. How long could it take to run fingerprints through a computer system and see that there's no record? |
This assumes that access to the extremely large and extensive FBI database can be legally and logistically granted to places that aren't set up to handle the information appropriately. The stuff in that database raises very significant privacy concerns, and it needs to be restricted to those with appropriate clearances. It's not like getting a parking permit, you know.
| Quote: |
| How long does it take to get the visa stamp after the documents are received? Do you mail it to any Embassy or physically go there? |
I believe you would have to go to the Atlanta consulate. It's faster to take it there than to mail it. In my case, it took about a week from dropping off the passport and docs to having everything in hand and ready to go. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
|
| Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 12:22 am Post subject: |
|
|
| thebektionary wrote: |
| How long does it take to get the visa stamp after the documents are received? Do you mail it to any Embassy or physically go there? |
Depending on the consulate, overnight to 4 days for the actual visa once you have the visa confirmation number from Korea.
The visa confirmation number can take anywhere from 4-15 working days AFTER the documents arrive on the desk at immigration.
Shipping the documents will take anywhere from 7 days (regular mail) to 4 days (FedEx).
the process AFTER you actually have YOUR documents in your hands:
i) Find job (send scans of your documents)
ii) get job offer and contract (via e-mail)
iii) send hard copies of your documents to Korea
iv) documents to go immigration
v) immigration checks the documents and issues a visa confirmation number
vi) employer e-mails the number to you
vii) you go to the consulate and apply for your visa
viii) you pick up your visa and book your plane ticket
ix) get on the plane and come to Korea.
x) go to work
Typically, AFTER you find a job and send the documents, the process takes from 12-21 days.
. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
thebektionary
Joined: 11 May 2011
|
| Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 12:26 am Post subject: |
|
|
Atlanta is a 15 hour drive from here and a 300 dollar flight. There's no way I'm going there.
We have a consulate in Miami but you need it done at an Embassy. For the visa interview last time I just flew to D.C. cause it was cheaper and I had someone to stay with as opposed to Atlanta where I know no one. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
|
| Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 12:30 am Post subject: |
|
|
| thebektionary wrote: |
Atlanta is a 15 hour drive from here and a 300 dollar flight. There's no way I'm going there.
We have a consulate in Miami but you need it done at an Embassy. For the visa interview last time I just flew to D.C. cause it was cheaper and I had someone to stay with as opposed to Atlanta where I know no one. |
In a large vast majority of cases now the interview is waived in your home country for 1st time applicants.
f you have had a previous E2 and have NOT had an immigration violation you do NOT need a consular interview. You can do it by mail (7-day turnaround).
There is only 1 embassy, and that is the one in DC. The rest are ALL consulates.
. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
whanous
Joined: 31 Aug 2011
Location: Melbourne
|
| Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 12:42 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Modernist wrote: |
| Blame the ROK government at least as much for INSISTING on FBI checks when there's no evidence that it would make any difference in locating candidates with criminal records. |
No, blame your government for having such ludicrous turnaround times�
National police check in Oz took twelve business days. Federal apostille took two. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Porksta
Joined: 05 May 2011
|
| Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 12:52 am Post subject: |
|
|
| I'm surprised nobody has mentioned that this future English teacher can't spell "principal". |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Drew345
Joined: 24 May 2005
|
| Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 1:14 am Post subject: |
|
|
The part I hate is that the FBI CRC is only good 6 months. University (and I guess some school positions) open up every 6 months. So I get the FBI check, apply for some jobs, don't land one, then have to start the FBI CRC process all over again to apply 6 months later. At least they should be valid 2 years to give people a chance to apply for more round of jobs with one.
(In the mean time I study Korean and am taking online education courses) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
thebektionary
Joined: 11 May 2011
|
| Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 1:40 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Porksta wrote: |
| I'm surprised nobody has mentioned that this future English teacher can't spell "principal". |
honestly, i didn't even notice that i did that, and i'm particular about grammar and spelling errors. i know the difference between "principal" and "principle". haven't you ever made a dumb mistake before without realizing it?
Last edited by thebektionary on Mon Dec 05, 2011 1:45 am; edited 2 times in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
