Korean Job Discussion Forums

[biggsouthgate]

I'm coming back to Korea for another year and a recruiter said to me that as of this month, i now need two original background checks and two copies of my degree all apostilled. What is the point of that? Has anyone else heard of this recent development? I'm British by the way incase that's the reason.

[thegadfly]

One copy is for immigration, and one copy is for the Ministry of Education...but I was under the impression that a photocopy of each would serve to satisfy the MoE.

At least, the photocopies of each that I supplied when I renewed served to satisfy the MoE...but I DID have to get another health check for them, too....

Takes as much time to get two copies as to get one, though.

[nachoinkorea]

Yes, the Ministry of Education (MOE) are now requiring all new E-2 visa holders and F-series visa holders to provide background checks and diplomas.

This is what we've learned:
1. Different MOE offices are saying different things (surprise surprise). For example, the MOE office in Samsung-dong told us one thing and the MOE office in Jongro told us something else. Some MOE offices are requiring original background checks with an apostille (or stamped by your embassy) and an apostilled photocopy of your diploma. Other MOE offices are saying just photocopies of the apostilled originals are fine. So, it really depends on which MOE office you are dealing with. If you want to be safe, get 2 background checks and apostille / embassy stamp them both and get 2 photocopies of your diploma and apostille them both.

2. You have to remember that Immigration and MOE do not talk to each other. Just because you submit one set of documents to one organization does not mean they are shared between organizations.

3. MOE is requiring medical checks for ALL teachers, both new E-2 holders and current E-2 holders and all F-series teachers.

4. As of right now, if you are already in Korea with an E-2 (before Jan. 2012) then you shouldn't have to provide any documents to MOE as long as you just keep renewing your contract or transfer your visa. But, once your visa expires and you apply for a totally new visa (status of sojourn), then you have to provide documents to both Immigration and MOE again. Of course, this rule may change and MOE may say "all teachers, regardless of when they arrived in Korea, need to provide background checks and diplomas to MOE".

[ttompatz]

The national office of the MOE HAS stated that they will accept K-immigration issued copies of your degree/CBC when it is time to register at the MOE.

.

[nachoinkorea]

The national MOE office may have said that, but it seems like some of the local offices have not received the memo.

One MOE office in Seoul today told us they want an original background check with diploma / embassy stamp and apostilled photocopy of diploma. We asked if photocopies of the documents they gave to Immigration were acceptable, they said "no".

Now, this is for a new E-2 visa holder. However, when we have staff transfer centers and they have to register at different MOE offices so far they have been letting us submit photocopies of the documents that Immigration has on file. But for new E-2 visa holders at least some offices here in Seoul will only accept original documents with apostilles.

[orbison]

What's the deal with sealed transcripts, how many copies do you need to provide overall for an E-2?
I only have one with me in Korea, though for my C-4 I didn't need any.

[nachoinkorea]

You no longer need transcripts to process your visa number. However, some Korean embassies / consulates want to see transcripts before they will issue your visa. Every embassy / consulate seems to make up their own rules.

It's probably a good idea to keep a few copies of sealed transcripts just in case, but you do not need them to get the visa number.