Korean Job Discussion Forums

[jondepoer]

Hi folks,

I sent my CRC application (with fingerprints taken in Korea) to the RCMP, and it arrived at their offices on December 7th. The website indicates that checks take between 2-3 weeks to process, but I have read mixed opinions about how long it takes in reality.

I'd like to hear from people who have recently received checks, and especially those who applied from within Korea.

Please post when you ordered the check, where you were living when you applied for it, and how long it took to arrive.

Hopefully this thread can serve as a benchmark for other Canadians waiting on criminal checks.

Thanks.

[lalartu]

I did it in Canada and it was like a week or so the first time, but was much much faster the second time.

Actually, I didn't have to do the fingerprint check at all the second time, all I did was go to the main RCMP office in Vancouver and asked them for a criminal record check for teaching kids overseas.

They now have a type of a criminal check that is meant just for this and it literally took them 5 minutes to give me a piece of paper that was accepted in Korea.

[Linda868]

They received my fingerprints on Nov 4 or 5th. The last email I got, it wasn't even in their system beginning of January...so still waiting:S if that helps any. I got my prints done in Korea and sent it off to my sister to send off.

[cheolsu]

I sent mine around the same time as Linda and I'm still waiting. I emailed on December 22, but got no reply. I called a few days ago, but they don't take phone calls, your best bet is to leave a message, which they will TRY to answer within 2-3 business days. According to the information on that number, the current wait exceeds 120 days. I think we'll be waiting for a while.

[jondepoer]

Wow, that's not good news. I've also emailed, but no response yet. My girlfriend had her mother go to her local police station and get one for her. It just happens that the police station in her area does their checks on the Canada-wide database (the same one used by the RCMP). Unfortunately, my local police station checks provincial records only.

[ren546]

I sent mine at the beginning of December and still no word. However, I called the Korean Consulate in Vancouver and they said that they don't need the fingerprint check (?!?!). You can just go to an RCMP detachment and ask them for a regular criminal record check, apparently, since all systems are linked to the national database (which is unlike the U.S.).

Also, the "Vulnerable Sector Search" thing in Canada is somewhat complicated. Both of the police stations I went to said that they (RCMP) will not do the search for overseas employment. Again, I called the Korean Consulate and they said that the regular name check is fine (?!?!).

Maybe the Consulate is wrong, but I will take their word for it and find out soon enough.

[cheolsu]

Just got my RCMP fingerprint background check day. It took about ten weeks from sending it in Korea to receiving it here in Canada.

[jondepoer]

So, you're saying all I have to do is have my parents go to the RCMP office in my province and request the check?

I really hope you're right about that. I think waiting another 5-6 weeks would lose me the job I've found.

Has anyone successfully obtained and used a check from their local RCMP detachment to obtain an E2 visa?

Thanks to everyone who's contributed so far. We need to do our best to roll with these new Visa regulations. If any other Canadians have relevant information about how to speed up the process of obtaining a nation-wide criminal background check, it would be greatly appreciated!

[ren546]

Honestly, I haven't been able to get a clear or consistent answer from very many people on this. Most of the Canadians I knew in S.K. when I taught there in the past are no longer there, or they used the fingerprint check without looking into whether or not it was actually needed. I know it's a requirement for Americans because their criminal record system is different, but it doesn't seem like it's needed for us.

I didn't use Footprints Recruiting, but their site was somewhat helpful. They say that the RCMP check isn't needed, which is consistent with what the Vancouver Consulate said:

http://www.footprintsrecruiting.com/visa-information-to-teach-in-korea/137-e2-visas-canadians

I'm sending my documents away tomorrow, so I should find out in a few weeks whether or not it will work - although I think I may be getting an E1 visa so I'm not even sure I need the check. Who knows!?!

[bobbybigfoot]