Korean Job Discussion Forums

S3raph1m · Joined: 06 Mar 2017

I have a problem with my background check and I'm not sure what to do about it. I'm supposed to start an ESL job in South Korea in May, but I just got my background check back and there's an assault charge on it from when I was 15 years old. I didn't even know it was there. It was a bocus arrest and charges were never filed, but the arrest is on the background check. I'm 26 years old now, so this was a very long time ago and I have never been arrested since. There is nothing on my record in my 8 years as an adult.

I have some options. I can get this expunged, but it generally takes about 3-4 months and then I'd have to apply for another background check with a clean record. Plus, I'd need to get everything apostilled. Do I go this route and just tell the school/recruiter I can't take the job anymore? And then just start when this is all taken care of? Or do I try to explain the situation to the school/recruiter and send the apostilled version of this background check? The second option sounds like it could be a bad idea, but I'm not sure. I'm kind of mad something that I wasn't even charged for that happened over ten years ago can affect me now. Should I talk to the recruiter about this?

PRagic · Joined: 24 Feb 2006

TTompatz will have the definitive answer, but as far as I know, you can't get the visa if you have a record. Think you're going to have to get that expunged and then go through the process again. Bummer.

S3raph1m · Joined: 06 Mar 2017

Update. I'm headed to the court house on Monday to talk about getting my juvenile record expunged. I'll just wait the 4 months this is going to take and just get my TEFL in the meantime.

S3raph1m · Joined: 06 Mar 2017

MOD EDIT

Anyway, because I feel like I need to reiterate: this was 11 years ago, I was 15 years old, and there's no actual charge because I didn't actually assault anyone. The victim was my 13 year old brother who thought this would be a great way to get revenge (we were both immature, dumb, and fought all the time). The arrest itself is the only thing that's on my record. There were no charges pressed. I didn't even know this was on my record until now because I didn't think the arrest would pop up if there were no charges pressed and I forgot this ever happened.

So, back to the main point of this thread: I can get my juvenile record expunged. I only created this post because I had a job confirmed for May before I opened up my background check and saw this. The process of getting my juvenile record expunged takes about 3-4 months and I was wondering if I should tell the school/recruiter that I can't take the job, then start the process over after my record comes back clean.

Another update: the recruiter seems to think that because there were no charges pressed, he can explain the situation to immigration and I can still come in May. Does that sound like bullshit? 4-5 months isn't that long to wait, but coming in May would still be cool.

Revenant · Joined: 27 Jul 2005

Thread cleaned up and one is no longer welcome to post on the forums.

Any further personal attacks, derailing, or other inappropriate conduct will have said persons meeting the same fate.

-R