Korean Job Discussion Forums

[JZer]

I have been trying to find information about the E2 visa. I have read the documents that are required to take to the consulate to get your visa but my enployeer has to apply for the following:

Original copy of employer's sponsorship form
Original copy of the employer's letter of invitation
Original copy of certificate of company registration

They are trying to tell me that they need my orginal to do this. This cannot be true, what should I do?? I am living abroad and cannot send them an orginal copy of my diploma. I do not have much time to get my visa. what do I do?

[mishlert]

You can send a notorized copy of your diploma.

[JZer]

mishlert, does it have to be notorized by the Korean consulate or is a regular notorized copy sufficient. I have a notorized copy from a notary, will it be ok?

[JZer]

Do you have to show your orginal diploma to the consulate in the U.S. to get your visa? Thanks for your help.

[mishlert]

I got mine notorized by a notary, and that was fine. Best thing is find out.

[JZer]

Anyone else, did you need your orginal diploma to get your visa?

[poker player]

I took my degree to a notary public in Canada and then the Korean embassy in vancouver. They wanted it notarized they said because they weren't going to make the efort to find out the validity of it which the notary did. They stamped them, charged me a few $ and then I was able to use them when I applied for my visa here thru my uni and then went to Japan to get the visa.

[JZer]

Do you need the diploma in Japan to actually get the visa? That is my real question.

[denverdeath]

Maybe Mishlert's right and all you need is the notarized version(I've heard others say the same). Send your workplace a high-quality scan of it through e-mail and see if it's acceptable. If not, have the notarized copy stamped at your local consulate/embassy and scan that one and send it. I went through the consulate in Montreal to get the "Certified True Copy" stamp - I only used a notary public for my passport photos. From what I recall, I had to send the actual diploma, a photocopy, some money, and a return-express post envelope by express mail as I didn't live in Montreal and it was the nearest consulate to where I lived. The Korean Consulate in Montreal is the only place that has ever had my diploma...I've worked at six different places here so far. I don't think the embassy in Osaka or wherever will require the diploma, but I'd recommend bringing the notarized copy and a couple of sealed transcripts along just to be safe. Sorry if I'm not helping any, but I haven't applied for a visa overseas since 2000 or so and things may be different now. I had a copy of my diploma certified/verified/notarized/whateverified one time only by the Korean Consulate in Montreal. The other times that I applied for a visa while in Canada I sent my docs, including the scan of the stamped original, to the employer in Korea and then they sent me the blue paper(Certificate of Verification of Visa Issuance or whatever - I think they give you a number now) and I sent that with the other junk(application form, fee, etc) to Montreal to have the E-2 visa placed in my passport prior to departure.

Hold on. Is the "they" here your workplace in Korea?

[JZer]

I must have not been clear. Right now I am in the United States. Konju University in Korea is trying to tell me that I need to send them my orginal diploma because they need to take it to immigration to get the Visa Issuance Number/Letter from immi. But I don't want to send them the orginal nor do I think they really need it. Any advice?

[denverdeath]

Sorry for my confusion. They do not require the original. Scan the notarized one you have and send it with the other documents after you've printed it off. Ask whoever your contact is at Kongju whether that's acceptable or not. If they say no, then ask them about a certified copy of it from a Korean consulate/embassy then go to your local Korean consulate and get your notarized version certified with their red stamp. Call in advance for what's required at that office. Send that after you've scanned and printed it off. Keep the original of the copy that you had certified. That's what I recommend. If for some reason the consulate in America doesn't accept the notarized copy, then you're SOL and will have to order a new diploma from your school. I can't give you a 100% guarantee, but I don't think that'll happen. As the fella from Vancouver said, you'll probably be saving the consulate/embassy some time by it already being notarized. Kongju can either bring the original or the "Certified True Copy" of the original to immi to get your blue paper - as others have mentioned a simple notarized version may be acceptable. As I said before, I've always used the certified true copy of original with the red stamp from the consulate on it, not my original diploma. Kohng-joo(or immigration anyway) will require the original of your TRANSCRIPTS, in a sealed envelope from your uni, but not the original diploma. If your contact is telling you that the certified copy from the consulate is unacceptable, s/he's yanking your chain. If you are required to have the notarized version certified by the consulate it should take no longer than a day or two if you live in a city with a Korean consulate.

p.s. Why did you mention Japan? You shouldn't have to do a visa-run to Japan if Kongju is getting your number here and you are getting your E-2 in America, unless for some reason they want you to come here on a tourist visa while they are processing the paperwork and then have you fly over there to get the visa in your passport. If so, a little strange, but I've heard of the same happening before.

[JZer]

I was talking about Japan because the one poster said he went to Japan to get his visa. I was wondering what happened there. Anyways maybe I am a fool but I sent them the orginal diploma. If worse comes to worse I will have to pay for a new copy from my university. The other teacher said he had to give them his orginal last year as well. He was not happy about it but received his diploma back without any problems.

[denverdeath]

That's fine if you think it'll speed up the process and make things easier for you. Maybe it's some strange policy particular to that uni. I hope they're good to give it back...I haven't heard too many complaints about that uni...a former co-worker's friend used to work there a long time ago and said it wasn't terrible...hopefully you'll be alright in getting your diploma back...I'd ask for it as soon as you get in town. If they try to hold it over your head in any way, tell them that you'll order another from your uni. Gohng-joo's not a bad town. Small but not far from Dae-juhn. Good luck!

[JZer]

denverdeath, so after I get the visa number, will I need any other documents when I go to the Korean Consulate in the U.S.? Will I need another copy of my transcript? Will I need my orginal diploma which is what I was worried about?

[JZer]

denverdeath, and thanks for your help.