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LindseyPound
Joined: 25 Jan 2007
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 Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2007 10:40 pm Post subject: Do I really need my degree?? |
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| I am wanting to go to Korea to teach ... leaving in the summer. I am still in University and graduating in May. I ideally would like to leave for Korea right after I finish school, but I will not have my actual printed degree until mid June. Is there any way that I can get an exception to go, or will I have to wait until I get my paper degree?? |
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dogshed
Joined: 28 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2007 11:03 pm Post subject: |
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To be legal and get an E2 visa you have to show your degree to get your copies certified as copies of a real degree. Never send your real degree. Get three or four certified copies and leave the original at home with mom or whoever.
Chances are everything will get delayed a few weeks anyway. I was at mom's house with no job running out of money when I finally left. Only buy your own ticket if you are doing EPIK.
Some people posting on this list have talked about schools that will let you work illegally but do you want to do that?
When will you be able to get a transcript that says you graduated? Maybe they'll let you in with the transcript if you promise to get the certified copies of the degree later. Someone in the US could send the paperwork and the original degree to the consulate for you and then send you the copies. That would be a lot of fedex fees and you might have to pay for a place to live while you are waiting for everything. |
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ella
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2007 12:37 am Post subject: |
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| To clarify dogshed's post, the copy has to be certified by a South Korean consulate or embassy; U.S. certification is meaningless in Korea. Take your original diploma to them and make copies there in the embassy or consulate. They will verify the copies against the original and stamp the copies with about a dozen different stamps and stickers. |
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Milwaukiedave
Joined: 02 Oct 2004
Location: Goseong
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| Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2007 2:05 am Post subject: |
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| I don't believe there is a way to work legally until you have your diploma. There are no exceptions to the rule that I know of. You unfortuately have to wait like everyone else until you physically get your degree. |
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richardlang
Joined: 21 Jan 2007
Location: Gangnam
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| Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2007 7:05 am Post subject: |
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| ella wrote: |
| To clarify dogshed's post, the copy has to be certified by a South Korean consulate or embassy; U.S. certification is meaningless in Korea. Take your original diploma to them and make copies there in the embassy or consulate. They will verify the copies against the original and stamp the copies with about a dozen different stamps and stickers. |
I hope that I don't have to take mine out of its nice frame. But if so, oh well. No big deal. I've been waiting on my passport (which I thought I would have a week and a half ago through a "4 to 6 day" expedited service form passportandvisas.com) to get my F4. |
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SeoulShakin
Joined: 05 Jan 2006
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2007 7:52 am Post subject: |
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| I asked the same question before I came to Korea. I finished school in June, but didn't get my degree until October. I called three Korean consulates, and they all gave me the same answer - "You cannot go until you have the actual paper degree in your hands. A letter stating that you have graduated and your degree is pending will not suffice". You need your actual degree (or a notarized copy), AND sealed, official transcripts. I had to wait an extra 5 months to get there, but it was worth the wait because it was all done legally. Looks as though you will have to do the same. In the long run, the extra wait isn't that big a deal. |
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i_teach_esl
Joined: 07 Sep 2006
Location: baebang, asan/cheonan
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| Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2007 11:28 am Post subject: |
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| richardlang wrote: |
| I hope that I don't have to take mine out of its nice frame. But if so, oh well. No big deal. I've been waiting on my passport (which I thought I would have a week and a half ago through a "4 to 6 day" expedited service form passportandvisas.com) to get my F4. |
i left my original inthe frame and i ordered a new one from my university, it cost me 12USD & took about 6 weeks to arrive in the mail. and do as ella suggested, and get copies certified by the korean consulate. |
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mediano tzu
Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Location: The 'rea
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| Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2007 12:10 pm Post subject: |
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| So if you can just get a new certified diploma for $12, why bother driving all the way to the consulate (if you don't live near one) to make certified copies of it? Why not just send the original? |
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ESeufert
Joined: 27 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2007 3:34 pm Post subject: |
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| mediano tzu wrote: |
| So if you can just get a new certified diploma for $12, why bother driving all the way to the consulate (if you don't live near one) to make certified copies of it? Why not just send the original? |
your notarized degree must be certified BY the Korean consulate. I brought my degree to Kinko's, made two copies, had a notary there notarize the copies, then brought the copies to the Korean consulate and had them stamp them. The whole process took about an hour. |
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ChuckECheese
Joined: 20 Jul 2006
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| Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2007 3:38 pm Post subject: |
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| mediano tzu wrote: |
| So if you can just get a new certified diploma for $12, why bother driving all the way to the consulate (if you don't live near one) to make certified copies of it? Why not just send the original? |
Yeah, order about a dozen originals and use them. It's cheaper. You can also wipe your butt with it too. |
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aarontendo
Joined: 08 Feb 2006
Location: Daegu-ish
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| Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2007 4:22 pm Post subject: |
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Your school won't allow you to get a degree made early?
What I mean is, for a little extra money my school printed up my degree in advance for me, and had it ready during the final exam week. Once my grades were posted two weeks later, I was able to pick it up. |
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dogshed
Joined: 28 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2007 4:27 pm Post subject: |
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| ella wrote: |
| To clarify dogshed's post, the copy has to be certified by a South Korean consulate or embassy; U.S. certification is meaningless in Korea. Take your original diploma to them and make copies there in the embassy or consulate. They will verify the copies against the original and stamp the copies with about a dozen different stamps and stickers. |
From what I've read the process varies a great deal. Certification is the word I use to distinguish it from notarization but people tend to mix the terms and in some states there seems to be a notary service that verifies documents. Here is something I posted on galbijim:
As of August 4, 2006 here is the procedure for the Chicago consulate. It is not clear if I have to use the Chicago Consulate because I live in their area or because my school is in my area. Call to confirm instructions. She did ask what school before giving me the instructions so it is possible the procedure depends on the school.
I called the Chicago Consulate. You get a recording in Korean and if you wait for that then you get English. The woman who answered the phone said the woman who handles the degrees was on the phone with someone else. I asked for the extension and it's ext. 124.
When I called back I just put in 124 while the Korean recording was playing.
She told me to send an extra copy. I wanted three copies so I will have to send four copies. They will stamp three and keep one. I read somewhere it's a good idea to have extras in case you want to apply for another visa later or there is a mixup. From what I've read you should only send the certified copy as a final step when you sign the contract. You should only need one certified copy for each job. You do not send the certified copy with each application. The same with transcripts. You can always send an unofficial copy you made yourself for the application if needed.
The fee is $2 per certified copy. I'm getting 3 copies certified so I will send a $6 money order. (I think she said checks are ok also.)
I must send.
1. A copy of my valid passport.
2. copies I want stamped plus an extra one.
3. original certificate
4. return envelope with postage paid. I'll be using a fedex though. She said that was fine.
5. Cover letter.
NBC Tower Suite 2700 455 North City Front Plaza Drive Chicago IL 60611
phone 312-822-9485 ext. 124
I went to Fedex Kinkos where I can make copies and get advice on shipping. Signatures and insurance is inclusive although I might have got a better deal with the post office. If I would do it again I would put stiff cardboard in the return envelope to make sure it doesn't get folded. I figure if the cardboard is in the return envelope then it will protect degree while going there and the consulate will be likely to send the cardboard back with the degree. One could ask in the cover letter also.
The Fedex Kinkos worker suggested using a reusable envelope and including the return lable with plastic pouch inside. Again I would do a separate envelope with label (or postage and address if using the post office) already applied along with some carboard to prevent folding or squishing.
I received my return package on August 11, 2006. She didn't reuse the envelope but put my enclosed fedex return lable on another fedex envelope. I guess they aren't into recycling. Maybe Fedex should do a better job of letting people know about the reusable envelopes. I probably wouldn't have noticed the reusable feature if the Fedex guy hadn't told me about it.
The Fedex delivery guy bent the envelope to get it in my mailbox but luckly it did not damage the degree. Next time cardboard. If it had cardboard would he have folded it instead of bending it? I thought it was against the law for Fedex to use my mailbox. The Fedex website says the Sturdipak is for unbendable documents. Maybe I should have used that.
My degree was returned with three copies that each have a $2.00 stamp that looks kind of like a postage stamp and then a circular ink stamp on that kind of like a cancelation and above that a square stamp where she wrote in 06 and 385. Now I can leave my degree in a safe place and send the stamped copies to employers. |
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dogshed
Joined: 28 Apr 2006
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| Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2007 4:31 pm Post subject: |
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| ESeufert wrote: |
| mediano tzu wrote: |
| So if you can just get a new certified diploma for $12, why bother driving all the way to the consulate (if you don't live near one) to make certified copies of it? Why not just send the original? |
your notarized degree must be certified BY the Korean consulate. I brought my degree to Kinko's, made two copies, had a notary there notarize the copies, then brought the copies to the Korean consulate and had them stamp them. The whole process took about an hour. |
I don't know why you had the copies notarized. The consulate should be able to tell they are good copies by comparing them to the original. That's pretty much the purpose of the consulate certification. |
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mediano tzu
Joined: 13 Oct 2006
Location: The 'rea
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| Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2007 4:36 pm Post subject: |
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| ESeufert wrote: |
| mediano tzu wrote: |
| So if you can just get a new certified diploma for $12, why bother driving all the way to the consulate (if you don't live near one) to make certified copies of it? Why not just send the original? |
your notarized degree must be certified BY the Korean consulate. I brought my degree to Kinko's, made two copies, had a notary there notarize the copies, then brought the copies to the Korean consulate and had them stamp them. The whole process took about an hour. |
Unless a certified copy needs to go to the consulate in addition to the original going to the school, there's no reason for me to make a copy, is there? Rather than driving to the consulate, which is at least a 6-7 hour drive away, I'll overnight mail everything instead. |
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Novernae
Joined: 02 Mar 2005
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| Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2007 5:12 pm Post subject: |
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| mediano tzu wrote: |
| ESeufert wrote: |
| mediano tzu wrote: |
| So if you can just get a new certified diploma for $12, why bother driving all the way to the consulate (if you don't live near one) to make certified copies of it? Why not just send the original? |
your notarized degree must be certified BY the Korean consulate. I brought my degree to Kinko's, made two copies, had a notary there notarize the copies, then brought the copies to the Korean consulate and had them stamp them. The whole process took about an hour. |
Unless a certified copy needs to go to the consulate in addition to the original going to the school, there's no reason for me to make a copy, is there? Rather than driving to the consulate, which is at least a 6-7 hour drive away, I'll overnight mail everything instead. |
You only need to send it to your school. The consulate doesn't need to see it. So, yes, if you want to send your original (as I did because it was cheaper and easier to get a new one than getting it certified), that's all you have to do. |
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