Korean Job Discussion Forums

[powerthinker]

I am hoping to start teaching in Korea at the beginning of September. I have completed my degree (BA in Applied Linguistics with TESL cert.) but have not yet received my diploma. My university will only issue it at convocation in November, so the best I can do right now is an official Degree Letter of Completion from my university. Does anyone know if this will work for my VISA?

I was in touch with one recruiter who said that although immigration used to accept these letters, they don't anymore. I really don't want to be stuck at home doing nothing for two months ... so I'm hoping that he's mistaken. Any advice/info would be much appreciated!! Thanks...

[chronicpride]

I've had situations like this with a few people that I've recruited before. An official letter from your school stating the pending issuance of a diploma will suffice.

I haven't heard anything about the rules changing on this, but if you want up-to-date clarification, check with your local Korean embassy or consulate.

[Emma Clare]

Officially I wasn't meant to get my degree certificate until November at the graduation ceremony. However, as soon as the results were out I contacted my university and explained that I wanted to leave the country in 2 weeks time and urgently required my actual degree certificate in order to obtain a teaching post in South Korea. They told me that this wasn't an unusual request and printed it out for me ready to collect a few days later. Maybe you should contact your university and explain your situation?

[powerthinker]

thanks for the replies... I will try to get the all-important piece of paper from my university (even if I have to beg and plead!)

[Howard Roark]

I was also in this exact situation. I was told by my recruiter that all I needed was a letter from the registrar of my university stating that I had completed the requirements for my degree. As with many things in Korea, it wasn't that simple.
When I got here I gave the director my letter. He took it to immigration. He returned saying that immigration had recently changed the rule and anything less than the actual diploma wasn't good enough.
I had to wait almost 3 months until my degree was released and mailed to me.
The real problem in Korea is not what the rules are, it's the fact that they change from day to day and place to place.

[Corvid]

I'd say that there's no way you'll get a visa. They want the original diploma. Suggestion though. You might be able to "fool" your university by applying for a duplicate diploma, make out like you got it and lost it. Try to time it so you only deal with the student workers in that office, and once the paperwork's in the inbox nobody will likely notice.