Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bobbybigfoot]

I just contacted the Korean consulate in Ottawa, Canada, and I was informed that I must have my ORGINAL diploma notorized by a Lawyer, and then notorized by the consulate. This is the first I've heard of this. I plan on calling back another time and posing the exact same question. I specifically asked: "Can I not just bring my original diploma and sealed transcripts to the consulate?" Nope. Notorize it first. Apparently the sealed transcripts in the sealed/stamped envelope from the University is still protocol.

And as for my diploma. I can have the University copy it, seal it, for $7.50 per copy. The University claims this is equal to the original. But do Korean Immigration see it that way? Do they have to be notorized as well? Lawyers aren't cheap. Maybe its just this particular consulate. How many copies should I get. One for each transcript?

Further question. How many transcripts should I get? They are $10 a piece. How many backup copies are wise to bring, considering I am anticipating being in Korea for up to 3 years. Do you need to submit new transcripts/degrees for each VISA esp. if you change employers?

I appreciate the advice.

[IncognitoHFX]

I'm looking into leaving in June. I don't know much but I've discovered that there are two ways about going about this. I pasted them below, you're doing the first whereas I'm doing the second. If I were you I would contact my employer and see about doing it the other way because it's a lot simpler.

http://www.mofat.go.kr/ee/ee_a002/ee_caca/ee_a04/ee_b08/visas.jsp

This is the way you're doing it:

● Visa for teaching foreign languages in Korea
- The required documents to obtain a visa for teaching foreign languages in Korea for more than 90 days are :

- Two completed visa application forms
- Original copy of contract beween employee and Korean employer
- Original copy of employer's sponsorship form
- Original copy of the employer's letter of invitation
- Original copy of certificate of company registration
- One set of original transcripts from university
- Two copies of employee's resume
- Two copies of the certificate, degree : one notarized copy and one
photocopy of the same
- Two copies of information page of passport
- Two recent passport-type colour photos
- Passport with remaining validity of at least 6 months
- Cdn $65.00 visa fee

* Visas for teaching foreign languages usually take three to four weeks from the date of application. However, approval can take less or more time in some cases. Therefore, travel arrangements should not be made until the date of visa issuance from the Embassy has been confirmed. Please also note that if you enter Korea before your visa is approved, then your application for a visa will be considered nullified.
* In most cases, visas are valid for 90 days, single entry, and for a stay of 90 days. Multiple visas are valid for one year and stays of 90 days ; these visas are only to be issued to Canadian citizens with a business visa.


...and this is the way I'm doing it:

Individuals with the Cerificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance
(Blue Form) Sponsors of visa applicants may submit relevant visa
documents to the Ministry of Justice in Korea on behalf of their
prospective employees to simplify and reduce the duration of the visa
issuance process. After the submitted documents have been reviewed
and approved by the Ministry, the Certificate for Confirmation of
Visa Issuance is issued to the applicant.

Once the applicant obtains this Certificate, the applicant may bring
the following documents to the nearest Korean Embassy or Consulate
to get the visa issued:

- Completed visa application form
- Original copy of the Certificate for Confirmation of Visa Issuance
- Passport with remaining validity of at least 6 months
- One recent passport-type colour photo.
- Cdn $65.00 visa fee

If I were you I'd see if your employer could do most of the work for you, that way you'd send your degree to Korea instead of Ottawa but it would take a lot less time overall if my understanding is correct.

Good luck! Let me know what you discover because I'm in the preliminary stages too.

[bobbybigfoot]

Man I'm getting confused here.

I was under the impression I had to send a degree and transcripts to Korea AS WELL AS the consulate here in Canada. The woman at the Ottawa office never indicated otherwise. Further, she told me I needed one passport photo, but the website says two. Is she just mistaken?

Your way is much easier but I didn't realize that was even a possibility.

Someone in the know, please help!

[IncognitoHFX]

[bobbybigfoot]

Hey thanks for helping me sort this out.

I just spoke with the consulate and she did agree that ONCE you have the VISA issuance number, then they only need:

* passport
* ONE photo
* Visa Issuance #
* Visa application
* $65 cnd

** degree and transcripts NOT required in Ottawa

For some reason she assumed I was applying for the Visa Issuance number here in Ottawa. And I guess she got tripped up on her words when she said I needed to have the ORIGINAL degree notorized twice. This is not the case. She was uncertain, however, if a copy of the orginal sealed and stamped by the University was considered equal to an original. I will email the manager of the consulate to find out. If it is considered as an equal, then I will have a few copies made (only $7.50 each).

[IncognitoHFX]

[bobbybigfoot]

I sent off an email to the manager, asking specifically:

"If the University of Ottawa makes a copy of my original diploma (which is in my possession, and obviously from that university), then stamps, certifies and seals that copy, is this copy now considered equal to the orginal as far as Korean immigration goes?"

I'll let you know.

[cbclark4]

It sounds like you are making it more complicated than it really is.

I sent my stuff to my recruiter;

Original Diploma, Sealed Transcripts, Pictures, copy of pass port, resume, LORs, Passport sized Phots.

He sent me an email with a visa authorization number.

I mailed to the Korean consulate (Atlanta) my, passport, a copy of my drivers license, two photos, a copy of the email with the visa authorization number, a money order for the fee, and return post envelope. My passport was returned to me in three days with the visa. I think a photo ID and Birth Certificate are also accepted secondary ID types.

cbc

[IncognitoHFX]

[venus]

[Young FRANKenstein]

[kat2]

If you do submit your original degree, you do get it back (well immi gives it back to your school and hopefully your school will give it back toyou). You don't get your transcripts back, so you should order enough to last you for each new job.

[Big Mac]

I have had my degree notarized by the Korean consulate in Ottawa twice. Both times they required that I get a certificate from a public notary before they would notarize it. It depends on the lawyer, but it will probably cost you about 20 to 25 dollars. I just walked up to a lawyer nearby on Rideau Street and he did it right then for about 25 bucks.

If you want to get multiple copies of your degree notarized at once, you have to have a certificate from a lawyer for each one you want notarized. You cannot bring them one certificate and ask to have five copies of your degree notarized. It's stupid, but that's the way they do it.

Also...the last time I went they required one sealed transcript for the notarization as well.

Once the consulate gives you your notarized degree, you send that along with some passport photos, a couple of sealed transcripts from your university and a signed copy of your contract to your employer in Korea.

Your employer will go to immigration and apply for a Visa Issuance Number. They will then e-mail you that number

You then go back to the Korean consulate, fill out an application for a Visa using the Visa Issuance Number your employer gave you and attach a passport photo to the application.

Then you give them your passport and come back a couple of days later and they will give you back your passport with a Visa sticker inside.

It's really not that complicated at all...but they are pretty exact in the way they do things and won't change things if you argue with them.

[bobbybigfoot]

I want to thank everyone for the great replies. Things have finally sunk in. If price is right, I will order another original degree from the university to avoid having to get it notorized. A back up. I will also order 4 sets of transcripts. A couple of backup just in case I need to change employers or extend a contract.

I also just found out that my passport is in the processing stages. A friend just called me to tell me passport canada called them to confirm my identity. Maybe this means I will have my passport within one week. I know that before the backlog, passports could be fully processed in about a week. I"m getting excited...

Now the trouble is finding the right school, the right contract.

I found a good recruiter, but then he sent me a bad contract.
I read warnings about a certain chain, but they then behaved the most professionally, and sent the best contract.

It just seems for every zig, there is a zag that is soon to follow....

[jay-shi]