I now have my apostille on my FBI background check. All of my documents will be in Korea the first week in February.
All these new regulations ended up being really expensive, but I had to get it done.
I should be in Korea in about 30 days!! I can't wait to be back!
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Friday, January 28, 2011
Stricter drug screening planned for native English teachers
read the article here: Stricter drug screening for English teachers
Foreigners who are suspected of drug use will have to undergo two tests before gaining employment as an English teacher on an E-2 Visa. The new policies will go into effect on February 1.
The foreigner will have to take a drug test with a drug diagnosis reagent authorized by the Korea Food and Drug Administration. If the first test is positive they will have to take a 2nd test using a mass spectrometer.
They will test for methamphetamine, cocaine, opium and marijuana. If the second test is positive, a visa will be denied.
A Justice Ministry official said, “A number of English instructors took drugs while teaching, and we wanted to prevent this in advance.”
Foreigners who are suspected of drug use will have to undergo two tests before gaining employment as an English teacher on an E-2 Visa. The new policies will go into effect on February 1.
The foreigner will have to take a drug test with a drug diagnosis reagent authorized by the Korea Food and Drug Administration. If the first test is positive they will have to take a 2nd test using a mass spectrometer.
They will test for methamphetamine, cocaine, opium and marijuana. If the second test is positive, a visa will be denied.
A Justice Ministry official said, “A number of English instructors took drugs while teaching, and we wanted to prevent this in advance.”
Sunday, January 23, 2011
update 3
I got my FBI check back in a week instead of the estimated 2-3 weeks.
Now I am going to use a courier service in Washington DC to get the apostille for me. They should return my documents by Jan 31st.
Then I will send my documents to South Korea and they should arrive on February 5th.
Now my frustration is over.
38 days left till my job officially starts....so actually its less than 38 days until I arrive in South Korea. I don't know the exact date yet. I'll update later.
Now I am going to use a courier service in Washington DC to get the apostille for me. They should return my documents by Jan 31st.
Then I will send my documents to South Korea and they should arrive on February 5th.
Now my frustration is over.
38 days left till my job officially starts....so actually its less than 38 days until I arrive in South Korea. I don't know the exact date yet. I'll update later.
Friday, January 14, 2011
Tips for new teachers getting an E-2 visa in South Korea
These tips come from my own personal experience and all the mistakes I made. I have taught in South Korea before, but since I left for a year I have to come back and start the process all over as a new teacher. (While I was gone new regulations began so the process was different!)
These are processes for USA applicants applying to a private school (hagwon).
Start the process early. All these documents take a long time.
I started the document process in October for a job that starts in March. I could have the process finished earlier if I didn't make so many mistakes.
- Start the FBI background check early! It can take up to 12 weeks(They will NOT expedite). Mine took 8 weeks.
- DO NOT FORGET TO REQUEST THE SEAL AND SIGNATURE FOR THE PURPOSE OF OBTAINING AN APOSTILLE. Include a note with your application to the FBI.You will not get an apostille without the seal and signature. (I didn't do this and its caused me a lot of stress! I had to send it back to the FBI for the seal and signature which will take 2-3 weeks)
- The apostille for the FBI check has to be done at the US Dept of State. The process takes 15+ days. If you live close enough to go to the office in person that would be the fastest option.
Send your original diplomato the Secretary of State to get an apostille. (Once I sent in the original I got it back within a week. This may vary from state to state. Check with your state for proper procedures)- Make sure you get plenty of ID size (2x2) pictures taken(I'd say 8 might be sufficient)(I got 6 at CVS for $10.00). You will need pictures for lots of things-ARC, medical check, picture ID at school. (I had to send in 4 with my application).
UPDATE: Do not send your original diploma. I never got mine back!!!
talk to local lawyer and see if they will put a notary on the photocopy of your diploma, or your university can provide you notary stamp along with the diploma photocopy. Then the apostille office should authenticate (apostille) the notary.
More frustration over new regulations....
I'm upset that I didn't request the seal and signature on the background check and that I lost so much time by trying to ask around to get more information.
I didn't even know that I would need the seal and signature. I knew that the FBI would not put the apostille on it, but I was unfamiliar with the process and I was in a rush. The new regulations for the E-2 Visa started in September of 2010. The FBI background check would be required for anyone hired after January 1, 2011. I started my FBI background check in October of 2010 since I knew it would take a long time to get back.(Mine took about 8 weeks). I didn't even know that the background check is useless without the seal and signature.
I communicated through a forum to see if anyone had the same problem. I finally decided that my only option was to mail the FBI check back to the FBI and let them put the seal and signature on it. I sent it by express mail which means it got there fast, but my urgency isn't going to speed up the process. To them its just another document and they take their time. I called today to see if they could get it done fast. They said they will NOT expedite the process. It will take 2-3 weeks to get a seal and signature. I think 2-3 weeks is ridiculous when all I need is a signature. A signature shouldn't take that long.
I don't understand why they can't just put the seal and signature on every background check. You have to request it. Some people requested it and they still didn't do it. Apparently, it isn't 'authentic' without the seal and signature. I don't think the government cares about making the process simpler for everyone.
Once I get it back I am hiring a courier in Washington, DC to go to the US Dept of State to get the apostille. If I sent it by mail it would take 15+ days. I don't have that kind of time. Its going to be expensive, but I can get it done sooner. I will send the letter there by UPS and include a prepaid return envelope through UPS. Then the courier fee is $45 plus the $8 to get the apostille.
Getting my first Visa in 2008 was so easy, but all these new regulations are really time consuming and a pain in the ***. I wonder if the new regulations will cause less people to apply. A few crazy foreigners had to mess up the whole process for the rest of us.
I didn't even know that I would need the seal and signature. I knew that the FBI would not put the apostille on it, but I was unfamiliar with the process and I was in a rush. The new regulations for the E-2 Visa started in September of 2010. The FBI background check would be required for anyone hired after January 1, 2011. I started my FBI background check in October of 2010 since I knew it would take a long time to get back.(Mine took about 8 weeks). I didn't even know that the background check is useless without the seal and signature.
I communicated through a forum to see if anyone had the same problem. I finally decided that my only option was to mail the FBI check back to the FBI and let them put the seal and signature on it. I sent it by express mail which means it got there fast, but my urgency isn't going to speed up the process. To them its just another document and they take their time. I called today to see if they could get it done fast. They said they will NOT expedite the process. It will take 2-3 weeks to get a seal and signature. I think 2-3 weeks is ridiculous when all I need is a signature. A signature shouldn't take that long.
I don't understand why they can't just put the seal and signature on every background check. You have to request it. Some people requested it and they still didn't do it. Apparently, it isn't 'authentic' without the seal and signature. I don't think the government cares about making the process simpler for everyone.
Once I get it back I am hiring a courier in Washington, DC to go to the US Dept of State to get the apostille. If I sent it by mail it would take 15+ days. I don't have that kind of time. Its going to be expensive, but I can get it done sooner. I will send the letter there by UPS and include a prepaid return envelope through UPS. Then the courier fee is $45 plus the $8 to get the apostille.
Getting my first Visa in 2008 was so easy, but all these new regulations are really time consuming and a pain in the ***. I wonder if the new regulations will cause less people to apply. A few crazy foreigners had to mess up the whole process for the rest of us.
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
Music Video: MBLAQ "Cry" and "Stay" teasers
On January 3, 2011 MBLAQ released the MV for "Cry". On January 10, 2011 they released their first full length album, MBLAQ Style. They also released teasers for the next single, "Stay"
MBLAQ stands for Music Boys Live in Absolute Quality
Cry:
Teasers for "Stay"
Saturday, January 8, 2011
E-2 Visa Frustration
I just got a new job. Here are the documents I need:
1. Original diploma with apostille
2. FBI background check with apostille
3. Signed contract
4. Medical check form
5. 4 passport photos
I'm suppose to have them in by February so time is running out. I'm having a little difficulty.
Getting all of these documents has been a hassle. I was researching online and I read about the new changes. I read that the original diploma wasn't being accepted anymore. So I sent in my FBI check and a copy of my diploma to the secretary of state in my state to get an apostille. A week later my documents were returned with no apostille. The Secretary of State office would not put an apostille on a copy of my diploma. They said that I had to send the FBI check to the US Dept of State.
I emailed the boss at the new school to ask about the diploma. I do need an original diploma because I will be considered a new teacher. The copy of the diploma is for teachers who are renewing contracts. Well that should have been clear in the article that I read.
Now I have another problem. I was suppose to get a seal and a signature on my background check. I didn't know this so I didn't request it. The US Dept of State will not put an apostille on it without some verification that its real. What the heck? Who makes fake FBI checks? I looked at the 'contact us' section on the US Dept of State website. They have so many inquiries so they won't take phone calls. They say the best way to reach them is to email. You should receive an answer within 48 hours. So I decided to write an email to the US Dept of State to see if a notarization would be sufficient because I didnt have the seal or a signature. I sent my first email on Sunday night. I waited and waited. I got no answer. So I started sending multiple emails. I think I sent close to 10 emails in all. I didn't get a response to any of them. I don't have time to send it back to the FBI because they are slow.
The apostille from the US Dept of State takes 15 days to process after they receive it. They will send it quicker if you send an airbill and envelope for express services. I'm going to send an overnight envelope so I will get it back faster. I hope it doesn't still take 15 days.
This is the problem: They change all the rules, but they don't give you detailed instructions on how to get all of these new documents. You have to find it out on your own. The average person doesn't know anything abut apostilles. I had never heard of an apostille before I went to South Korea.
I think the new regulations are crazy. It takes forever to get a background check from the FBI. I don't understand why it takes so long. It took 8 weeks for the background check. They received it in October, but they didn't process it until December.
Its a confusing and time consuming process. And I don't like it.
There's my E-2 Visa rant for the day.
UPDATE: DO NOT SEND YOUR ORIGINAL DIPLOMA!! YOU WILL NOT GET IT BACK!
1. Original diploma with apostille
2. FBI background check with apostille
3. Signed contract
4. Medical check form
5. 4 passport photos
I'm suppose to have them in by February so time is running out. I'm having a little difficulty.
Getting all of these documents has been a hassle. I was researching online and I read about the new changes. I read that the original diploma wasn't being accepted anymore. So I sent in my FBI check and a copy of my diploma to the secretary of state in my state to get an apostille. A week later my documents were returned with no apostille. The Secretary of State office would not put an apostille on a copy of my diploma. They said that I had to send the FBI check to the US Dept of State.
I emailed the boss at the new school to ask about the diploma. I do need an original diploma because I will be considered a new teacher. The copy of the diploma is for teachers who are renewing contracts. Well that should have been clear in the article that I read.
Now I have another problem. I was suppose to get a seal and a signature on my background check. I didn't know this so I didn't request it. The US Dept of State will not put an apostille on it without some verification that its real. What the heck? Who makes fake FBI checks? I looked at the 'contact us' section on the US Dept of State website. They have so many inquiries so they won't take phone calls. They say the best way to reach them is to email. You should receive an answer within 48 hours. So I decided to write an email to the US Dept of State to see if a notarization would be sufficient because I didnt have the seal or a signature. I sent my first email on Sunday night. I waited and waited. I got no answer. So I started sending multiple emails. I think I sent close to 10 emails in all. I didn't get a response to any of them. I don't have time to send it back to the FBI because they are slow.
The apostille from the US Dept of State takes 15 days to process after they receive it. They will send it quicker if you send an airbill and envelope for express services. I'm going to send an overnight envelope so I will get it back faster. I hope it doesn't still take 15 days.
This is the problem: They change all the rules, but they don't give you detailed instructions on how to get all of these new documents. You have to find it out on your own. The average person doesn't know anything abut apostilles. I had never heard of an apostille before I went to South Korea.
I think the new regulations are crazy. It takes forever to get a background check from the FBI. I don't understand why it takes so long. It took 8 weeks for the background check. They received it in October, but they didn't process it until December.
Its a confusing and time consuming process. And I don't like it.
There's my E-2 Visa rant for the day.
UPDATE: DO NOT SEND YOUR ORIGINAL DIPLOMA!! YOU WILL NOT GET IT BACK!
Sunday, January 2, 2011
North Korea Calls For Better Ties With South
Read the article here: North Korea Calls for Better Ties with South
The editorial, which every North Korean is required to read, also said: "This year we should start a more determined campaign to improve inter-Korean relations.”
South Korea's Defense Ministry says the idea is "lacking sincerity."
**Is this something they do every year? They also said the same thing in their New Year's message last year. If they want people to believe them then they need to back it up with their actions and stop provoking the South.
The editorial, which every North Korean is required to read, also said: "This year we should start a more determined campaign to improve inter-Korean relations.”
South Korea's Defense Ministry says the idea is "lacking sincerity."
**Is this something they do every year? They also said the same thing in their New Year's message last year. If they want people to believe them then they need to back it up with their actions and stop provoking the South.
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