Documents

Here we'll talk about the documents: which ones you need, how to get them, how much they cost, when to ship them, how much that costs, etc. Most of this information is from Morgan Recruiters' website.

1) First, get your bachelor's degree and be from a native-speaking country. Being from a native-speaking country is something you should've worked out with your mom before your birth. Getting that bachelor's degree can take a long time, anywhere from 3-7 years (or more), depending on a variety of factors, mostly alcohol consumption. If you've lost your degree somewhere contact your school for another one. It'll likely cost you, and may cost you a pretty penny (my university charges $50). As of August 31, 2010, you need to get a notarized and apostilled copy of your degree. Remember, get it notarized first, then send it to be apostilled, or it'll get returned.

2) The next most annoying thing to get is your criminal background check with apostille. I thought I had to get a state-wide CBC but I didn't. From what I can tell it's really just a formality, and they didn't care if I got a city-wide CBC even though I had only been living in that city for 3 months at the time. Just go to the local police office and get a CBC, and make sure it has an official signature on it and a way to contact the person who signed (phone or address). This is the FBI webpage for all the info about getting a CBC and the necessary documents. This one is serious now, as of December 31, 2010, and can take up to 3 months. First, fill out the FBI CBC Form (don't forget to request that the FBI apostille it). Then, download the FBI Fingerprint Card from the FBI website, take it in to your local police department and get printed. This is the FBI CBC Checklist to be sure you've got it all together. Then, mail it all, plus an $18 cashier's check to

FBI CJIS Division – Record Request

1000 Custer Hollow Road

Clarksburg, WV 26306

After you receive your CBC, you'll need to apostille it, but first notarize it. Here is the FBI webpage for information about getting an apostille. Download this cover letter, fill it out and mail it and an $8 check to

U.S. Department of State

Authentications Office

518 23rd Street NW

SA-1

Washington, DC 20520

As of April 2011 they claim a 15 business day processing time. You can get both your CBC and the copy of your degree apostilled there, but an apostille in my state is only $2 and the processing time is probably shorter so I sent the copy of my degree to my state. To find out about your state apostille process, go to google and type in Apostille in California, or whatever your state is.

3) You're gonna need your passport. This one takes 4-6 weeks or longer, depending on when you apply for it (common vacation times are a bad time) or if it's your first time getting one. Go to the State website to learn about the process for Americans or here if you're Canadian. The cost ranges from $75-160 depending on if you apply for it in person or via mail, if you have it expedited, etc.

4) Now, the passport photos. You need three, and they're a waste of money. All you need to do is go to a Walgreens (or anywhere that takes passport photos) with your own digital camera, get someone to take a photo of you with your camera in front of their white screen, then either print them off there or take them home and go to ePassportPhoto. Just follow the instructions (they're relatively easy) and print off as many photos as you need. If the employees at Walgreens, or wherever you go won't let you take a photo with your own camera, you can follow the instructions found at the State website and take your own photos at home. I was unable to do this because the lighting in my apartment was horrible and there was a shadow behind my head every time, so good luck. If you're forced to pay for photos wherever you go, know this: they print off five photos, cut off three and throw them away, then give you two. If you know this and ask them, they might give you all five and you won't have to pay for four photos so you can have three.

5) Now you need your official transcripts from your school. If you know someone in the office you might be able to get them for free, or your school may offer at least one to you free anyway. No matter what they shouldn't really be more than $5-10 for one copy, and you need two. I got three copies just in case, I'd suggest you do the same especially if they're cheap. I was told in late March, 2011 that the Korean consulate no longer requires transcripts for the visa process.

6) The easiest thing to do is fill out a health statement that your recruiter will provide. Click here to download it. A lot of people forget about it, though, because it is so simple when compared to everything else. It's basically a questionnaire that asks things like "have you ever had a disease that threatened the general public" or "have you had a serious injury or illness in the last 5 years." Stuff like that. Just check it honestly because they do a health examination on you when you get into the country and they'll find out, and then they'll deport you if you lied.

7) You'll need the Consul's Checklist. It's similar to the health statement, but also asks questions about your college or university, and about the school you're going to work at. Of course you can't fill that part out until you've got a signed contract.

8) The final thing you need is a signed contract, and to sign a contract someone has to give you one. It's not difficult, just provide a decent-looking resume with a decent-looking photo and you will get emails and phone calls until you're ready to cancel your phone. If you need help with a resume, use this ResumeGuideline.doc. I was given that from a recruiting company (wish I could remember who and give them credit, they were great) and it looks very clean and professional.

So, once you get all that you'll FedEx, UPS, or DHL the stuff (your recruiter will tell you all of this when the time comes) to your school or recruiter, depending. It cost me $66.33 for FedEx in January 2009, so try UPS or DHL and see how much they charge. Anyway, they'll get it in a couple of days and apply for a Visa with the Korean Immigration Office. That'll take 1-2 weeks and then they'll give you your visa issuance number. Now, you've got to contact your local Korean Embassy. I had to go to Atlanta and they required that I actually went in and interviewed with them because I had never taught in Korea before. Some will let you do it over the phone, which is way better and cheaper. Anyway, before your interview you mail your visa issuance number, a filled-out visa application, a set of official transcripts (depending on the Embassy), your passport and a passport photo, and the processing fee of $45 to the Embassy. You interview, do that, and they'll have your visa for you the next day. You can either stay there and pick it up, or mail them an express envelope (costing $16.50) before with your passport and stuff and they'll mail it back to you. You're gonna want to pick it up yourself if you can, though. Trust me on this one, too many things can go wrong like they did for me and you won't get your visa until 20 hours before you plane leaves and you'll about have a nervous breakdown.

Here's a rundown of the costs:

Passport: $75-160

Passport photos: $2-20

CBC w/apostille: $20-43

Transcripts: $10-15

Postage: $80ish

Processing fee: $45

Travelling: $0-150

1 year in Korea: $priceless

All told that's $232-$513, depending on many factors. Hope it's cheap for you.