Frustration and Excitement

Well, I have all my documents that I need to send for my visa. However, just as I was going to send all my documents, neatly gathered in a FedEx Pak, I called the Korean consulate just to be sure I'm doing the right thing in terms of all the documents I have and whatnot.

Apparently I wasn't.

The criminal background check, which I had to drive around with all day to get notarized, must also be notarized or "verified" by the Korean consulate before it can be sent to the school in Korea. After the school receives the documents, they take them to immigration.

A little bump in the road, yes, but also an excuse to go to Toronto for a day.

So my documents will be sent out via FedEx on Thursday, as early as possible.

My recruiter said if things continue to go as smoothly as they have, I should be in Korea on or around the 14th.

Still waiting...

The St. Catharines Police Station is utterly useless. 

I am STILL waiting for my criminal background check. It's been about 3 weeks. 

I graduated on June 12. It was a good day for me and my family. I am glad it's finally over. Now I can focus on my real life endeavors, which at this point don't really amount to much. I'm just waiting to get everything in line for Korea. 

Here's what I have left to receive:

- Transcripts from Brock

- Criminal background check 

I have to send the following to them (pasted directly from an email from my recruiter):

- Original university diploma, which will be returned after visa processing (or notarized copy from the Korean Consulate ONLY)

- 1 set official transcript (Must be sealed and stamped or have signature along the seal line)

- 4 passport size photos

- A photocopy of the front pages of your passport (pages with photo and signature)

- A copy of resume

- Signed contract

- Criminal background check notarized from Korean Consulate or Embassy

- Health statement signed

Looks like that will be one full envelope. I was worried if the standard FedEx "pak" would be too small for my diploma, but it fits perfectly.

Well, that's all for today.

Waiting...

Not much of an update today... I am still waiting for the police report to come through.

I also receive a big, important piece of paperwork on Thursday... My diploma. Oh yes. My diploma.

This whole graduating thing seems too good to be true. I'm gonna snatch my diploma from the president Mexican stand-off style. "That's right... hand it over real slow, or the kid gets it."

Big update

After having many interviews with different recruiters and schools, I've finally accepted a position with the school I wanted.

For the record, here is EXACTLY what you need to get your E2 visa to allow you to teach English in Korea. This visa requirement information is copied and pasted directly from an email from my recruiter. We are in the process of getting my visa information together.

Visa documents
- Original university Diploma, which will be returned after visa processing (or notarized copy from the Korean Consulate ONLY)
- 1 set University Official Transcript (Must be sealed and stamped or have signature along the seal line view example photos attached)
- 4 passport size Photos
- A Photocopy of the front pages of your passport (pages with photo & signature)
- A copy of Resume
- Signed Contract
- Health Statement attached(fill out the form and sign it)
- Criminal background check notarized from Korean consulate or Embassy.
*** THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT. The criminal background check MUST BE NOTARIZED by first a lawyer, AND THEN the Korean consulate. That's right, you have to either make a trip or mail it to them so they can be sure it's real. THEN you send your stuff to the school in Korea, which sends it to immigration in Korea.

There it is folks. Anything anyone tells you different than this is BS. You don't need a drug screening test, an HIV/infectious diseases test, or anything else of the sort before you leave for Korea. The only health info you need is from the health statement that you fill out and sign.

Here is a copy of the E2 health statement that I will fill out for my visa application:




I will also be required to submit my university transcripts. They have to be sealed and stamped or have a signature along the seal line. My recruiter has included a picture of what it should look like:



So. That's it. She says I should be in Seoul in the middle of July. I am going to ask her if I can refer people to her, because she has been absolutely awesome.

The name of the company who has arranged all of this for me is SeoulESL.

I couldn't be happier with their service.