Hiring Process
June 1: My best friend moved and began teaching in South Korea. She tried to get me to come with her. I honestly wasn't ready at the time to go so far out of my comfort zone. I liked being comfortable in Indiana.
October 10: My friend and I stay up late talking about her job in Korea and I become really interested. I think, "I could do this". I was ready to go on an adventure and go out my comfort zone.
October 12: I create my resume and email it to a contact at my friend's school in South Korea.
October 17: I receive a response email from the regional director asking to do a Skype interview.
October 20: Skype interview with the regional director. An easy, initial interview.
October 23: Phone call interview with the head master of the school. Best interview I've ever had.
October 25: I was formally offered a teaching job at the school in South Korea by email.
Visa Process
I knew I got the job from my friend before I was formally offered the job. Thus I started the visa process early, before the official email of acceptance. I knew the FBI background check took the longest so I started with that.
This is how I was told to go about the process:
1. Collect all the documents including
1) Two original copies of the contract with your signature on
2) E-2 Applicant’s Health Statement (This is just a questionaire. An actual physical will be performed after your arrival)
3) A copy of your diploma or graduation certificate or certificate of obtain degree which has a Apostille certificate.
4) 4 passport size photos. (3.5cm * 4.5cm) - Color photograph of face, front view, on white background, taken within the past six months.
5) Copy of your passport (Include signature page and photo page…2 Whole pages)
6) Criminal record check – Immigration office requires only FBI criminal background check(Nation Wide Version). State Wide or Local background check is not acceptable.(You need to obtain a notarized criminal background check with an Apostille certificate. For more information on this process, please contact your local government officials.)
2. Send those(1~6) to South Korea
3. ICEV will submit all of your documents to the immigration office and get you a VISA ISSUANCE NUMBER.
4. Once you receive the Visa Issuance Number bring the number to the nearest Korean consulate around your area.
5. You'll be able to receive your visa in about a week.
6. Book your flight for Incheon International Airport as soon as you get your visa.
October 24: I went to the local police station and got my fingerprints taken after work around 7PM. I then got all my documents together for the FBI background check including: fingerprints, applicant form, and 18 dollars by credit card number.
October 25: My mom goes to the post office while I'm at work and sends out all my documents to the FBI.
October 27: My documents arrive at the FBI in West Virginia.
While I wait for the FBI criminal record to come back, I get passport photos taken at FedEX, I print out and sign my contract, I fill out the health form, and copy my passport. I wait and wait for FBI record to come.
December 23: I check my Fed Ex tracking number and finally see that the FBI check is finally on its way to Indiana after 2 months of waiting! Unfortunately, even though my mom and I were home all day, somehow we missed the delivery of the package that afternoon. We found a sticker on our door saying I could pick it up at the post office.
December 24: I go to the post office and pick up my FBI background check and, of course, I have no record! Then I spend the day getting a copy of my degree notarized (which I did at Chase bank) and everything I needed to send the degree and FBI background check to get apostille certificates. I take them to Fed Ex. Unfortunately with the holidays, they won't go out in the mail until Tuesday.
December 27: My notarized degree is sent out to Indianapolis to get an apostille certificate. MY FBI background check is sent to Washington DC to get an apostille certificate.
December 29: I get my degree back with apostille certificate.
January 7: I get my FBI background check back with apostille certificate. I get together all the documents I need to send to Korea to get my visa issuance number: fbi background check with apostille, degree with apostille, signed contracts, health form, copy of passport, and 4 passport photos.
January 9: My dad sends my documents to South Korea via FedEx fast shipping.
January 13: My documents arrive to school in South Korea
January 16: My documents are taken to immigration office in South Korea
January 26 3:30 AM: I receive visa issuance number by email.
January 26 5:30 AM: I leave to go to the Korean consulate office in Chicago. I take the visa application form, 45 dollars in cash, and my passport. I hoped that going to the office in person would get me my visa faster, but alas they told me it would still take 5 days (the same amount of days if I would have sent by mail). They will send me my passport with a visa page on Wednesday at the latest. So I will get my visa on Thursday.
January 27: The day I will fly to Korea! (provided my visa comes on time)
January 28: The day I will arrive in Korea!
February 1: My first day to report to work at the school.
Through the timeline you can see that it takes long time from start to finish, from getting hired to arriving in Korea. It takes a lot of money to pay for the various documents and sending documents via FedEx/mail. It takes a lot of patience to wait for documents to arrive. But I have faith that it is all going to be worth it! It won't be long until I'm actually there! Less than a week!
A quick thank you to all of you who have been supporting me throughout this process. I've had family and friends praying for me since the beginning, since my initial interview. I've talked to family and friends about my frustrations with getting documents and waiting, as well as sharing my feelings of excitement and nervousness. Many people have been there for me and I truly appreciate it. Thank you! How blessed I am to have so many people supporting me. This blog is for you :)
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