It's arrived!

New Korean F6(1) Visa

It has arrived! 

My Korean F61 visa! valid just 90 days after entry
it has cost £55. They asked for £80 but have given me £25 change!
Now at least legally I can go to South Korea!


It is one big tick off the list.  I was not too concerned that the Visa would be rejected ... but there was always a chance and the whole situation surrounding the fact that I didn't have sufficient funds in $CASH$  to meet the minimum requirements and them not being able to confirm exactly what they wanted to see as proof (See post (F-2/F-6/£7K AND BRINGING SOMETHING!) was worrying me slightly!


Red Tape just seems easier and more efficient in Korea and CHEAPER!

Police Disclosure!

Requirement for Teaching Job in Korea: POLICE DISCLOSURE


One of the requirements that I mentioned previously was a Police record check.  I mistakenly thought this was a CRB check, and I was having understanding how to obtain this as it clearly says on the Criminal records bureau website that:


1. You cannot apply for your own CRB Check
2. CRB will NOT accept requests from outside the UK


I asked a friend who had applied last year what he did and he told me he just entered a police station and asked for it.  So that is what I did!


I am now able to write this post with some confidence that I know what I am talking about!


What is required for an EPIK application is a POLICE DISCLOSURE.


This is a transcript of what information the police hold about you.


You need to collect a form, available from your local police station.  Complete your details and enclose photocopies of 2 forms of ID that prove your name, address and date of birth  and a cheque for payment.  I Copied My Driving licence (both parts) and Passport (photo page)

It costs £10!

There are 2 types of disclosure:


> a basic disclosure, this is YOUR police record.
> a detailed disclosure - this is everything the police hold about you from witness statements, phone calls to the police, even CCTV footage of you at a specific time and place.


YOU NEED THE BASIC DISCLOSURE


I applied for mine on Friday 6th January 2012 - I will post an update when this arrives as no one I asked seemed to know how long it would take

Update to previous post about LeGaLiSaTiOn 

With Reference to point 2. Apostille and the cost of £30!!

While this is true... certain documents will need to be signed by a Notary first. So this has the notary fee as a cost element to it. Therefore it will cost around £70 for the Apostille of a Bachelors Degree.
The notary I used Kindly offered to do it for a reduced price of £30

 This is not mentioned on the Apostille page of the FCO website.  You need to check the type of documents in the "documents we can legalise" section.    For info Click >here<

An Extract from the FCO website...

2) Appropriate certification:

We can legalise original certificates of UK academic qualifications if:

• They have been certified in the UK by a practising UK solicitor or notary public

Or

• They have been signed and certified by an official of the British Council 

We can legalise photocopies of certificates of UK academic qualifications if:

• They have been certified as a true copy of the original in the UK by a practising UK solicitor or notary public

Or

• They have been certified as a true copy of the original by an official of a British diplomatic mission (e.g. Consulate, Embassy or High Commission)

LaSt ChAnCe EPIK and a little more expense

Last night I applied for a job with EPIK through a couple of Agencies approved by EPIK and I have already received a couple of responses from two Agents.  So, although I appear to have missed the official deadline for applications via the EPIK website - I still may have a chance.  As a bonus I have requested the areas that I want to work in; Bun-Dang, Suji Jok Jeon Dong or Suji.

I Just added this to my application email to the agency, expecting to be told that you don't get a choice where to work with EPIK.  One of the agents has sent be details of a couple of jobs in Bun-Dang and Suji Jok Jeon Dong.  One is an elementary school and one is a middle school.  I think this would be ok for me, so I am quite interested.

I also found out that I need to get my degree certificate signed and stamped by a notary before having the Apostille put on it.  This means another appointment with the local public notary at a cost of £50 and then I need to send it to the FCO to have the Apostille attached this will cost £30.

It seems I may need a sealed transcript of my results, this will cost £10.  A little extra cost - see below, but not too bad.  I need to decide on a budget for the move. It would be nice to see the spend against a buget stack on the chart. But the reality is that I don't have a budget, every extra cost is just a bit more pain on the finances, but I don't really have a choice, therefore no predefined budget.

Kind of expected but a bit of a blow!

Dear Applicant,

Thank you for your interest in the EPIK Program. Unfortunately, our deadline (December 1st, 2011 18:00 KST) has already passed and thus we will not be able to accept your application for our current hiring period.

 If you are still interested in working in the Korean public school system, we encourage you to apply for our Fall 2012 positions which start in August. The Fall 2012 Application will open on April 1st, 2012 at 9:00 KST.

Thank you again for your interest in the EPIK Program.

 Sincerely,

 The EPIK Team

BACK TO PLAN A!

PaRtY!!!

Had a great night out on 2nd Jan, My friend and his wife were visiting from Spain and I went to his family party, which i have done many times in the past - always a good event.

Will probably be the last time I see him for a while, so was good to catch up!

Now back to the daily grind and realising that the Christmas break has really impacted on the progress of the house sale.

We are now waiting for the buyers solicitor to respond, raise any enquiries and complete any searches.

Our 'Online' conveyancing team has prepared and sent:

1.         Official copies of title including filed plan; 

2.         Contract and transfer deed;

3.         Seller's Property Information Form; and

4.         Fixtures List. 

So far they seem to be working effectively. I am hoping to hear news of progress this week.

2012!!!!!!!!!!!

Well it is now 2012!

Yesterday was 1st Jan and also my birthday! I am now 35! And this
really is going to be a year of big changes, challenges and
opportunities!

I keep having moments of blind panic!

I am moving miles away from my home! I don't have a job (yet)! I don't
have a place to live (yet)! I still have to care and provide for a
wife and 2 children!
I don't have any money (yet)! I don't have a good enough grasp of
Korean (yet)! And when you put it like that they all end with "yet"!

When deciding on a name for this blog i was going to call it moving to
a warzone. While this is technically true it doesn't relate to the
move so I quickly scrapped the idea! And at the moment the possibility
of war is probably greater than ever. But it has never really bothered
me! Am i right to be so blazé about it!

Well I am going to approach 2012 with an open mind and hopefully a lot
of energy... Because I think I will need it!!

--
Sent from my mobile device