Korean E-2 Visa: Background Check
I spent this past year as an English teacher in Gimpo, South Korea. I'm planning to go back to a different school in Yongin (I've signed the contract, done the health check, and my start date is supposed to be June 2nd). I miss Korea a lot, and I can't wait to go back!
However, I'm having trouble getting my background check. When I was in Korea I heard you could get fingerprinted at a police station and they would send it to your state for the background check. I went to a police station in Hyehwa (near Dongdaemun, light blue line), and they said that they couldn't fingerprint me without permission from the Dept of Foreign Affairs and Trade (something like that).
Last week, I came back to the US (Maryland, specifically). I went to a local police station and they said they can only fingerprint me on cards provided by the one who requested the background check. I called the Korean embassy to ask them, but they didn't know anything about it. I called another police station, and they said they don't do background checks and said the same thing, that the one who requested the check provides the cards.
So now I'm confused. What are these cards? How do I get them? I've done everything else for my new visa, aside from get the background check. I feel like I'm up against a brick wall. Does anyone have any advice? Does anyone know something I missed? Please help!
I'm posting this in a few different places, so if you see this more than once, I apologize.
However, I'm having trouble getting my background check. When I was in Korea I heard you could get fingerprinted at a police station and they would send it to your state for the background check. I went to a police station in Hyehwa (near Dongdaemun, light blue line), and they said that they couldn't fingerprint me without permission from the Dept of Foreign Affairs and Trade (something like that).
Last week, I came back to the US (Maryland, specifically). I went to a local police station and they said they can only fingerprint me on cards provided by the one who requested the background check. I called the Korean embassy to ask them, but they didn't know anything about it. I called another police station, and they said they don't do background checks and said the same thing, that the one who requested the check provides the cards.
So now I'm confused. What are these cards? How do I get them? I've done everything else for my new visa, aside from get the background check. I feel like I'm up against a brick wall. Does anyone have any advice? Does anyone know something I missed? Please help!
I'm posting this in a few different places, so if you see this more than once, I apologize.