Paperwork for Getting the E2 Visa in Georgia

I got my criminal background back today from the GBI and had the apostille put on it. Now all I have to do is FedEx it out. They already have everything else.

1. A copy of your passport

2. Your resume

3. The original diploma (Bachelor's Degree and Master's Degree) and a copy of it (I have to submit it to get a permission to hire you. As soon as it gets finished, they will return to me and then, I will give it back to you when you arrive in Seoul.)

4. Criminal Background Check with Notarial Act (Authentication) of the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in the US. (Go to the Secretary of the State to get an Apostille on the document of the criminal background)

5. Your Health Statement (I will send it to you with contract form soon)

6. Two sealed transcripts of your Bachelor's degree
7. Contract Form (I will send it to you within one or two days)
8. Six pictures

Please be ready with all of the above items, and as soon as you are ready with your statement of criminal check, please send all of the above materials to me immediately (Express-mail).

The Criminal Background Check

This was the most time consuming part.

The first thing I did was go to the local police department (Sandy Springs PD) to have two fingerprint cards made ($20). Then I went to Publix and got a money order for $20.75 made out to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. I took the cards and money order to the GBI office in Decatur and dropped them off with Ms. Fox (really nice lady.) Normally this process takes 10-14 days but I was in a hurry so I went back and picked it up myself instead of giving them a self-addressed envelope to send it back. All the instructions are on their website under the heading How do I obtain a Georgia criminal history record check from GCIC for immigration/visa/travel http://gbi.georgia.gov/00/channel_modifieddate/0,2096,67862954_67866875,00.html.

From there I went to the Secretary of State's office and got the Apostille ($3). They also have a good website http://www.gsccca.org/Projects/apost.asp.

Perhaps one of the most useful resources for how to get a criminal background check can be found at http://www.asknow.ca/criminalcheck.aspx.

At first I messed up and went to my local police dept for the criminal background check but Korean Immigration wouldn't accept it. My personal advice..clarify everything even if you feel like a moron by asking a lot of questions!

getting things together

The last week or so has been pretty crazy trying to get all the paperwork together and make a list of the things I'll need. I've spent way too much time on the phone with the folks at Minimed while figuring out how I'm going to get my insulin pump supplies. It seems like every other person I got transferred to was useless. .I was tempted to ask if they understood that the products they're supporting are life-saving devices and not refrigerator parts. Grace at Minimed Korea said she would email me a price list in KRW with health insurance information but I still haven't gotten it yet.

On a better note, I won an auction on Ebay for 900 One Touch Ultra test strips + 400 lancets for $421.00. That beats retail any day!

The family has been really supportive so far but my best friend is trying to talk me out of it. One year really isn't that long. I've had stuff in my fridge for longer than that! The main concern right now is getting all the paperwork to go through on time. I'm still waiting on my criminal background check from the GBI. I need to get that sent off so I can get my sponsorship code before my interview at the Korean consulate on 2/11. I've got a lot to do in the next 3-4 weeks..I'm just hoping it all gets done in time!

The Offer

It's 12:34 am but I can't sleep. My mind is still buzzing with excitement. EC called an hour or so ago from Seoul and offered me a job! Part of me has already said "yes" but I have a lot of things to weigh before making the final decision. Korea is pretty far away even if it is only for a year.

It will be a tough sell with the parents. They've supported me through some crazy endeavors before but this is by far the wildest idea I've ever had to pitch. I just need to think things through. There are lots of considerations I have to make.

What would I do with my car?
What should I do about my cell phone?
Are my finances in order?
Can I be ready to leave in 6 weeks?

And, mosty importantly..

How am I going to do this with diabetes?