Documents You'll Prepare
Personal and application materials normally supplied by the candidate.
- Passport
- University Degree
- Resume
- Passport Photos
- References

Hive Digital
Candidate document resource partner
Everything you need to prepare your U.S. or Canadian employment documents for teaching in South Korea.
Hive Digital Consulting specializes in FBI background checks, fingerprinting, apostilles and employment documentation, helping applicants prepare their paperwork correctly the first time.
Use this as an orientation guide, then follow the current checklist and timing instructions supplied by Korean Horizons.
Personal and application materials normally supplied by the candidate.
Specialist background-check, fingerprinting and apostille workflows.
The goal is a smoother applicant experience: clear instructions, fewer avoidable corrections, and a documented next step.
Hive Digital Consulting specializes in cross-border employment documentation for educators, recruiters and international employers.
Hive is headquartered in China, with a U.S. office and trusted service partners across the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Ireland.
Our founder's background is in international mobility and building cross-border document workflows. We approach each case as a managed process designed to prevent document mistakes, unnecessary delays and document-related issues during the visa process.
We support teachers throughout Asia while working closely with recruiters and schools to simplify international hiring.
Most corrections begin with a small mismatch: the wrong authority, a poor scan, an incomplete card, or a document ordered at the wrong time.
An FBI report is federal and should not be sent to a State Secretary of State for its federal apostille.
Waiting until after a contract is finalized can leave too little time for fingerprinting, government processing and delivery.
The card and submission format should be confirmed before the appointment, especially when fingerprints are taken outside North America.
Smudged, incomplete or faint ridge detail can cause rejection and force the applicant to start again.
Unsigned forms, incomplete biographic fields and inconsistent names can interrupt processing.
The copy, notarization and state apostille route must match the requested format.
A criminal record check ordered too early may fall outside the program's accepted date window.
Nationality, program, employer, document origin and filing location can change the required path.
Typical Time
Same Day
Professional fingerprinting or police station fingerprinting. Hive accepts high-resolution scans for quality review before originals are mailed.
Typical Time
24–48 Hours
Electronic processing after fingerprint submission.
Typical Time
24 Hours
For eligible U.S. degrees. State-specific requirements may apply.
Typical Time
Rush Service
Approximately 2 Weeks
Standard Service
Approximately 4 Weeks
Federal apostille for FBI reports and other federally issued documents.
Your completed documents are ready for submission to your recruiter, employer or immigration process.
Processing times are estimates and may vary depending on government agencies and document requirements.
The right fingerprinting option depends on where you are located, which record you need, and the submission route selected for your case.
Review regional fingerprinting guidance
Hive Digital
Cross-border document specialists
Korean Horizons specializes in helping teachers build successful careers in South Korea.
Hive Digital Consulting specializes in ensuring employment documents are prepared correctly.
Together we help applicants complete one of the most stressful parts of relocating overseas with confidence.
Practical answers for Korean Horizons applicants preparing U.S. or Canadian documents for teaching in South Korea.
Start with the checklist supplied by Korean Horizons. Public-school programs commonly request a passport copy, application materials, references, an apostilled degree copy, and an apostilled national-level criminal record check. Your final list can vary by program, nationality, and circumstances, so treat recruiter instructions as authoritative for your application.
Usually not. Background checks, fingerprinting, and apostilles can involve several organizations and mailing steps. Begin when Korean Horizons advises you to do so, while making sure date-sensitive records are not ordered too early.
U.S. applicants are commonly asked for an FBI Identity History Summary because it is a national-level, fingerprint-based record. Confirm the exact document name and acceptable issue date with Korean Horizons before ordering.
Do not assume that it can. EPIK guidance calls for a national-level criminal record check from the applicant's country of primary citizenship. A state or local check covers a different jurisdiction and should only be used if Korean Horizons or the receiving authority specifically confirms it.
Yes. The FBI states that a fingerprint card used for a previous Identity History Summary cannot be reused. A current set of fingerprints is required for a new request.
Hive commonly supports applicants using an FBI FD-258 fingerprint card. The submission route can affect the preferred card or format, so send Hive your blank card or provider instructions before your appointment if you are unsure.
Options can include professional fingerprinting providers and police stations that offer applicant fingerprinting. Availability, fees, identification requirements, and whether you must supply a card vary by location. Call ahead before visiting.
Poor ridge detail, smudging, incomplete rolls, or prints outside the boxes can cause a rejection. Hive can review a high-resolution scan before submission and may recommend a new set when quality is not sufficient.
Requirements depend on the selected processing route and the information requested on the card. Ask the technician to complete the provider fields when they are willing and send Hive a scan afterward. We will flag missing information that matters for your workflow.
Scan the complete card in color at a minimum of 400 DPI, with all edges, fingerprint boxes, and handwritten fields visible. Avoid shadows, perspective distortion, compression, and messaging-app settings that reduce image quality.
Send Hive the high-resolution scan first. Once the card has been reviewed, Hive will confirm whether the original is needed and provide the correct mailing instructions for the agreed FBI or RCMP processing route.
Yes, and a second completed card can be useful when print quality is uncertain. The FBI advises applicants with repeated fingerprint rejections to have multiple sets taken, preferably by a fingerprinting technician.
Timing depends on the submission method, fingerprint quality, current agency workload, and delivery method. The FBI does not promise expedited handling for direct requests. Hive will confirm the current estimate for the route you select, but government processing times can change.
Timing depends on the authority, submission method, current workload, and courier route. Federal and state apostilles follow different processes. Request a current estimate after Hive confirms which authority is correct for your document.
The EPIK Spring 2026 guide states that the criminal record check must be dated within six months of the contract start date. Recruiter, intake, late-arrival, or immigration instructions may set a more specific date window, so confirm timing with Korean Horizons before ordering.
An FBI Identity History Summary is a U.S. federal document. The appropriate federal apostille is issued through the U.S. Department of State Office of Authentications, not by an individual state's Secretary of State.
State authorities generally authenticate documents issued or notarized within their state. An FBI report is issued by a federal agency. Using the wrong authority can leave the document unacceptable for its intended overseas use.
No. An apostille certifies the origin of the public document, such as the signature or seal of the issuing official. It does not change, approve, or interpret the information contained in the background check.
EPIK guidance refers to an apostilled copy of the bachelor's diploma. The copy, notarization, and state process must be prepared in the format requested. Do not send or alter an original diploma until the required format has been confirmed.
The correct state route depends on how the degree copy is certified or notarized and where that act takes place. It is not determined only by where the applicant currently lives. Hive reviews the degree and requested format before recommending a state process.
The apostille itself does not normally carry a general expiration date, but the receiving program or authority can impose document-format, issue-date, or submission-window rules. Follow the current Korean Horizons checklist for your intake.
Canadian applicants are commonly asked for a national-level RCMP criminal record check. The exact product, fingerprint route, and certification format should be confirmed against the Korean Horizons instructions for your program.
In many workflows, ink fingerprints taken abroad can be converted and submitted through an accredited Canadian fingerprinting provider. The provider's forms, identification, consent, and card requirements vary, so Hive confirms the route before you collect fingerprints.
Canada now issues apostilles under the Apostille Convention, but the correct competent authority depends on the document and where it was issued. Hive will confirm the route for an RCMP record or degree after reviewing the document and Korean Horizons requirements.
No. Hive prepares and coordinates document services such as background checks, fingerprinting guidance, and apostilles. Korean Horizons, the sponsoring employer, Korean immigration, and the relevant consular office manage their respective recruitment and visa steps.
Requirements and agency processing practices can change. Check current recruiter instructions alongside these primary sources:
Whether you have already accepted a position or are preparing in advance, our specialists are ready to help you complete your documentation accurately and on time.
Hive prepares documents and coordinates document services. Final acceptance decisions remain with the recruiter, employer and relevant government authorities.
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