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Welshguy
Joined: 17 Feb 2009 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 5:06 pm Post subject: |
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It seems that some people have been getting their information from the hikorea website.
http://www.hikorea.go.kr
The problem is, the English information posted on this site is OUT OF DATE!!!
The Korean is, however, fully updated.
Translated it reads.
Requirements for an E2 to upgrade to an F5:
회화지도
(E-2)
부여기준
연간소득이 한국은행고시 전년도 일인당 우리국민 총소득의 2배 이상
한국교육과정 평가원 시행 한국어능력시험 2급 이상(�10년이상체류자는 면제)
제출서류
학위증
근로소득 원천징수영수증 또는 소득금액 증명원
한국어능력시험등급 인증서
1. 5 years on an E2
2. Make 2 times Korea's Gross National Income / GNI (Previously 3X)
3. Pass TOPIK level 2 (Previously level 3)
Requirements for an F2-99 or F2-7 to an F5
거주
(F-2)
부여기준
연간 소득이 한국은행고시 전년도 일인당 우리국민 총소득 이상
한국교육과정평가원 시행 한국어 능력시험 2급 이상(�10년이상체류자는 면제)
제출서류
근로소득 원천징수영수증 또는 소득금액 증명원
한국어 능력시험 등급 인정서
※ 국내출생 재한화교는 소득요건 및 한국어능력요건 면제
1. 5 years on an E2
2. Make 1 times Korea's Gross National Income / GNI (Same as previous amount)
3. Pass TOPIK level 2 (Previously level 5)
You DO NOT NEED TOPIK level 5 AT ALL
In every single case TOPIK level 2 is sufficient.
Trust me when I say these rules are the latest. Go to the hikorea site again and check them out for yourself (the Korean version, not the English) |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 18 Jul 2006 Location: Home sweet home
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Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 5:20 pm Post subject: |
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Hey, I was just giong to post something like that I was cleaning out my folders and found a paper from when I called the 1345 website last fall.
They said that to get the F5 visa, you needed 5 years on an E2, plus 2 times the GNI (which in 2009 was $17,200 rounded to the nearest hundred, though a friend just emailed me an told me that accordin to the World Bank it was about $27,000 for 2010), plus TOPIK level 2.
For 10 years on an E2, you don't need to know any Korean at all.
So .. . it seems like things are being made EASIER for us then
Welshguy wrote: |
Requirements for an F2-99 or F2-7 to an F5
거주
(F-2)
부여기준
1. 5 years on an E2
2. Make 1 times Korea's Gross National Income / GNI (Same as previous amount)
3. Pass TOPIK level 2 (Previously level 5) |
Thanks so much for the info, quick questions:
1. Don't you mean 5 years on an F2? for an F2 to change to an F5?
2. What was the reason you went to an F2-99 instead of an F5? |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 18 Jul 2006 Location: Home sweet home
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Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 8:53 pm Post subject: |
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Where exactly on the Korean version are you finding this info? |
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Welshguy
Joined: 17 Feb 2009 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Fri Apr 15, 2011 8:58 pm Post subject: |
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naturegirl321 wrote: |
Requirements for an F2-99 or F2-7 to an F5
거주
(F-2)
부여기준
1. 5 years on an E2
2. Make 1 times Korea's Gross National Income / GNI (Same as previous amount)
3. Pass TOPIK level 2 (Previously level 5)
Thanks so much for the info, quick questions:
1. Don't you mean 5 years on an F2? for an F2 to change to an F5?
2. What was the reason you went to an F2-99 instead of an F5? |
1. No. 5 years on an E2 Visa to change to an F2-99 or F5
2. Took the "Back Door Approach" because it seemed the smarter thing to do. People have been denied the F5 when they took the direct route i.e. E2 to F5. |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 18 Jul 2006 Location: Home sweet home
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Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 5:19 am Post subject: |
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So from F2-99 to F5 it would be another 5 years? |
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Welshguy
Joined: 17 Feb 2009 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 5:38 am Post subject: |
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naturegirl321 wrote: |
So from F2-99 to F5 it would be another 5 years? |
1. To upgrade from the F2-99 to F5, you usually have to wait 3 years. (F2-1 is 2 years).
2. To upgrade from the F2-99 to F5 quicker, you just need TOPIK level 2 and make 1 x Korea's GNI. You can apply for the F5 as soon as you have the F2-99. Remember, you already have been on an E2 Visa for 5 years if you have the F2-99. |
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IlIlNine
Joined: 15 Jun 2005 Location: Gunpo, Gyonggi, SoKo
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Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 5:41 pm Post subject: |
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Welshguy wrote: |
naturegirl321 wrote: |
So from F2-99 to F5 it would be another 5 years? |
1. To upgrade from the F2-99 to F5, you usually have to wait 3 years. (F2-1 is 2 years).
2. To upgrade from the F2-99 to F5 quicker, you just need TOPIK level 2 and make 1 x Korea's GNI. You can apply for the F5 as soon as you have the F2-99. Remember, you already have been on an E2 Visa for 5 years if you have the F2-99. |
Thanks for posting this! Was kind of worried for a bit there ...
Anyways, yes - when I got my F2-7 (for 3 years), the officer told me that after the 3 years I was eligible for the F5 - at which point it would be automatic.
I wonder about the TOPIK requirement -- I already submitted my TOPIK level 2 as part of my F2-7 visa application package - but these tests have expiry dates. When I apply for the F5 I wonder if I'll have to submit a fresh one. Eh, a small issue - I'll probably try for level 5 before long anyways. |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 18 Jul 2006 Location: Home sweet home
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Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 10:49 pm Post subject: |
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IlIlNine wrote: |
Thanks for posting this! Was kind of worried for a bit there ...
Anyways, yes - when I got my F2-7 (for 3 years), the officer told me that after the 3 years I was eligible for the F5 - at which point it would be automatic.
I wonder about the TOPIK requirement -- I already submitted my TOPIK level 2 as part of my F2-7 visa application package - but these tests have expiry dates. When I apply for the F5 I wonder if I'll have to submit a fresh one. Eh, a small issue - I'll probably try for level 5 before long anyways. |
Hope you get it! |
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journal
Joined: 26 Jan 2011
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Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 2:26 am Post subject: |
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Hmm. It seems much easier to just jump to the F5, and forget about the F2, with all of its points/sponsors/what-have-you. And here I was about to sign up for TOPIK, and ask my principal to sponsor me.
Are those the only requirements then? Five years, twice the GNI, and TOPIK 2?
Welshguy, thank you again for the info. |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 18 Jul 2006 Location: Home sweet home
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Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 2:55 am Post subject: |
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journal wrote: |
Hmm. It seems much easier to just jump to the F5, and forget about the F2, with all of its points/sponsors/what-have-you. And here I was about to sign up for TOPIK, and ask my principal to sponsor me.
Are those the only requirements then? Five years, twice the GNI, and TOPIK 2?
Welshguy, thank you again for the info. |
It does seem much easier. though I've heard it's harder to make the jump from E2 to F5 than from E2 to F2 to F5. However, maybe things are changing. |
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chungbukdo
Joined: 22 Aug 2010
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Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 3:42 pm Post subject: |
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journal wrote: |
Hmm. It seems much easier to just jump to the F5, and forget about the F2, with all of its points/sponsors/what-have-you. And here I was about to sign up for TOPIK, and ask my principal to sponsor me.
Are those the only requirements then? Five years, twice the GNI, and TOPIK 2?
Welshguy, thank you again for the info. |
If you've already been here for a while on the same visa then maybe the F5 is right for you.
If you went vacationing or spent time with family between visas last year, then the F5 is out of the question. Or if you enrolled in a full time Korean language program and were on an education visa, it would be out of reach too.
For me waiting 5 years would be like an eternity. I'm probably TOPIK level 3ish after 8 months of serious study here out in the countryside so doing the cultural program and TOPIK is way faster. But if you already happen to have most of the time under your belt without a break then it seems pretty good. |
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journal
Joined: 26 Jan 2011
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Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 4:07 pm Post subject: |
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I hate to ask a stupid question...but just to clarify: You mean a break from the visa itself, right? I've had the same visa for nearly five years now, but have taken a number of vacations. |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 18 Jul 2006 Location: Home sweet home
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Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 6:58 pm Post subject: |
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journal wrote: |
I hate to ask a stupid question...but just to clarify: You mean a break from the visa itself, right? I've had the same visa for nearly five years now, but have taken a number of vacations. |
I don't think it's a stupid question. Let's say that you leave for 3 months a year. Still on the same visa, but just go on vacation. I would think that that time wouldn't count, but I would hope it did! |
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chungbukdo
Joined: 22 Aug 2010
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Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 7:04 pm Post subject: |
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Journal,
If you go on vacation and remain on your visa, that's fine. For example, I went on vacation this winter around the Southern end of Korea and a quick trip to Hong Kong. The whole time I was on my E-2 visa--I was using my vacation time and was still officially employed.
But, if I had waited until I finished my contract this summer, then decided to tour around Southern Korea after my E-2 visa expired (on a tourist visa) or I went back home to Canada in between contracts NOT remaining employed (ie not on vacation days), then I would not have a continuous period on one visa.
An example: You finished work last year and decided to take a break from work for 2 months to see your family after your contract expired, then you come back to Korea to work at the exact same employer. In that case you were not on a continuous E-2 visa. You had a break and the clock starts all over again at whatever point you arrived here and started working.
I also think there is an issue with a change of employers. You should not change your employer throughout those five years. You should not have a 1 day break between visas either. |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 18 Jul 2006 Location: Home sweet home
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Posted: Sun Apr 17, 2011 9:44 pm Post subject: |
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Changing your employers is ok if you want to do the F2-99, I assume it would be for the F5 as well. |
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