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jinju necklace
Joined: 15 Jun 2009
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 Posted: Sun Mar 13, 2011 10:20 pm Post subject: F-2 visa (point system) and F-5 visa seekers... |
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Last week I went to the immigration office in Mokdong to apply for the F-2 visa via the point system. Here's the breakdown of my points and what documents I needed:
Age: 32 years old - 25 points (ARC)
Education: master's degree - 30 points (degree and transcript)
Korean proficiency: TOPIK level 2 - 10 points (TOPIK transcript)
Annual Income: 35-50 million won - 6 points (statement of yearly income from employer)
Study in Korea: master's degree - 5 points (degree and transcript)
Work experience outside Korea: over 2 years - 5 points (employment reference letter from employer)
Total: 81 points
The immigration officer check through all my documents and confirmed my points, and told me that I can get the F-2 visa. But then she looked at my file on her computer, and started asking me questions about how long I've been in Korea. I was wondering what was going after she started flipping through her thick immigration regulation book.
She then informed me that I could actually apply for the F-5 visa because I met the following requirements:
1. Been on the same E-2 visa for over five years (I transferred my visa twice during that time)
2. Annual income of over 45 million won (I think this requirement changes each year depending on the GDP)
3. Korean language ability (I have TOPIK level 2 - I've read in the past you needed at least level 3)
4. No criminal record in Korea.
The first 3 items I was able to prove with the documents I had on me. The immigration officials will do a criminal background check on me. Once they confirm that I have no criminal record in Korea I should be approved for the F-5 visa.
They are supposed to call me within the next two weeks. I'll let you all know if I get it. |
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raewon
Joined: 16 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 4:16 am Post subject: |
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Congrats on getting your visa!
Can I ask a question about the following?
| Quote: |
She then informed me that I could actually apply for the F-5 visa because I met the following requirements:
1. Been on the same E-2 visa for over five years (I transferred my visa twice during that time)
2. Annual income of over 45 million won (I think this requirement changes each year depending on the GDP)
3. Korean language ability (I have TOPIK level 2 - I've read in the past you needed at least level 3)
4. No criminal record in Korea. |
You didn't by chance get that officer's name, did you? Or does anyone know where the above information is provided on the immigration site?
Don't misunderstand jinju necklace, I don't doubt you at all. But I've inquired before and was told that the annual income requirement was much higher than that (around 75 million won - which would exclude foreigners on an E-2 visa).
Thanks. |
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jinju necklace
Joined: 15 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Mon Mar 14, 2011 5:28 pm Post subject: |
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| raewon wrote: |
Congrats on getting your visa!
Can I ask a question about the following?
You didn't by chance get that officer's name, did you? Or does anyone know where the above information is provided on the immigration site?
Don't misunderstand jinju necklace, I don't doubt you at all. But I've inquired before and was told that the annual income requirement was much higher than that (around 75 million won - which would exclude foreigners on an E-2 visa).
Thanks. |
To clarify, I haven't gotten the visa yet. It's still being processed. I should know by the end of next week if I'm approved or not.
I did a quick check (http://www.hikorea.go.kr/pt/en/info/popup/icis/3-4-2_pop.htm) and this is what I found for E-2 visa holders:
Criteria:
1. Yearly income should be more than 3 times of last year's GNI per capita by the Notification by the Bank of Korea
2. Level 3 or higher in Korean language test by KICE(Korea Institute for Curriculum & Evaluation)
Required documents:
1. degree
2. Withholding slip of earned income or certificate of income
3. A written recognition for Korean language test
I'm guessing the GNI per capita fell considerably in 2010, so that's why the minimum is now 45 million won. I'm a little worried since I only passed the level 2 TOPIK test and the requirement states I need at least level 3. I'm hoping that in the end it's at the discretion of whoever is processing my application and that they take into account the other points I have that qualify me for the F-2 visa (but perhaps I'm hoping for too much).
By the way, the name of the immigration officer is 황보영숙. She didn't speak any English to me, but I think she might have done that on purpose to test my Korean proficiency. |
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Who's Your Daddy?
Joined: 30 May 2010
Location: Victoria, Canada.
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| Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 1:33 am Post subject: |
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| jinju necklace wrote: |
To clarify, I haven't gotten the visa yet. It's still being processed. I should know by the end of next week if I'm approved or not.
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Let us know. |
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hammmmy
Joined: 26 Oct 2010
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| Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 8:24 am Post subject: |
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| jinju necklace wrote: |
| raewon wrote: |
Congrats on getting your visa!
Can I ask a question about the following?
You didn't by chance get that officer's name, did you? Or does anyone know where the above information is provided on the immigration site?
Don't misunderstand jinju necklace, I don't doubt you at all. But I've inquired before and was told that the annual income requirement was much higher than that (around 75 million won - which would exclude foreigners on an E-2 visa).
Thanks. |
To clarify, I haven't gotten the visa yet. It's still being processed. I should know by the end of next week if I'm approved or not.
I did a quick check (http://www.hikorea.go.kr/pt/en/info/popup/icis/3-4-2_pop.htm) and this is what I found for E-2 visa holders:
Criteria:
1. Yearly income should be more than 3 times of last year's GNI per capita by the Notification by the Bank of Korea
2. Level 3 or higher in Korean language test by KICE(Korea Institute for Curriculum & Evaluation)
Required documents:
1. degree
2. Withholding slip of earned income or certificate of income
3. A written recognition for Korean language test
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Thanks for the info.
Do you know what a "Reference form 신원보증서" is? coz its also one of the required docs |
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suwonsi
Joined: 25 Oct 2010
Location: SUWON
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| Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 10:54 am Post subject: |
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Is this for F-2 or F-5
My yearly income is more than 45mil. I have been here since the past 3 years. I am currently studying level 3 korean. Can I qualify for F5??
Criteria:
1. Yearly income should be more than 3 times of last year's GNI per capita by the Notification by the Bank of Korea
2. Level 3 or higher in Korean language test by KICE(Korea Institute for Curriculum & Evaluation)
Required documents:
1. degree
2. Withholding slip of earned income or certificate of income
3. A written recognition for Korean language test |
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jinju necklace
Joined: 15 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 5:08 pm Post subject: |
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신원보증서 is a reference letter from your Korean employer. It's not a required document for the F-2 or F-5 visa. E-2 visa applicants need that form when they apply for a new E-2 visa or transfer their E-2 visa to a new employer. It's pretty much like a sponsorship form, with your employer being your sponsor in Korea.
The basic requirement for anyone who wants to apply for the F-5 visa is that you have to be on the same visa for at least 5 years. The other requirements I shared in my last post are additional requirements specific to E-2 visa holders. |
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Ramen
Joined: 15 Apr 2008
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| Posted: Tue Mar 15, 2011 6:07 pm Post subject: |
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i'm gonna apply for korean citizenship since korea is allowing multiple citizenship now.  |
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millyfrend
Joined: 29 Apr 2010
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| Posted: Wed Mar 16, 2011 2:36 pm Post subject: Re: F-2 visa (point system) and F-5 visa seekers... |
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What's the difference between a F-2 and E-2?
| jinju necklace wrote: |
Last week I went to the immigration office in Mokdong to apply for the F-2 visa via the point system. Here's the breakdown of my points and what documents I needed:
Age: 32 years old - 25 points (ARC)
Education: master's degree - 30 points (degree and transcript)
Korean proficiency: TOPIK level 2 - 10 points (TOPIK transcript)
Annual Income: 35-50 million won - 6 points (statement of yearly income from employer)
Study in Korea: master's degree - 5 points (degree and transcript)
Work experience outside Korea: over 2 years - 5 points (employment reference letter from employer)
Total: 81 points
The immigration officer check through all my documents and confirmed my points, and told me that I can get the F-2 visa. But then she looked at my file on her computer, and started asking me questions about how long I've been in Korea. I was wondering what was going after she started flipping through her thick immigration regulation book.
She then informed me that I could actually apply for the F-5 visa because I met the following requirements:
1. Been on the same E-2 visa for over five years (I transferred my visa twice during that time)
2. Annual income of over 45 million won (I think this requirement changes each year depending on the GDP)
3. Korean language ability (I have TOPIK level 2 - I've read in the past you needed at least level 3)
4. No criminal record in Korea.
The first 3 items I was able to prove with the documents I had on me. The immigration officials will do a criminal background check on me. Once they confirm that I have no criminal record in Korea I should be approved for the F-5 visa.
They are supposed to call me within the next two weeks. I'll let you all know if I get it. |
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chungbukdo
Joined: 22 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 1:15 am Post subject: |
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| Ramen wrote: |
| i'm gonna apply for korean citizenship since korea is allowing multiple citizenship now. |
Are they? Link? |
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chungbukdo
Joined: 22 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 1:17 am Post subject: Re: F-2 visa (point system) and F-5 visa seekers... |
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| jinju necklace wrote: |
Work experience outside Korea: over 2 years - 5 points (employment reference letter from employer)
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What kind of work did you do? I was thinking about trying to get this recognized, but people were saying it was only for "professional" jobs like lawyers. |
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jinju necklace
Joined: 15 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Thu Mar 17, 2011 4:53 pm Post subject: Re: F-2 visa (point system) and F-5 visa seekers... |
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| chungbukdo wrote: |
| jinju necklace wrote: |
Work experience outside Korea: over 2 years - 5 points (employment reference letter from employer)
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What kind of work did you do? I was thinking about trying to get this recognized, but people were saying it was only for "professional" jobs like lawyers. |
I think any full-time employment you had outside Korea would qualify. I worked in marketing before I came to Korea. |
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naturegirl321
Joined: 18 Jul 2006
Location: Home sweet home
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| Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 11:27 pm Post subject: |
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| About your reference letter for work outside of Korea. Was it recent or can it be from a couple years ago? |
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Mr. Peabody
Joined: 24 Sep 2010
Location: here
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| Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 12:59 am Post subject: Re: F-2 visa (point system) and F-5 visa seekers... |
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| jinju necklace wrote: |
| They are supposed to call me within the next two weeks. I'll let you all know if I get it. |
It's been a month. Did you get it? |
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jinju necklace
Joined: 15 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Sat Apr 16, 2011 9:14 pm Post subject: |
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| I just got my F-5 visa last week. It took just under a month for them to approve my application. I got a new ARC that says 영구 (permanent) on the back, as well as a sticker in my passport. I never have to go back to the immigration office again... happy days. |
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