Korean Job Discussion Forums

[chocolacharat]

I KNOW this has been done but I have searched hours and can't find a straight answer. Mostly it's just people putting others down and making fun of everyone. So I am going to ask.
I am a Canadian woman engaged to a Korean man. We want to do just a paper marriage for now and save up for a nice wedding ceremony later.

How long does this process take, plus how long does it take to get an F2 visa? I've even checked on the immigration websites and I'm quite confused, so I think it's better to ask people who have been through this situation. Please help.

[Mr. Pink]

Not sure if you understand, but in Korea the ceremony is pretty much just a money collecting thing. There is NOTHING legally binding involved in it.

To do the paper work to be legally married is easy, takes a couple hours. There is a thread on this board somewhere describing the exact process. I did my "paperwork" a week after I actually had my ceremony. Essentially we had to goto the Canadian embassy, get some papers, took those papers to the GU office, got some stamps on them, went back to the embassy, got a signature or stamp on the paper, and we were official.

Once you goto the GU office, that is when it should show that you are married in Korea, and you are added to your husband's family register.

After that, go apply for an F-2. That takes about a week now to get (Seoul Immigration office)

[chocolacharat]

Yes I know, we actually wanted to do a western style ceremony/party but at this point my family can't come plus we have money issues so we will just do it on paper for now.

Anyways, thanks soo much for giving me a straight answer. This website is getting really bad for people just posting useless information or making fun of the poster so I really appreciate it. Thanks!

[Faunaki]

I got married in Canada so when I came here I had to get my F2 visa which took two weeks to get. Easy and simple. My husband did everything as I don't speak Korean but it didn't take long and it wasn't expensive. Passport, ID, certificate, passport sized photos (can get them done at the office usually) and about $80.

Good luck and congrats!

[Cheonmunka]

Damn. Canadians only.

Yak, yak, yak ...
(얘)
"Damn, a boot."
"Wah?"
"Aboot."
"Go aboot?"
"Naw, got a boot ~ on the end oh me line. No good fishin' round these ere parts anymore ..."

[Mr. Pink]

Forgot to mention, for the Korean side you need 2 witnesses...but at the time I did my paperwork, we just took the people's name STAMP (the legal one) and their Korean ID cards with us to the GU office. Apparently this is (or was) common because people are so busy.

[KumaraKitty]

Sent you a PM! Congratulations!

[esetters21]

[Juregen]

The paper work takes 10 minutes.

be sure to bring two extra people for witness, if you can't ask the people who work there to do it.