Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Nick Adams]

I have been here for a few years and am leaving this summer with my Korean wife. We do not have any plans to return in the next 5+ years. I am wondering what some of you would do in my situation - would you apply for the F-2 visa and try to renew it each year for five years in anticipation of getting an F-5 down the road in the unanticipated event that we do return? I'm not very familiar with the visa application process, so I'm not sure if this is even possible.

Thanks.

[tob55]

The F2 is a residency visa, so unless you maintain a residence here and have a multiple entry stamp on your visa, you will not be able to renew it regularly. You will also be required to maintain Korean employment during the period. So, unless something has changed, you would be better off applying for the residency visa as an F2 when you plan on returning to the country. You can secure one from abroad when you are returning. It is not any longer of a process and once you are back you, it should be okay. That is my advice, but others may have some more input. Good luck to you.

[dragon777]

Get the best visa you can. As the economic situation is slowly getting worse. There is going to be less jobs available as time goes by. So, i hope you are going to greener pastures.

[ChinaBoy]

[DHC]

When you apply to change your visa from F-2 to F-5, Immigration will count the days spent in Korea on an F-2 visa to determine if you qualify in terms of residency in Korea. Time spent outside Korea while holding an F-2 visa is not included in the residency requirement. You can obtain an F-2 and keep it valid by returning to Korea at least once a year and renewing it as scheduled by Immigration. Since none of the time spent outside Korea will apply to the F-5 residency requirement, you could obtain the F-2 whenever you decide to return to Korea. The F-2 can be issued in your home country or once you are in Korea. It is often an easier process to obtain the F-2 inside Korea and you don't have to leave Korea when you change from a visitor to an F-2.

[Nick Adams]

Thanks for the info. I think we'll wait to apply for the F-2 when/if we return to Korea, since we probably won't be visiting every year.