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chonga
Joined: 15 Mar 2009
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 Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 2:50 pm Post subject: Get my E-2 then get F-4 when arriving? |
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My father was American and my mother is Korean and I was born in Seoul but moved to the states when I was 8.
My question is if I head back over to teach is it possible to get my E-2 then "upgrade" to an F-4 when I get there?
Reason I would do this is because I've heard many employers not providing housing/airfare for those who hold F-4 visas.
Any suggestions? |
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tob55
Joined: 29 Apr 2007
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| Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 2:58 pm Post subject: Re: Get my E-2 then get F-4 when arriving? |
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| chonga wrote: |
My father was American and my mother is Korean and I was born in Seoul but moved to the states when I was 8.
My question is if I head back over to teach is it possible to get my E-2 then "upgrade" to an F-4 when I get there?
Reason I would do this is because I've heard many employers not providing housing/airfare for those who hold F-4 visas.
Any suggestions? |
If you know this to be a fact then it is worth it. Getting your F4 once your are here should be relatively easy if you have all the documents necessary. The main thing is to verify your connection to Korea through your mother's lineage. Once you have done that it should be quite easy to upgrade. Of course you spend a bit of extra money to do it that way, but if you feel it is in your best interest, then go for it. Good luck and travel safe.  |
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ThingsComeAround
Joined: 07 Nov 2008
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| Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 9:58 pm Post subject: |
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Why not just get yourself the F-4 first?
The E-2 visa is such a hassle (fees, CRC, apostille)
getting the F4 would save yourself some inconveniences IMO |
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i
Joined: 10 Apr 2008
Location: Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Jun 07, 2009 11:20 pm Post subject: |
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| You can get a better deal with an F visa. Even if you are not given housing, they should give an allowance. Then if they treat you like crap, you are not tied to the job through housing. |
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DHC
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 2:10 pm Post subject: |
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| Check the Korean Citizenship laws. Unless they have changed, a child born to a Korean mother and a foreign father prior to 1999 is not a Korean citizen, even if born in Korea. The child must take the father's citizenship. If this is still the law it would disqualify you from obtaining an F-4 visa. |
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pkjh
Joined: 23 May 2008
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| Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 4:06 pm Post subject: |
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| DHC wrote: |
| Check the Korean Citizenship laws. Unless they have changed, a child born to a Korean mother and a foreign father prior to 1999 is not a Korean citizen, even if born in Korea. The child must take the father's citizenship. If this is still the law it would disqualify you from obtaining an F-4 visa. |
Above is not true.
You should be able to get your F-4, as long as your mother is no longer a Korean citizen. |
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chonga
Joined: 15 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 7:01 pm Post subject: |
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| pkjh wrote: |
| DHC wrote: |
| Check the Korean Citizenship laws. Unless they have changed, a child born to a Korean mother and a foreign father prior to 1999 is not a Korean citizen, even if born in Korea. The child must take the father's citizenship. If this is still the law it would disqualify you from obtaining an F-4 visa. |
Above is not true.
You should be able to get your F-4, as long as your mother is no longer a Korean citizen. |
My mother is a United States citizen (originally Korean, moving to US in 1993) as am I.
I guess F-4 is the way to go for me then. Settles that |
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pkjh
Joined: 23 May 2008
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| Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 8:23 pm Post subject: |
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| How old are you? I believe there is an age restriction too. I knew of someone a few months shy of his 20/21st birthday (not sure about the age), so he couldn't get an F-4. So he just waited around for a few months hanging out at his relatives place until his birthday. |
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ahsieee
Joined: 03 Mar 2009
Location: Yongin, South Korea
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| Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 10:29 pm Post subject: |
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I did exactly what you did. I had an E2 visa, but switched to F4.
Since your mother was the Korean citizen who gave up her citizenship, it should be no problem. Where you a Korean citizen too?
Check with your mother to see if she put you on the family registry before immigrating- since you left when you were 8, you're most likely on it, but just double check with her. Your name will be on your mother's family registry, aka 호적.
Check this website- it's extremely helpful.
http://www.hikorea.go.kr/pt/InfoDetailR_en.pt
Check with your employer to see if they'll provide housing- you're better of with this because the housing allowance is taxable too, so you won't be getting the full amount to put towards your monthly rent. |
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TimothyWilkinson
Joined: 26 May 2009
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| Posted: Mon Jun 08, 2009 10:38 pm Post subject: |
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| This is totally plausible. MY friend did the exact same thing you are trying to do. Had his e-2 and upgrade to a F-4. You'll just have to get all your paper work in order. Goodluck |
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chonga
Joined: 15 Mar 2009
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| Posted: Tue Jun 09, 2009 9:08 am Post subject: |
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Thanks everyone, you've all been a tremendous help.
Amazing how effective forums can be fwhen mature minds come together to communicate |
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nyla54
Joined: 17 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Fri Jul 31, 2009 2:21 am Post subject: |
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| pkjh wrote: |
| How old are you? I believe there is an age restriction too. I knew of someone a few months shy of his 20/21st birthday (not sure about the age), so he couldn't get an F-4. So he just waited around for a few months hanging out at his relatives place until his birthday. |
I don't know if this is too late, but I thought I'd contribute just to bump the thread in case someone else was wondering the same.
The age restriction is 22 years old.
I spoke with the Southern California Korean Consulate and was told if you have all your documents, you drop everything off and pick up your passport with the visa the next day. The most it can (usually) take is two days.
Also, I'm not sure where you're teaching (public or private). However, I am fairly certain that public schools don't discriminate against F-4 carriers, especially when it comes to housing as it is built into the contract.
From what I've researched (and I've researched a lot--bombarding my recruiter and other authors here), it's definitely very easy to switch from the E-2 to the F-4. Almost all do it in a day. However, this is given that you have all the paperwork. My logic is if you want to end up getting the F-4 and am able to get it before coming to Korea, why not? The F-4 has benefits in so many ways so it definitely beats out the E-2. Plus, you have to take into account the opportunity cost of having to go and switch, and hoping nothing goes wrong. |
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