Korean Job Discussion Forums

[chonga]

I've seen a few F-4 threads pop up in the last few weeks regarding situations of one parent being of direct Korean descent or both and just one became an American citizen so I visited the consulate yesterday and thought this post might help some.

I went to the Korean consulate in NYC yesterday and took my mother with me. Here is my situation and yours may be slightly different but you'll pretty much need the same documents:

Background: My father is American (military) and met my mother in Korea. She of course is Korean and I was born in Seoul as an American citizen because of my father. They were married and moved to the states so she is now a naturalized USA citizen. Although being born on Korean soil, I was never a Korean citizen and never placed on my mother's registry (ho-jeok). I wanted to get my F-4 while still in the states since it may be difficult to get once in Korea being my mother would be in the states and not all required documents are in my hands.

The lady at the consulate was very very nice, and took us through the process which took about an hour just because we weren't prepared with all the necessary documents.

Note: They did not take any original paperwork as the lady working behind the desk took a look at the original and stamped the copy with her stamper (I assume it's their form of notarizing or guaranteeing that it isn't a fake). The only original they took was the ho-jeok (family registry) and my passport.

Here is what you will need.

1. Birth Certificate - Original and copies (ALthough I had both, she did not take the long form, she took the short form, YMMV)

2. Mother's or father's USA naturalization papers - Original and copies
(They won't take the original but just need to see that you have the original and they stamp the copy)

3. Both your mother/father's passport and your own - They will take your passport to give you the visa stamp on it.

4. Ho-jeok (family registry) - Original AND notarized in Korea (this is important and make sure your name is NOT on the ho-jeok (for males)..... or i'll see you in marine clothing and an m-16, j/k - but seriously, make sure you are not on it or you'll run into some bumps). And don't worry, your parent's name should be on this.

5. Papers renouncing your mother's/father's Korean citizenship - Ok my mother did NOT do this but all it takes is a one sheet form that they have and asking her for some information.

6. Two passport photos (2x2in) - can be done at wal-mart for $.35

7. If your mother was Korean she needs the forms that said her name was changed from her Korean name to her American name.

For example she needs this Korean document that says her name was changed from Lee Kim to Jane Smith. My mother also did NOT do this when she left Korea but once again, all it took was a one sheet form that she filled out while there.

7. $45 USD CASH - no check or credit card accepted!


Other important things - The lady was very nice but didn't care too much about my papers being notarized but we did have all originals with us which she took a look at first before stamping the copies so once again, YMMV. It was EXTREMELY helpful to take my mother because she spoke Korean with the lady behind the counter and while my Korean is pretty good, I don't think it would've gone as smoothly. So if you can take your mother/father (whoever is Korean) and explain the situation to them, they can make things move much faster (not to mention my wonderful Korean mother not only cuts in line but doesn't leave the line to fill out paperwork and just does it right there - Korean through and through! haha!) Took about 1 - 1.5 hours. I'm having them express mail me my visa tomorrow so hopefully it arrives with no issues (they take your cell number just in case they needed anything in addition and don't have to make the trip)

Questions you might have:

What if the nearest consulate is an hour or two (or more!) away from me?
It was about a 2 hour drive to NYC for me (from Philadelphia area) so when they told me to come back tomorrow to pick up my visa I asked if there was any other way to get it. SHe said they can express mail it to your home address the next day. Worked out better for me since the $17 express mail is cheaper than paying for gas and a half day at work.

I don't know if my parent renounced their Korean citizenship and neither do they, what should I do?
No worries, just go to the consulate anyway and they'll have your parent fill the form out to renounce this. Takes 10 minutes

I don't know if my mother had her official name change form in Korea filled out and she doesn't remember doing it either
Once again, no worries. Just take her to the consulate and they'll have her fill the form out. Takes another 10 minutes

My Korean parent can't go with me to the consulate, what should I do?This whole process can be done by mail, but it may lengthen your time as the people at the consulate aren't the quickest to take action. Also, you run the risk of not providing the right documentation not to mention you will have to get everything notarized. I highly suggest taking the Korean parent but if not, have them call the consulate and get exactly what is needed before sending it out in the mail.

My Korean parent is only in the US with a green card, can I get an F-4? Shouldn't be a problem as long as you can obtain the ho-jeok and as mentioned, make sure your name is not on it. Also, one of your parents should still be a US citizen which makes it a little easier.

How do I get this ho-jeok?
Someone in Korea on your Korean parent's side will have to do this. I've read where some had to have their parent's sibling or parents get power of attorney to obtain this. My situation was different as I just had my first cousin get the "Bae" family registry with my mother's information on it stating she married a US citizen in 1987. No PofA needed. So attempt to obtain it from a family member first, and if not, then I guess you'll need PofA

I wasn't born in Korea but my mother or father is/was a citizen of Korea. Does anything change?
No. Your situation shouldn't be any different. Just be sure to obtain your mother or father's ho-jeok and if you are a male, make sure your name is not on it. You may have to have whoever is the Korean citizen renounce their citizenship if they haven't done so already. Just make sure that if it's your father who is Korean, that he is now an American citizen.

This can feel like an intimidating process but it's not. The people at the consulate are very nice and patient. It's fairly simple as long as you have your documents. The longest part of this process was waiting for my family registry and digging up all original paperwork.

I'm not a pro or know everything about the situation but the process is fresh in my head and I did a lot of asking around and research before going to the consulate. Feel free to PM me or post questions and I'll try my best to answer.

[winterfall]

Hey Chonga, I'm glad it all worked out. Great Post. Wish I had this when I went. So it looks like Koreans only care if the dad has citizenship? It doesn't matter if a girls name shows up on the hojuk. Only guys have to worry about the draft. I hope I run into a Feminist F-4. lol.

[chonga]

[chonga]

Update: I received my F-4 today, approx 2 days after I was at the consulate, so they were pretty quick with that. They will keep the original ho-jeok just so you know. I didn't make copies because I figured I wouldn't need it again... but just an FYI.

[buildbyflying]

Great thread by the way.

My (Korean) mother's parents died when she was young, and she has no surviving relatives (that we know of). Any idea how I might get a hold of the family registry?

[MissSeoul]

OP, your mom also keep telling you to find nice korean girl ?

I know one korean lady who married to American and has half-American/half-Korean son.
She has already sent her son 3 times to korea to help him to find a nice korean girl to marry. Every time he goes korea he seems have a great time, but still no serious relationship with any korean girl.

I don't know why she is so scare if her son is going to marry to American girl, she see American girl as someone who is going to ruin her son's life

[chonga]

[chonga]

[daisydew]

Thank you soooo much for this! I'm also half-korean and i was planning on flying out (without a contract, will find a job when i get there) right after thanksgiving so I was a little worried about how long this whole thing would take.

I guess that if we go renounce my mom's citizenship at the consulate in person, it sounds like it will be super quick. Just waiting on the mail (hojuk) from korea to get here so we can hurry up!

[chonga]

[proudman]

Fist off, I am indebted to anyone that can help me get this process. The process of getting the F4 should be relatively painless and easy, but it's been an absolute nightmare for me. To keep a long story short, I'll cut right to the chase.

Since coming to the United States in the early 1970s, my mother was married to my father, divorced, married again and divorced, and has been married a third time since 1990. In order for her to renounce her Korean citizenship, I constructed a paper trail of how my mother's name has changed from what appears on the Hojuk to what is reflected on her naturalization. I was able to obtain certified court records of her marriage certificates and divorce decrees, but the issue is with the name she used on her current marriage certificate. She used her "American" first name instead of her Korean name, so the trail does not flow. The previous marriage certificates and divorce decrees had her Korean name (Myung Ja) and American last name, so the consulate says that we either need to amend the marriage certificate or do a petition for a name change. First off, the courts will not amend the marriage certificate because she had a drivers license that reflected that name on the marriage certificatee and because of the amount of time that has elapsed.

Ultimately the Consulate wants a document that states that Mona Frank is Myung Ja Vosen. But here is where it gets even trickier.

My mom was naturalized in 1981, and the original naturalization read Myung Ja Proud. That is also my last name. She could not find her original naturalization that was needed when applying to get her passport in 1996. My step father helped her construct a paper trail to prove she is who she is. They ended up going to immigration, and she got a copy of her naturalization. However, her last name was changed from Proud to Vosen on the new "copy" of her naturalization. I just found out after talking with the clerk of court at United States District Court (Northern District of Ohio), that the name should NEVER have been changed. A copy should have been issued with the last name she had back in 1981.

The copy that was given to her in 1996 has the same naturalization number and alien registration number as the one issued in 1981. The only difference is the last name. I was sent a certified copy (notorized and signed) by the Clerk of Court with a letter stating that their records show that Myung Ja Proud was naturalized on this date with these numbers, date of birth in Seoul, Korea.

I constructed a well written letter that thoroughly explained what the Clerk of Court's office shared with me along with the letter and the certified copy. If we would have had the original from the beginning, all I would have to have sent in was my mother's first marriage certificate that was from my father. Her name on that certificate matches the Hojuk. Because I didn't receive a copy of this until now, I had to obtain ALL of her marriage certificates and divorce decrees. And that leads me to the dilemma I am currently faced with. Her most recent marriage certificate does not reflect Myung Ja, and they are unwilling to accept the aforementioned document from the United States District Court or any other document that shows variations of her name.

Apparently they left my mom a voice message this evening stating that they still cannot use the letter and certified copy that shows her last name that matches the Hojuk.

My question is, how are we going to get past this barrier with these folks that are either severely stubborn, or just don't understand??? I explained in the letter that the name should NEVER have been changed on the naturalization that was reissued in 1996 (15 years after she went through the process).

I am so drained physically and mentally. I feel like I've put in so much work in proving our case, that I'm almost unwilling to accept an E2 Visa at this point.

If any of you took the time to read through and understand this absolutely ridiculous situation that I am in, please offer up any suggestions. I really want to get to Korea sooner than later, but these folks are really putting a bad taste in my mouth. Everything does not work out as smoothly as they like, but there's got to be a compromise or another way to show these folks at the Consulate and in Korea my mother is who she says she is, and can rightfully renounce her Korean citizenship. My mother is overly annoyed at this point too, but I'm one that is getting screwed over due to what appears to me as a ridiculously minor technicality.

PLEASE HELP ME!!!

[Toon Army]

sorry to hear about this complicated situation......wish I could offer some advice that would help.

The only thing that I can say is that when I applied for my F4 visa in KOREA it seemed a bit more lax (at least Uijeongbu immigration were).....they didn't really read my papers properly, just had a quick scan through it. I think I was even missing a document at the time.

so if this siutation doesn't get sorted out in the US....come on an E2 and bring all your docs to Korea and try to get it done here (hopefully then switching to an F4).....you might have a better chance with the offices here compared to the really anal one you seemed to have encountered. Worth a try.....good luck.

[proudman]

The issue I'm facing all has to do with my mother's ability to renounce her Korean citizenship. They have all of my documents and the money order(including my passport).

Do you think I'll be able to take the necessary documents to renounce my mother's citizenship and my documents for the application to Korea? Or am I only going to be able to handle my part(The application for the Visa)?

I've never been so at a loss in my entire life!!!