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raptorsfan
Joined: 16 Jul 2009
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 Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 5:15 am Post subject: |
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Last edited by raptorsfan on Sat Sep 18, 2010 10:32 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Cloud99
Joined: 05 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 4:56 pm Post subject: Re: New regulations for F-4 visas to Korean American males? |
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| choreanz wrote: |
I talked with the Korean Consulate of Atlanta, and they told me that if I were to apply for the F-4 visa then I would have to ultimately serve in the military. My name is not on the family census registry, and I was born a US citizen. My mom has US citizenship, but she never revoked or renounced her Korean citizenship. My dad was a Taiwanese citizen.
I checked the US Department of State website, and it seems like I don't have to serve in the Korean military.
However, the people from the Consulate kept claiming that some new laws that came out around May 2010 make it so that as soon as I go to Korea, I will have to serve three years. It doesn't matter what visa I have (not even the E-2).
Are these guys trying to scam me or something? |
Korean Consulate or embassy in US, they don't know anything. I was same boat as you were. While I was in US I asked Korean lawyer, Korean Embassy in DC (called them 3 or 4 times) and the end conclusion was that I would have to go military if I were to go Korea. Again, they don't know ANYTHING.
Getting back to the topic, when your mom turned in her Korean Passport, she's no longer Korean citizen, it should stated in family census. But since your dad is Taiwanese citizen, there might be some differences. But to be 100% sure, I think you should ask your mom and ask her relatives to visit Seoul Immigration Office. It's ALWAYS better to visit them rather than calling them, trust me. If there is no relative then call immigration office.
For regarding about military, I'm pretty sure that you won't get caught. The reason being is that Korea passed new immigration law in 2005 in which specify states that US born males and Gyopos are excluded from military service. I arrived South Korea in late June without any visa and everything was fine, they will give you 3 months visa (if your visa runs out then do visa runs, I think that's what they called it). I applied F4 visa in Korea and got it within few weeks but I'm gyopos with korean parents (my mother - US citizen, father - PR). But I got to warn you, there are lots of paper work to be done so I think you need your mom relatives to help you or someone who could speak the language.
The reason why they ask your parent citizenship is b/c of military. In other words, your mother has to sponsor you in order for you to avoid the military. This only affect males under age of 34 or 35. If your over that age, it doesn't matter.
Conclusion:
1. Contact Seoul Immigration Office in any means but its always better to visit them.
2. Prepare what types of documents to bring. (Birth certificate, copy of your mother passport and her Certificate of Naturalization, etc...)
3. ALWAYS bring extra cash (visa runs or other situations that you haven't account for)
4. If there are relatives in Korea, ask them for their assistance. The system here is so different. If you can't read, write or speak then you need someone who do.
5. Always double check on everything
Good Luck |
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Cloud99
Joined: 05 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Tue Sep 07, 2010 6:50 pm Post subject: |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
If your mom didn't renounce her citizenship then you hold derived Korean citizenship (even though it was never applied for).
Since you are Korean and failed to renounce before your 18th birthday you are now elegible for the "draft" if you return to Korea AND they discover that you are Korean.
If you apply for the E2 there is little likelyhood of being discovered since you are not on the family registry and you are on a us passport and probably have your father's family name.
If you apply for an F-visa at a later time you will be discovered and MAY be required to serve (2-3 years depending on what branch of service you elect to serve in).
Your other option is to wait until you are 36 years old (too old for the draft).
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I don't think it's correct. Once she became US citizen, she's no longer Korean citizen. It will show up in family census. I know this b/c I went through the process myself. In every district, there are "community center" where you could get whole family record. Well, in my case, it showed that I'm no longer Korean citizen, in fact they erased my Korean "ID Number". It's automatic when you become US citizen. I'm gyopos.
He won't get caught b/c of 2005 immigration law. Oh by the way, F-4 visa last 3 years not 2 years |
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sk288702
Joined: 01 Dec 2008
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| Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 5:36 am Post subject: |
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| does anyone know how this will effect adopted Korean Americans? |
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Darkray16
Joined: 09 Nov 2008
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| Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 9:26 am Post subject: |
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| Cloud99 wrote: |
| ttompatz wrote: |
If your mom didn't renounce her citizenship then you hold derived Korean citizenship (even though it was never applied for).
Since you are Korean and failed to renounce before your 18th birthday you are now elegible for the "draft" if you return to Korea AND they discover that you are Korean.
If you apply for the E2 there is little likelyhood of being discovered since you are not on the family registry and you are on a us passport and probably have your father's family name.
If you apply for an F-visa at a later time you will be discovered and MAY be required to serve (2-3 years depending on what branch of service you elect to serve in).
Your other option is to wait until you are 36 years old (too old for the draft).
. |
I don't think it's correct. Once she became US citizen, she's no longer Korean citizen. It will show up in family census. I know this b/c I went through the process myself. In every district, there are "community center" where you could get whole family record. Well, in my case, it showed that I'm no longer Korean citizen, in fact they erased my Korean "ID Number". It's automatic when you become US citizen. I'm gyopos.
He won't get caught b/c of 2005 immigration law. Oh by the way, F-4 visa last 3 years not 2 years |
You are wrong. When you gain citizenship in one country you don't necessarily lose it in another. There is no international database that holds citizenship statuses. It's merely a title each country gives you.
With the OPs case, the Korean government assumes that males who are born Korean citizens and don't renounce it by the age of 21 are considered to be Korean citizens. The inverse is true for females, they are assumed to have renounced their citizenship, strange I know.
So, what consulate told him is true. Whether he will be caught is a matter of how strictly the policy is enforced. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2010 10:18 am Post subject: |
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| Cloud99 wrote: |
| ttompatz wrote: |
If your mom didn't renounce her citizenship then you hold derived Korean citizenship (even though it was never applied for).
Since you are Korean and failed to renounce before your 18th birthday you are now eligible for the "draft" if you return to Korea AND they discover that you are Korean.
If you apply for the E2 there is little likelihood of being discovered since you are not on the family registry and you are on a us passport and probably have your father's family name.
If you apply for an F-visa at a later time you will be discovered and MAY be required to serve (2-3 years depending on what branch of service you elect to serve in).
Your other option is to wait until you are 36 years old (too old for the draft).
. |
I don't think it's correct. Once she became US citizen, she's no longer Korean citizen. It will show up in family census. I know this b/c I went through the process myself. In every district, there are "community center" where you could get whole family record. Well, in my case, it showed that I'm no longer Korean citizen, in fact they erased my Korean "ID Number". It's automatic when you become US citizen. I'm gyopos.
He won't get caught b/c of 2005 immigration law. Oh by the way, F-4 visa last 3 years not 2 years |
In order to "LOSE" citizenship one has to formally "RENOUNCE" it before a consular officer at a Korean foreign office abroad (embassy/consulate). Losing your citizenship is NOT automatic when you take up US citizenship (hence the number of dual citizens out there). For a Korean male of dual citizenship it must be done before his 19th (Korean birthday).
It has nothing to do with the Korean immigration service.
I never said anything about the duration of the F4. I commented on the length of service for those who are conscripted. Depending on the branch of service your time will be between 22 and 36 months. (2-3 years).
AND as always, I will defer to those (such as yourself) with knowledge superior to mine in regards to affairs such as these but you may find that I am not often mistaken.
| sk288702 wrote: |
| does anyone know how this will effect adopted Korean Americans? |
Adopted Korean-Americans are exempt from conscription.
. |
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akfusion
Joined: 25 Nov 2009
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| Posted: Thu Sep 09, 2010 7:52 am Post subject: |
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| Just for FYI, I'm not sure where the 3 year expiration date came from, but my F4 is good for 5 years. Just FYI. |
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hypernikes
Joined: 02 Jul 2009
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| Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 2:01 am Post subject: |
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| So when did this new policy start? I renewed my F-4 visa three weeks ago and they extended it for 2 years. It seems like this policy only affects when individuals receive or renew their visas. So does that mean I don't have to worry about this policy for another 2 years? |
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pkang0202
Joined: 09 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Mon Sep 13, 2010 4:26 am Post subject: |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
In order to "LOSE" citizenship one has to formally "RENOUNCE" it before a consular officer at a Korean foreign office abroad (embassy/consulate). Losing your citizenship is NOT automatic when you take up US citizenship (hence the number of dual citizens out there). For a Korean male of dual citizenship it must be done before his 19th (Korean birthday).
It has nothing to do with the Korean immigration service.
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+10000000000000000000000000000000000000
When you become a naturalized US citizen, the US government will no longer recognize your other citizenship. Even though the US government doesn't recognize it, your home government still may.
When a Korean citizen becomes a US citizen, America does not call Korea and say, "Yo, Mr. Kim is an American now. You need to take away their Korean citizenship." |
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mimi belle
Joined: 11 Jul 2010
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| Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 8:42 pm Post subject: |
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Not to scare anyone, but here's a related article.
(It's about a gyopo who was forced to serve in the korean military.)
Note this took place back in 2004.
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/168210_korean08.html
Last edited by mimi belle on Wed Sep 15, 2010 9:01 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Konglishman
Joined: 14 Sep 2007
Location: Nanjing
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| Posted: Wed Sep 15, 2010 8:48 pm Post subject: |
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| pkang0202 wrote: |
| ttompatz wrote: |
In order to "LOSE" citizenship one has to formally "RENOUNCE" it before a consular officer at a Korean foreign office abroad (embassy/consulate). Losing your citizenship is NOT automatic when you take up US citizenship (hence the number of dual citizens out there). For a Korean male of dual citizenship it must be done before his 19th (Korean birthday).
It has nothing to do with the Korean immigration service.
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+10000000000000000000000000000000000000
When you become a naturalized US citizen, the US government will no longer recognize your other citizenship. Even though the US government doesn't recognize it, your home government still may.
When a Korean citizen becomes a US citizen, America does not call Korea and say, "Yo, Mr. Kim is an American now. You need to take away their Korean citizenship." |
Actually, that is not the problem at all although it was once a problem. Nowadays, the US does not care if people are dual citizens. However, as a matter of policy, it does not encourage it. The real problem is that South Korea does not recognize dual citizenship although that too is about to change next year. |
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DeLaRed
Joined: 16 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Wed Sep 29, 2010 12:44 am Post subject: |
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| huck wrote: |
My friend says that the new regulation is this -
If you're male, and you were born before your parents were citizens of the US (if they had a green card and were waiting to become citizens, which is....10 years or so?), then you now how so serve in the military.
Current F4's who want to renew their visas will get a 6 month grace period to complete their current jobs/contracts. Your new visa will only be good for six months, and then you either have to leave the country, or you renew your visa and serve your military service.j
Maybe a better option is to just be a Korean-American on an E-2 visa. |
anyone else confirm this? |
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fromafar
Joined: 15 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2010 10:33 pm Post subject: |
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[quote="ttompatz"][quote="Cloud99"]
| ttompatz wrote: |
Adopted Korean-Americans are exempt from conscription.
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for a number of cases of male adoptees under the age of 36 who still appear on their birth family�s hojuk, or family registry, some military service may be required. While they will not be forced to serve the normal two year term, they may be required to serve in �civil defense exercises� that Korean males typically continue once a year for seven years even after the completion of their military service.
http://www.koreaherald.com/lifestyle/Detail.jsp?newsMLId=20100810000527 |
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rpark411
Joined: 11 Oct 2010
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| Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 12:02 pm Post subject: |
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i'm in a similar situation.
i talked to the new york embassy three times and they told me that if you are a korean american born in the states then you are not eligible for the f4 visa.
is this a new law?
can anyone shed some light on this topic?
if you are korean american and obtained a f4 visa in the past couple of months some help would be appreciated. |
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Epik_Teacher
Joined: 28 Apr 2010
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| Posted: Wed Oct 20, 2010 2:05 pm Post subject: Re: New regulations for F-4 visas to Korean American males? |
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| choreanz wrote: |
I talked with the Korean Consulate of Atlanta, and they told me that if I were to apply for the F-4 visa then I would have to ultimately serve in the military. My name is not on the family census registry, and I was born a US citizen. My mom has US citizenship, but she never revoked or renounced her Korean citizenship. My dad was a Taiwanese citizen.
I checked the US Department of State website, and it seems like I don't have to serve in the Korean military.
However, the people from the Consulate kept claiming that some new laws that came out around May 2010 make it so that as soon as I go to Korea, I will have to serve three years. It doesn't matter what visa I have (not even the E-2).
Are these guys trying to scam me or something? |
Welcome to the land of lies and scams! So why would you want to come to this "paradise" then? |
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