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kp_vtekniks
Joined: 04 Feb 2010
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 Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 11:54 am Post subject: F4 visa issue (already searched) |
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Hello out there! Just a quick question for you guys. I searched but could not find any definite information.
I spoke with the korean consulate here in seattle today. They notified me that I was not eligible for the F4 visa due to the fact that my parents are still korean citizens.
Here is some background info on my situation.
1. I am a korean american_ born and raised in the united states.
2. I have obtained a hojuk and am NOT listed
therefore, I have never been a korean citizen. I was told for this reason that I do not have to renounce my korean citizenship because there is nothing for me to renounce.
3. My parents have been living in the states for the past 30+ years. They are not american citizens but are permanent residents with alien cards.
The consulate told me that the only way I can get an f4 is if my parents obtain US citizenship and renounce their korean citizenship.
is this info from the consulate correct? They did not seem too confident in their answer to me.
any help would be greatly appreciated. |
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methdxman
Joined: 14 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 12:15 pm Post subject: |
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I'm no expert, but I believe that your parents now need to be naturalized US citizens in order for you to get an F4, since you were a dual citizen (US-KOREAN) at birth. I've searched this forum for F4 visa stuff and I've seen on numerous occasions where people's parents' naturalization certification came into play in this situation
By the way, I don't think being on the hojeuk has any effect on citizenship per se. I think it does have some effect on whether or not you have to serve in the Korean military.
I'm applying for my F4 tomorrow. My situation is a bit different. I was born in Korea and I later naturalized myself American when I was about 22 (I only lived in Korea for about 4 months). Fortunately, I don't have to produce as much paperwork as you do.
And yeah, ALL the Korean consulates have very contradictory information on their websites. Some don't even realize that that hojeok deung bon doesn't even exist anymore and they still ask for it!!!! |
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710
Joined: 05 May 2010
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| Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 12:19 pm Post subject: |
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| I�m 36, I came to the US when I was 3. I was naturalized. My parents are Korean citizens. I got my F-4 a week ago. |
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kp_vtekniks
Joined: 04 Feb 2010
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| Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 12:29 pm Post subject: |
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| methdxman wrote: |
I'm no expert, but I believe that your parents now need to be naturalized US citizens in order for you to get an F4, since you were a dual citizen (US-KOREAN) at birth. I've searched this forum for F4 visa stuff and I've seen on numerous occasions where people's parents' naturalization certification came into play in this situation
By the way, I don't think being on the hojeuk has any effect on citizenship per se. I think it does have some effect on whether or not you have to serve in the Korean military.
I'm applying for my F4 tomorrow. My situation is a bit different. I was born in Korea and I later naturalized myself American when I was about 22 (I only lived in Korea for about 4 months). Fortunately, I don't have to produce as much paperwork as you do.
And yeah, ALL the Korean consulates have very contradictory information on their websites. Some don't even realize that that hojeok deung bon doesn't even exist
anymore and they still ask for it!!!! |
Thanks for the reply. Are your parents American citizens? |
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kp_vtekniks
Joined: 04 Feb 2010
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| Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 12:33 pm Post subject: |
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| 710 wrote: |
| I�m 36, I came to the US when I was 3. I was naturalized. My parents are Korean citizens. I got my F-4 a week ago. |
Where did you obtain your f4? I wonder if because you were born in Korea, your parents citizenship didn't matter?
thanks for the response. |
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710
Joined: 05 May 2010
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| Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 12:35 pm Post subject: |
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The way I understand it, the situation with parents is that if they have become citizens of another country, then you need to show proof that they officially gave up their Korean citizenship. If you are of legal age, and your parents are still Korean citizens, then all you need to supply is your paperwork, not your parent�s�
I�m not sure how it works for the OP, since they were never Korean citizens... |
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710
Joined: 05 May 2010
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| Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 12:36 pm Post subject: |
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| I obtained both my naturalization and F-4 in Atlanta, GA... |
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kp_vtekniks
Joined: 04 Feb 2010
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| Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 12:41 pm Post subject: |
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| 710 wrote: |
The way I understand it, the situation with parents is that if they have become citizens of another country, then you need to show proof that they officially gave up their Korean citizenship. If you are of legal age, and your parents are still Korean citizens, then all you need to supply is your paperwork, not your parent�s�
I�m not sure how it works for the OP, since they were never Korean citizens... |
That was my understanding as well. My parents are Korean citizens, I am an American citizen. But the consulate in Seatlle is telling me I am not eligible because my parents are Korean citizens. Thanks for the input. |
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kp_vtekniks
Joined: 04 Feb 2010
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| Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 12:42 pm Post subject: |
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| 710 wrote: |
| I obtained both my naturalization and F-4 in Atlanta, GA... |
Thank you again. This is all really frustrating. |
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710
Joined: 05 May 2010
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| Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 12:44 pm Post subject: |
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| Only thing I can think of that would explain that, is that there is some red tape in the fact that you were never a Korean citizen; unless methdxman is correct, that you are automatically a Korean citizen when born to Korean parents� Good luck... |
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kp_vtekniks
Joined: 04 Feb 2010
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| Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 12:46 pm Post subject: |
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| 710 wrote: |
| Only thing I can think of that would explain that, is that there is some red tape in the fact that you were never a Korean citizen; unless methdxman is correct, that you are automatically a Korean citizen when born to Korean parents� Good luck... |
I was just thinking that. I may have to speak to the consulate about that. Thanks |
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methdxman
Joined: 14 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 12:57 pm Post subject: |
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| kp_vtekniks wrote: |
| 710 wrote: |
The way I understand it, the situation with parents is that if they have become citizens of another country, then you need to show proof that they officially gave up their Korean citizenship. If you are of legal age, and your parents are still Korean citizens, then all you need to supply is your paperwork, not your parent�s�
I�m not sure how it works for the OP, since they were never Korean citizens... |
That was my understanding as well. My parents are Korean citizens, I am an American citizen. But the consulate in Seatlle is telling me I am not eligible because my parents are Korean citizens. Thanks for the input. |
My parents are American citizens, they both got naturalized after I did. But that doesn't even matter for me, because I naturalized myself as an adult, and thus lost my Korean citizenship by doing so. I apply with my Je jeok deung bon and naturalization certificate, basically.
You're an American citizen, but you were born a dual citizen and Korea recognizes you as such regardless of whether you were registered in the hojeok. I don't know how old you are, but you were supposed to "choose" a nationality before the age of 18.
Since you are NOT in the hojeok, you don't have to do military service, which is great news, but in terms of getting the F4, I believe your parents need to renounce their ROK citizenship (I don't know if it's one or both).
I think the reason behind this is that the F4 visa is for people who were 1) once Korean or 2) descendant of someone who was once Korean.
I fall under category 1 since I was not a dual citizen at birth. You sort of fall under category "1.5" where they need absolutely everything done for you to get an F4. That will probably include you renouncing YOUR OWN Korean citizenship, and THEN being categorized as a category 2 applicant, which means your parents have to become FORMER Koreans.
My recommendation would be to hire a Korean immigration specialist/attorney, because they usually have good relations with people from the consulate, and they can offer you some better advice.
I'm fairly certain that ROK still sees you as a Korean citizen. |
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methdxman
Joined: 14 Sep 2010
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methdxman
Joined: 14 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 1:37 pm Post subject: |
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| 710 wrote: |
| I obtained both my naturalization and F-4 in Atlanta, GA... |
How long did the F4 gtake to process? Did they send it to you via mail? |
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710
Joined: 05 May 2010
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| Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 1:46 pm Post subject: |
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| I took it directly to the consulate. One of my documents were wrong. It was for my mother instead of me, so I had my uncle in Korea get a new one in my name and they emailed it to me. I emailed it to the consulate on a Friday before a three day weekend, and I got my visa back the next Wednesday. I didn�t have to submit anything from my parents. I could have gotten it directly from the consulate earlier, but I was out of town working... |
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