Korean Job Discussion Forums

[choihowardchoi]

Hello I am getting ready to teach out in Korea and wanted to get some inputs on the visa choices.

I have a Bachelors degree and am a Citizen of the United States so I believe I qualitfy for the E2 visa. But only concern I have with this is that I have 2 juvenile record that still shows up on my Federal record. One charge was for petty theft and the other was for having a weapon on school campus. Would this disqualify me from getting an E2 visa and teaching in Korea?

My other option is the F4 visa. My enitre family was born in Korea and recently became citizens of the U.S. We all gave up our Korean citizenship so I think I should be on the clear to get the F4 visa.

I am looking at two option and wanted to get some feedback to see which direction will work best for me.

One option is for me to apply with an agency and hope that my two juvenile record doesnt bar me from obtaining the E2 visa and getting a job.

The second option is to apply for the F4 visa and fly out to Korea and start searching for a job there.

Which option do you think will play out the best and will be the most time efficent? I was planning to head out to Korea no later than end of February.

Let me know what you guys think!!

[Riker]

Weapons and theft charge?

Korean immigration should have no problem with that. I suggest you leave immediately...

[jrabernethy]

Is there any reason not to get an f4 visa instead of an E2 if you qualify for one?

[Riker]

You have a 0% chance of teaching in the US with a weapons charge, how do you expect to teach somewhere else?

[ttompatz]

E2 is not an option with a positive finding on your CRC. Your application would be denied without a 2nd look.

F4 is an option to getting to Korea and with an F4, the vast majority of employers won't check your CRC and immigration won't care.

The only place you might not be able to work would be in a PS. They often (but not always) request a CRC prior to employment (they certainly do if you go through one of the major recruitment programs (EPIK/GEPIK/etc.)).

.

[Riker]

Are you not required to state on the F4 visa form your previous convictions / charges? I've never seen a visa application without it.


ttompatz, do you know someone who obtained an F4 visa with a weapons charge?

[Wiltern]

Are you under 35? I think I read somewhere if you come on a F4, you may be required to serve in the military.

[ttompatz]

[Riker]

I stand corrected.

One more question though. Did they lie on their F4 application?

If the applicant lied, then this would be no more of a "pass" than an E2 who forges their background check.

[walterkim18]

Sounds like you should go for your F4. I got mine a few years in the past and the procedure is fairly easy. You need to make sure that you, personally, have relinquished your Korean citizenship. After you are sure that you've relinquished your Korean Citizenship, which requires filling out a particular form, there's no way that you would have to do any army service. I don't recall any questions during the F4 visa process that asks about prior convictions, but then again since I don't have any this would be a hard question for me to actually recall. However, there are no background forms, pertaining to criminal records, required that could raise any flags. Actually, the F4 might be your lucky way of avoiding the need for any background checks at all, but there might be a few hagwons or recruiters that might want them. The F4 is sometimes an attractive visa for employers because they don't have to do much work to employ you legally. It seems like the E2 visa requires a ton of background and private information, so the F4 visa process would most likely be faster. There are plenty of jobs for F4 visa holders here and you can privately teach students legally, which I beleive E2 visa holders are unable to do legally.

Also, Korean Americans can now apply for Dual Korean American Citizenship, more complications than the F4 visa process, which could be an option for you. Good Luck

[walterkim18]

[Riker]

I'm very certain they will ask about prior convictions. I'm sure the OP could simply lie on the form and hope none of his employers ask for a background check.

If the OP is honest of the F4 visa form, I am sure they wouldn't issue the visa.

[walterkim18]

[BackHOME]

So... I'm confused about the F4 visa... I wanna come there and teach with F4.

Here is my situation. Im in the states, was born here, citizen here, unfortunately in this situation, a male.

1. Father's hojuk is still valid, he never renounced his citizenship from korea
2. I was born BEFORE he was naturalized in the US.
3. My mom got her citizenship here before I was born.
4. Im not on his hojuk, he never registered me.

I dont want to pay the visa cost if I have a good probability of getting denied my F4 visa. E2 visa is not an option due to various reasons.

Questions:

If I'm not on the Hojuk, then I'm not a citizen of Korea. So my concern is if I'm not on the hojuk, then theoretically I'm not a Korean citizen.

If my father renounces his citizenship now, can I get it after it's official?

If I use my mom's info, can I get it through those means? She was naturalized before I was born.

Thanks for your advice people!

[walterkim18]