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987psh
Joined: 02 Mar 2011
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 Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2011 8:59 pm Post subject: Regarding F4 Visa (US or Korea) |
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Hello guys!
I know this might have been already discussed but I couldnt find anything on my search attempts. Please dont get to mad at me 
Well First, I've talked to about 4 different consulates in US regarding my eligibility, and 2 said Im ineligible and 2 said Im eligible.
So the consulates that said I couldnt get an F4;
1. Starting 2011, Males cant get an F4 Visa. (weird)
2. I would have to go to Korean military. (I renounced)
3. My parents are still Korean citizens (does it matter?)
So my profile;
1. I just got my U.S. Citizenship and Passport.
2. I was born in Korea, immigrated to US when I was 10.
3. I am 21 now.
4. I renounced my Korean citizenship at the consulate.
So with this, based on my research, I should be eligible, but the problem is the consulate near me said Im ineligible. Any thoughts?
And lastly, would it be faster for me to go to Korea and get an F4 while searching for a job, or getting an F4 here in US. (how long is the complete process for an F4 visa)
THANK YOU!!! |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2011 10:13 pm Post subject: |
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Your parents are still citizens - F4 was never an option.
You can get an F4 when you turn 36.
The reason is to prevent families from jumping abroad, having the son renounce and then avoid the military service only to return on an F4 and live live like any other Korean without having served.
Your choices WERE do 2 years in the army and enjoy full privileges as a citizen or wait till you were too old to go into the army.
Now that you have renounced your only option left is return on an F1 (can't work) or D/E class visa (jump through the hoops) as an American.
When you turn 36 you can return on an F4.
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987psh
Joined: 02 Mar 2011
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| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2011 10:18 pm Post subject: |
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thanks for the input,
why would my parents being korean matter? that would only matter if was born here in US.
im 1.5 gen, so Im applying F4 without using my parent's korean heritage but mine?
also that comment about "jumping" to US to avoid military service is very irrelevant. its not easy for korean parents to go to US and get an citizenship. to get an US citizenship it takes good 7+ years if lucky. it doesnt make sense to go to US for 7+ years to avoid 2 years of military service assuming "they love and want to live in korea" |
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methdxman
Joined: 14 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 5:22 pm Post subject: |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
Your parents are still citizens - F4 was never an option.
You can get an F4 when you turn 36.
The reason is to prevent families from jumping abroad, having the son renounce and then avoid the military service only to return on an F4 and live live like any other Korean without having served.
Your choices WERE do 2 years in the army and enjoy full privileges as a citizen or wait till you were too old to go into the army.
Now that you have renounced your only option left is return on an F1 (can't work) or D/E class visa (jump through the hoops) as an American.
When you turn 36 you can return on an F4.
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Ttom, i think he's in a different situation than most gyopos. He's like me in that we were both born in Korea and were never granted American citizenship at birth.
He came an American citizenship by his own volition and upon become a naturalized citizen of the U.S. he lost his Korean citizenship.
He is entitled to an F4 visa by himself, because he himself was a Korean citizen.
When I applied for my F4, my dad still hadn't reported his loss of citizenship either, but it didn't matter. |
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methdxman
Joined: 14 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 5:26 pm Post subject: Re: Regarding F4 Visa (US or Korea) |
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| 987psh wrote: |
Hello guys!
I know this might have been already discussed but I couldnt find anything on my search attempts. Please dont get to mad at me
Well First, I've talked to about 4 different consulates in US regarding my eligibility, and 2 said Im ineligible and 2 said Im eligible.
So the consulates that said I couldnt get an F4;
1. Starting 2011, Males cant get an F4 Visa. (weird)
2. I would have to go to Korean military. (I renounced)
3. My parents are still Korean citizens (does it matter?)
So my profile;
1. I just got my U.S. Citizenship and Passport.
2. I was born in Korea, immigrated to US when I was 10.
3. I am 21 now.
4. I renounced my Korean citizenship at the consulate.
So with this, based on my research, I should be eligible, but the problem is the consulate near me said Im ineligible. Any thoughts?
And lastly, would it be faster for me to go to Korea and get an F4 while searching for a job, or getting an F4 here in US. (how long is the complete process for an F4 visa)
THANK YOU!!! |
The only issue they may raise is that you only became a US citizenship to not serve in the Korean military.
Do the following:
Wait a month or two for your loss of citizenship report to kick in in Korea. IN the registry you will have something next to your name which states that you are no longer a Korean citizen.
Go to a consulate and apply for your F4 visa. Should only take a day. Don't mention anything about just becoming a citizen blah blah blah, you will only confuse people the more information you give them.
Just say that you were born in Korea, you're a U.S. citizen now, and have no obligation to serve in the military. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 6:07 pm Post subject: |
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| 987psh wrote: |
| also that comment about "jumping" to US to avoid military service is very irrelevant. its not easy for korean parents to go to US and get an citizenship. to get an US citizenship it takes good 7+ years if lucky. it doesnt make sense to go to US for 7+ years to avoid 2 years of military service assuming "they love and want to live in korea" |
But that is the issue and why you will run into difficulty is because that has happened in the past.
I have NOT checked recently but the last time I looked, IF memory serves me correctly, you had to renounce BEFORE you turned 18 or you would be expected to serve in the army OR wait till you turned 36.
There HAVE been instances where Korean-Americans have been forced into the military for just this reason. There is (or at least was) a warning on the US-embassy website about this specific issue.
You may want to check further before you jump.
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methdxman
Joined: 14 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2011 10:11 pm Post subject: |
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| ttompatz wrote: |
| 987psh wrote: |
| also that comment about "jumping" to US to avoid military service is very irrelevant. its not easy for korean parents to go to US and get an citizenship. to get an US citizenship it takes good 7+ years if lucky. it doesnt make sense to go to US for 7+ years to avoid 2 years of military service assuming "they love and want to live in korea" |
But that is the issue and why you will run into difficulty is because that has happened in the past.
I have NOT checked recently but the last time I looked, IF memory serves me correctly, you had to renounce BEFORE you turned 18 or you would be expected to serve in the army OR wait till you turned 36.
There HAVE been instances where Korean-Americans have been forced into the military for just this reason. There is (or at least was) a warning on the US-embassy website about this specific issue.
You may want to check further before you jump.
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You have to renounce by 18 if you're a dual citizen. He was never a dual citizen. Was always Korean and became American upon being sworn in as an American citizen. |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 1:15 am Post subject: |
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Korean citizen, has not served his mandatory service and renounced / changed citizenship AFTER he turned 18 makes him a draft dodger in the eyes of the Korean military.
I would be very careful if I was him.
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987psh
Joined: 02 Mar 2011
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| Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 11:29 pm Post subject: |
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I actually called the embassy and immigration in Korea, they told me that I should have absolutely no problem with the korean military because Im no longer a Korean citizen.
The law states that if a Korean citizen becomes a naturalized citizen of a different country, that person no longer has ANY obligation to the Korean military.
Hopefully this will clarify to some people looking. |
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987psh
Joined: 02 Mar 2011
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| Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2011 11:32 pm Post subject: |
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So with that settled, anyone know how long it takes to get an "foreigner's SSN card"?
Am I able to sign contracts (cellphones, apartments, and etc) with this?
Which immigration office am I suppose to go to if I'm planning on staying in Seoul Gangnam-gu?
Thanks!! |
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methdxman
Joined: 14 Sep 2010
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| Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2011 2:13 am Post subject: |
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| 987psh wrote: |
So with that settled, anyone know how long it takes to get an "foreigner's SSN card"?
Am I able to sign contracts (cellphones, apartments, and etc) with this?
Which immigration office am I suppose to go to if I'm planning on staying in Seoul Gangnam-gu?
Thanks!! |
It takes a week for your ARC (Alien Registration Card) to come in the mail. You can do everything with this card.
The F4 visa, honestly, might be the best immigration visa for ANY oecd country out there. It's great. |
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JSC
Joined: 07 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2011 10:47 am Post subject: |
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| 987psh wrote: |
I actually called the embassy and immigration in Korea, they told me that I should have absolutely no problem with the korean military because Im no longer a Korean citizen.
The law states that if a Korean citizen becomes a naturalized citizen of a different country, that person no longer has ANY obligation to the Korean military.
Hopefully this will clarify to some people looking. |
Be careful... not everyone at the Korean embassy or immigration office IN Korea know the laws 100%. They might think they know, but often times details are not communicated well and important information gets lost in translation.
Here are a couple links that might shed more light on your situation:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/cis/cis_1018.html
Pay close attention to the "SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES: Dual Citizenship and Compulsory Military Service" section.
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/168210_korean08.html
And here's a cautionary tale.
Best of luck. |
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987psh
Joined: 02 Mar 2011
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| Posted: Sat Mar 12, 2011 1:02 pm Post subject: |
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thanks for the info, but those are related to dual citizens, who were born in US.
1.5 Generations is "better off" than 2.0 Generation in these visa and military aspects.
Thanks anyways! |
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andersondm4
Joined: 01 Feb 2011
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| Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2011 7:39 am Post subject: |
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whats this about males not being eligible for F4's after 2011?
this is the first I've heard of this...can anyone confirm?
I've posted this question elsewhere but was wondering if anyone had any experience tracking down a hojuk for adopted parents. I had been planning to come to Korea on an E2 and then possibly switching to an F4 (which I had thought I was eligible for) when / if I found my registry. Not a huge problem if these are the new rules but the general consensus I've gotten is that an F4 is a huge advantage. |
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Clinton
Joined: 21 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Sun Apr 03, 2011 4:06 pm Post subject: |
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Yeah, what is this males can't get a F4 visa thing?
I am trying to figure out how to compile a list of documents for an application...
My status:
Originally Korean citizen, but renounced when I was 17.
BOTH parents are naturalized US citizens. No idea if either renounced.
My biggest issues are:
1. No one knows where my mom is (she wanted a new life), so I obviously can't get her documents.
2. How can I get a copy of the family register when I live in the US? |
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