Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cosmic charlie]

Came across this article today. What is your opinion?

SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- South Korea plans to issue special visas for foreigners who immigrate to the country to marry locals as part of efforts to enhance administrative efficiency in helping them adapt to a new life and settle legal problems and other issues, the Justice Ministry said Friday.

The ministry said it is also pushing to lower the barrier for foreign investors and professionals to get permanent residency here.

The ministry will soon announce a revision rule to that effect with the aim of enforcing it starting in the latter half of this year, an official said.

South Korea has seen a rapid increase in the number of marriage immigrants in recent years, with their total number exceeding 141,000 last year, according to official data. Until now, those immigrants have been granted the same "F-2" visa as other long-term foreign residents here.

"Various categories of long-term residents are qualified for the current F-2 visa, posing limitations on policymaking for marriage immigrants," the official said on the customary condition of anonymity. "We expect the introduction of a separate visa will remove a large number of such difficulties."

The new "F-6" visa is intended to raise efficiency and convenience in the government's handling and support of so-called marriage immigrants, the official added.

Foreigners whose Korean spouses have died or gone missing would also be eligible for the visa.

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[Chris.Quigley]

141000 people married into Korea last year? Holy crap.... That's huge. I believe that Canada accepts less than 200,000 immigrants each year, probably only a small fraction of those are people who married in.

[Wiltern]

[crossmr]

It'll have little effect on most people here. The amount of western foreigners who marry Koreans is actually quite low. Most of those numbers come from the rest of Asia. We do get people who cruise through the forum looking for info, but of the total E-1/2/7 population who actually do it, it's a very very tiny drop in the bucket.

My guess is there is a plan to give special benefits to those married to Koreans vs other people living here as they have a different connection to the country, and there is no reason they shouldn't do that.

[Koreadays]

some one has to take those 3d jobs.

[crossmr]

[T-J]

[bekinseki]

Bump.

So, anyone know the difference between this visa and an F-5?

[r122925]

[Stan Rogers]

No matter what visa you have, Korean immigration will finger print and photograph all of you foreigners at the airport when you enter the country.

[bekinseki]

[alongway]

[nathanrutledge]

From what I gather, there is absolutely ZERO change from the F-2 by marriage and the new F-6. If you read the second to last line, this is an adminstrative thing to make it easier for the government to implement policy (i.e. discriminate).

F-2 visa holders getting uppity for rights? Well now, they can easily mess with people who are here by merit vs. those that are here by marriage. People by marriage have a Korean sponsor, a Korean family that might get pissed, but those who are here by earning points or by working at the same job don't.

Taking the KIIP program - people who are married only have to complete the first 3 levels, while people who aren't married have to take all six. Plenty of examples out there of different standards for F-2 holders - now it just makes it official.

[alongway]

[Lolimahro]