Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Victor Spoils]

Hello! I apologize in advance if this is a stupid question or I'm asking it in the wrong forum. I'm still a newcomer, so I hope you will take pity on me.

My university is in the process of applying for my E-2 visa. I've heard that they can apply for a F-3 visa for my wife at the same time, but for some reason the staff member I've talked to thinks it would be better for me to come to Korea first and apply for my wife's visa myself once I get there.

I'm American but my wife is Chinese, and we're both in our respective countries right now. This might be why the university staff doesn't want to deal with the hassle of getting both visas at the same time.

I'm worried that I might get to Korea and not be able to get a visa for my wife. I've looked through some of the other visa-related threads on this board, but very few of them are recent. So I thought I'd ask and see if anyone could offer any advice.

Has anyone else brought their Chinese wife to Korea on an F-3 visa? How did it go, and how long did it take to get everything worked out?

Thank you very much for your help. I really appreciate it.

[ttompatz]

[Victor Spoils]

Thank you very much, ttompatz. Your information makes things a lot clearer for me. I really appreciate it.

I guess I have one more question. How much English do the staff in the immigration office usually speak? When we lived in Osaka we often had to deal with clerks who only spoke Japanese. That was fine because my Japanese ability is fair, but my Korean is so still basic that I wouldn't have a chance at explaining my situation.

[ttompatz]

[mogbert]

I'm in a similar situation but what if my wife is already in Korea? Would she have to do a visa run to China or Japan or something?

[cherylyoung]

you can't apply for a confirmation number despite what others may have suggested. I've been told over and over again that in order for my husband to come to Korea on an F-3, he needs to apply in his home country. Seems to be misleading information on these discussion boards.

[ttompatz]

[guatetaliana]

OK, I have a similar question, except my husband is in Mexico. As a Mexican citizen, he is eligible for a 90 day tourist stay if admitted to South Korea. Can he enter with me and then apply for a change of status?

Or, even better yet, does anyone know of a reputable Korean immigration attorney to whom I can address questions about my family's potential with visas in Korea?

BTW, I know you're probably thinking "What Mexican male is going to enter South Korea and just be a dependent spouse?" but we're just different like that. We have a 2 year-old and my husband will be his primary caregiver. My recruiter had plenty of questions on this arrangement but was pretty convinced after discussing it that we really are happy doing things this way. My husband has actually been teaching English in Mexico for several years now and he is tired of that mess, so he's more than eager to just get to teach our son soccer skills and be my anchor at home as I adjust to a new teaching situation. Recruiter is convinced, she's pretty sure GEPIK schools can be convinced, so hopefully Korean immigration can be, too.

[ttompatz]

[cherylyoung]

I spoke with immigration helpline multiple times on different days, as well as went to the immigration office and was told I can't apply for a confirmation number (they didn't care about where he came from) They told me that's how it is, and always was. Only Chinese citizens can apply for confirmation number. I explained to them in that I wasn't trying to apply for my husbands visa, just needed to apply for a confirmation number, and the answer was still no.

I even told them that he NEEDS a confirmation number before applying for his visa but I was told that information is incorrect.

I don't know what I am missing here, but I guess your case is the exception to the rule.

[globalgourmand]

[guatetaliana]

globalgourmand, I'm working with Korvia. I really like them.


BTW, I'm pretty sure from my interpretation of the info on the Korean Immigration official website, that a B-2 visa holder can't change status inside Korea except in very extreme circumstances. So from what I'm seeing, the dependents must either enter Korea as tourists and make a visa run to another country, or they must wait back in their respective countries until the E-3 holder gets their ARC and gets the confirmation #s.

[globalgourmand]

@guateliana- That is my understanding as well. F3 from outside the country only and requires ARC first.

I might try to contact Korvia, thank you. Someone else suggested ESLstarter. I know a lot of people are using Korvia (including my cousin, who is married and applying singly-- a case that my recruiter also declined.) Don't know if thats a good or bad thing that their so busy...

[naturegirl321]

It might be a HECK of a lot easier for her to enter on a tourist visa and change it here. The Kroean embassy in Peru wanted MORE docs than were necessary, apostilliations, translations, the works. He came and got 90 days upon arrival. We had bought a ticket out of Korea that he could show to kimmi when he arrived, they never asked. went to kimmi three days later, 10 days after that he had his visa and ARC.

Only asked for our marriage cert, a letter from my employer and my ARC and passport.

[naturegirl321]