View previous topic :: View next topic |
Author |
Message |
litebear
Joined: 12 Sep 2009 Location: Holland
|
Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 10:50 am Post subject: F2 - marriage has to be registered in both countries? |
|
|
Wasn't sure what forum this should go in, but here goes!
I currently live in Europe with my Korean fianc�. Do I need to get married in the UK before returning to Korea? I know some posters have had problems switching to an F2 recently because they required a marriage certificate from their own country. I'm trying to find the most straight forward way to go through all of this.
1. From my research so far it seems like I can't enter as a tourist and change to an F2, is that right?
2. That means my options are either
a) Get a job the usual way, enter Korea on an E2 visa then change to an F2 after getting married in Korea (but this might be problematic without a British marriage certificate)
b) Get married in the UK, apply for an F2 90-Day single entry visa and enter on that. However on the Korean consulate website for the UK it says that to obtain an F2 visa from them I need the following:
Quote: |
- Documents proving family relationship (Both of marriage certificate and register book from Korea and UK)
- Letter of personal reference notarised by the public Notary in Korea
- Recent bank statement for the last 3 months showing a sum of $10,000
*we can provide only 90days, single entry visa. |
So it seems like no matter what I do, I need to be married in both countries before applying for an F2.
If anyone can share a similar experience where they have gone through this process I'd greatly appreciate it. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
bobrocket
Joined: 26 Jan 2011
|
Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 1:55 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I was married in NZ first and applied there before coming to Korea.
From what I've seen on this forum I would say get the visa first, it sounds like it can be a mission in Korea
We didn't have to show Proof of funds, just marriage cert, her family register thing, proof of being able to support ourselves, letter of job offer + housing agreement. In saying this, we were married for 2 years before applying.
They issued a 90 day visa, when I arrived in Korea I took my passport to immigration and they re issued a 1 year visa, I didn't have to re apply as I had the visa, they just issued me an arc card with the visa status.
I think no matter what way you go about it, get married before you come, even if your going to have a proper wedding later, have a history of relationship available, to prove it's not a visa marriage |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
litebear
Joined: 12 Sep 2009 Location: Holland
|
Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 10:50 pm Post subject: |
|
|
bobrocket wrote: |
I was married in NZ first and applied there before coming to Korea.
From what I've seen on this forum I would say get the visa first, it sounds like it can be a mission in Korea
We didn't have to show Proof of funds, 1. just marriage cert, her family register thing, proof of being able to support ourselves, 2. letter of job offer + housing agreement. In saying this, we were married for 2 years before applying.
They issued a 90 day visa, when I arrived in Korea I took my passport to immigration and they re issued a 1 year visa, I didn't have to re apply as I had the visa, they just issued me an arc card with the visa status.
3. I think no matter what way you go about it, get married before you come, even if your going to have a proper wedding later, have a history of relationship available, to prove it's not a visa marriage |
Thanks for that dude, it's very helpful. Sorry to be a bother but I've a couple of questions. Was it your NZ marriage cert or did you need a Korean one also? Was it easy to get a Korean marriage cert out of country? Was that your job or her job? Just curious really cause I think we were both hoping to look for something after arriving in Korea. We'll have plenty of cash saved by the time we apply for this so proving the $10,000 shouldn't be a problem for us.
For that last piece of advice I think we certainly will! |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
bobrocket
Joined: 26 Jan 2011
|
Posted: Sat Jun 25, 2011 11:32 pm Post subject: |
|
|
We applied with NZ marriage cert, I don't know about getting a Korean one overseas, I wasn't even asked about it. I would think after your married you just take the cert to the Korean embassy.
The letter of job offer is proof of being able to support yourself in Korea, the money thing is a guideline, the embassy decides on your application so you just have to satisfy them, ie employment, cash.
If you have the cash I would look for a job when you come, If your staying with her parents, get a copy of their lease and a letter from them saying that's where you are staying, hope this helps.
Also, you can post on AFEK open forum, it's a site for F visa people, a few guys are from the UK so they may be able to give you more specific advice. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
litebear
Joined: 12 Sep 2009 Location: Holland
|
Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 12:08 am Post subject: |
|
|
Good advice man, thanks again. I'll also fire a post onto the AFEK site like you suggested. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
Weigookin74
Joined: 26 Oct 2009
|
Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 4:16 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Prob not helpful, but I spoke to a couple of guys recently. They had gotten their F2's no problem. It's only when you want your F5 that you have to show money in the bank and proof of housing, etc. So, if you can load up on teaching while on your F2 then you should be ready to pass the litmus test when it comes time to apply for the F5. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
giraffe
Joined: 07 Apr 2009
|
Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 5:55 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I got married in korea in 2009 through the canadian embassy in Seoul because i heard it was just quicker easier to do it in korea compared to back home. WE just went back and forth between the gu office and canadian embassy , it took no more than a few hours to take care of. I also never had a work visa in korea or any other korean visa except for the passport stamp. In late 2009 I came back to korea to have a wedding ceremony. 3 weeks later my wife immigrated to Canada ( we did the immigration paperwork that april and she was approved in october ).
A year and half later we decided to move to korea. Soo I applied for a F2 visa from Canada. We had to prove / show several things: fill out their forms, Passport copies, my wife's korean and canadian id , proof that we were legally married in korea ( we had to get my mother in law to send paper that shows that We're married), also had to show proof of funds from my canadian bank account ( they didnt specify how much. I only had about 12 000$ in my savings more or less. but i didnt bother to move money around from my other accounts. I didnt think this was important. Since the F2 they issue you in your own country will only be 3 months, Im assuming they just want to make sure you have enough money to live on for those 3 months. ) Oh and I had to write a short letter to explain why i wanted to get an F2 visa which was easy enough to do. 10 days later I got my passport back with a F2 visa good for 3 months.
Once in korea you go to the citie's immigration office and you apply for your ARC card and a visa extention. Easy to do, Just fill out the paperwork and buy 2 stamps and leave your passport with them. You're asked to go pick up your ARC and passport a week later + you they want you to attend some korean immigration seminar about being a happy married couple in korea ( at least they had this 2 hour class here in Daejeon ). I was too busy to do it soo we just showed up and asked for my documents and they gave me a book and pamphlets to read. My F2 visa is good for 1 year, I have to renew it next year.
Overall it was quick , easy and painless to do from Canada and then extend here in Korea. That's my F2 story. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
alistaircandlin
Joined: 24 Sep 2004 Location: Seoul
|
Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 7:03 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Sorry if I'm repeating - didn't have time to read the previous posts.
I don't know if you have to register in both countries - but we did - I think I thought that it would be beneficial in future if my wife ever decides to change citizenship. It was straightforward - just sent off a form to somewhere in England, where they keep a record of your marital status. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
litebear
Joined: 12 Sep 2009 Location: Holland
|
Posted: Sun Jun 26, 2011 9:18 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Thanks for these guys, all helpful! Anyone else who can share an insight please feel free. I've registered on AFEK and will post it there, too.
I think the rules have changed since 2009 though regarding switching from a tourist visa. I was reading one Candian lad's blog where he had to do a visa run for his F2 |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
giraffe
Joined: 07 Apr 2009
|
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 1:01 am Post subject: |
|
|
litebear wrote: |
I think the rules have changed since 2009 though regarding switching from a tourist visa. I was reading one Candian lad's blog where he had to do a visa run for his F2 |
If you're refering to me.. which seems to be the case cuz I'm the only one that mentioned 2009... I didnt switch from a tourist visa to a f2 in 2009. I was legally married in korea in 2009 ( while i was on a tourist stamp/visa) went back to canada with my korean wife to live there. I applied for the F2 visa directly ( no switching visa) in 2011 in Canada where I was living and working. So I applied for my F2 in Canada this Feb 2011 and moved to Korea in April 2011... dont think any rules have changed in the last 4-5 months although things might be slightly different if you apply for the UK or which immigration office you apply at....
regarding switching a tourist visa to a F2 visa.. I don't think i would recommend this soo much could go wrong... |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
litebear
Joined: 12 Sep 2009 Location: Holland
|
Posted: Mon Jun 27, 2011 4:29 am Post subject: |
|
|
giraffe wrote: |
litebear wrote: |
I think the rules have changed since 2009 though regarding switching from a tourist visa. I was reading one Candian lad's blog where he had to do a visa run for his F2 |
If you're refering to me.. which seems to be the case cuz I'm the only one that mentioned 2009... I didnt switch from a tourist visa to a f2 in 2009. I was legally married in korea in 2009 ( while i was on a tourist stamp/visa) went back to canada with my korean wife to live there. I applied for the F2 visa directly ( no switching visa) in 2011 in Canada where I was living and working. So I applied for my F2 in Canada this Feb 2011 and moved to Korea in April 2011... dont think any rules have changed in the last 4-5 months although things might be slightly different if you apply for the UK or which immigration office you apply at....
regarding switching a tourist visa to a F2 visa.. I don't think i would recommend this soo much could go wrong... |
Your right, sorry. I totally mis-read your first post! I guess what I need to find out is if it's possible to obtain a Korean Marriage certificate from abroad without either of us present, I'll have her check it out. |
|
Back to top |
|
 |
|