Korean Job Discussion Forums

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Hey Guys, I had a few questions regarding the F4 visa that I could not find in other posts. I'm half Korean born in America.
I know what documents that I will be needing, but was not clear on the complete process.
Is it easier to get the visa from a Korean embassy here in the states ( I live really close to one) or in Seoul, Korea (I will be visiting next month on vacation).

The big question I had was after I obtain the F4 visa do I still need to get copies of my transcripts, diploma,do a health screening and get the background check? Some posts I have read advise that those are required for anyone that wants to teach in Korea.

Thanks guys

[winterfall]

For public school. All the documents are the same.

For hagwon, all the documents except Criminal Background check and health check (I think) is the same

The f-4 is not a magic visa everyone makes it out to be. It actually makes it harder for you to get a hagwon job unless your bilingual.

You have all the documents? Birth Certifcate, Hojuk? So just give them to the embassy, if you don't owe military service. They're issue an F-4 visa. When you arrive in Seoul, You'll have to visit a Immigration office to get your Alien Registration Card.

When you visit immigration, you just need 2 passport sized photos, application form, copy of contract (In case they ask but not necessary), passport, and the 10,000 won fee. Only thing different from E-2s is you don't need to bring your health check.

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[ttompatz]

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My mother just called the Korean embassy here in Honolulu, HI and they advised her that it would take 2-3 months to obtain the F4 visa....I was under the assumption that it would only take a few days. She told my mother that if we went to Seoul to apply it would take 1 month.

My mother never renounced her Korean citizenship, maybe this is causing the long delay.

[Sticks]

Yep, it takes a while to appear on Korea's systems when she renounces her citizenship. You can grab the relevant form from the consulate. Along with the renouncement form (I don't know what it's called in Korean) and an OFFICIAL copy of her family registry (hojuk) you should be able to apply for your F4 at once.

That's what I did back in Australia/Sydney. Took about 1.5 weeks to get father's family registry from relatives here and about a week to get the Visa, bloody fast. Only problem was when I flew in the next week and tried to get my ARC sorted they couldn't find my father in their computer systems and his renouncement didn't go through yet. Takes a while.

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[Sticks]

That's how I did it because I was short on time, procedures are different across different consulates. Not sure if they'll allow you to do it.

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Looks like I'm all set to apply for my F4 Visa. Let me know if I'm missing anything.
These are the documents I have gathered for both my F4 and to apply at Hagwons
My Diploma from my 4 yr college
My passport
2 passport size photos of my self
My birth certificate showing my parents names
Parents marriage certificate
Mothers naturalization papers
Mothers Korean passport
Hojuk dated within the last 3 months
3 copies of my transcripts

If the Korean embassy here gives us a hard time then I'll just walk it all in to the immigration office is Seoul.

Once I get my visa am i okay to start applying for positions? Appears in another thread I need a state level background check to work in the education system.

Any help is much appreciated guys/gals!

[Toon Army]

There are plenty of half koreans I know here who have had little problem securing employment at hagwons.....would not worry about it.

If you apply for your F4 here in Seoul, it can take as little as 10 days if you have all the required docs ready.

Check your PM.

[JeBronLames]

After I got all my paperwork done/ready and submitted it to the Korean Consulate, I picked up my visa the next day.

[DieLegend]

Surprisingly this is one of the more informational threads on F4 visas.

I have very specific questions to ask because internet sources as well as the Korean consulate (the NY one at least) seem to have mixed answers.

I got my US citizenship as an adult (over 21) and will be forfeiting my korean citizenship. After, I will try to get an F4 visa if I goto korea (since I want to work)

Now, the consulate told me as long as I forfeit my korean citizenship, I will not have trouble obtaining an F4 because I am now on american citizenship and rok army duty no longer applies to me. Although this was an answer given to me from the employee there, I am skeptical because she was quick to dismiss me on the phone and didn't seem relatively knowledgeable on the issue.

But some internet sources point that even when I do forfeit my korean citizenship and my name will no longer be on the hojuk, korean males will not or at the least have difficulties on getting an F4.

I do apologize for asking for such specific info since I am aware that most of you are foreigners on E2. But this dave's forum was the closest thing that provides such information on F4 and such.

With that said, has any gyopo, who has obtained US citizenship after 21 years old and gotten the F4 Visa successfully? or unsuccessfully? (If you were born in US you are a different case from me, I THINK)

It would be greatly appreciated if you can provide a bit of a detailed answer on how you were able to get it and troubles that you have faced.

Thank you.

[Sticks]

I'm not in your target demographic but from what I heard from MY consulate (Sydney, Australia) if you're over the age of 18 and your name is still on the family registry (didn't remove it before your 18th birthday) then you'll be tagged and shipped off for military service whether you renouce citizenship or not.
I was told this was because of a huge number of Koreans who were born in Korea would head overseas, get permanent residency (or Green Card) then citizenship then renounce their Korean citizenship to avoid military service when they headed back. It kind of does make sense and TBH I don't blame them.