Korean Job Discussion Forums

NewbKorean · Joined: 15 Aug 2011

I live in the U.S.A. I was hoping to get some assistance on getting my F-4 visa! In advance, I am so sorry if I sound like an idiot! This is my first time getting any kind of visa. I'll list my questions below.

1) Is it required to have the background check for the F-4?

2) After receiving my visa/job, what is after that(the run down step by step)?

Thank you so much for the people that are willing to help!! I'm getting really frustrated with all this work!

Cheong

HANGRY · Joined: 04 Feb 2011

I just got my F-4 visa recently so maybe I can help

1) No background check required. Check the consulate's website for requirements on documents. The only hard things I had to acquire were two forms I had to ask my Uncle in Korea to fax to me. Other than that really easy stuff I think.

2) Unlike the E-2 Visa, I think the F-4 visa is completely independent from your job. I haven't gotten to Korea yet, but I think you need to get a health screening and an immigration card. Maybe somebody who knows more than me can fill us in on that.

NewbKorean · Joined: 15 Aug 2011

Thank you Hangry! The "two forms" that your talking about are family registry correct?

I'm hoping someone does help us out! After receiving the F-4 visa, what the detailed run down is to be complete?

FastForward · Joined: 04 Jul 2011

lebenketten · Joined: 10 Mar 2011 Location: South Korea

I got my F-4 earlier this year, and I also used to work in an agency helping others get visas.

Depending which consulate you speak to, you will get different answers. Make sure you call the consulate that has jurisdiction over YOUR HOME CITY AND STATE. The embassy in Washington DC told me I was not eligible for the visa, but the consulate (which was where I have to send the papers and would be the one to issue the visa) said I could. And I did.

If you live in Montana and send your paperwork to the consulate in NY or Atlanta or DC, they'll send it back. So make sure you know which consulate is yours.

That said, they asked me to send in my birth certificate, passport, the application form, the family registry showing my mother's Korean citizenship, then the paperwork that shows my mother officially and formally renounces her Korean citizenship. If YOU were the one born in Korea, this paper should be YOU renouncing your citizenship.

The visa is multi-entry, valid for 5 years and each entry gives you two years in Korea. Korean Immigration will NOT ask for a background check, nor will you be required to do the health check. Your school may ask for them, as well as your diploma and transcripts, but they are not required by the government.

E-2 holders need to get an ARC (it's green). F-4 holders need to get a "Foreign National Korean Domestic Residence Report Card" (it's blue). It takes about the same amount of time to get.

Hope this helps, but the final word comes from your consulate. Make sure you clearly understand what they say!

NewbKorean · Joined: 15 Aug 2011

I was going to go to LA, California during the week to get my F-4 visa. Upon receiving the F-4, what are the next steps to follow? I keep reading something about sending documents to Korea. Is it possible to get someone to write step by step directions.

1) Getting your visa
2) Visa number from your job???
3) Sending documents to Korea?????

I appreciate everyone that helps! Sorry, I'm a newbie to Korea!

lebenketten · Joined: 10 Mar 2011 Location: South Korea

NewB, I suggest you contact your consulate for the exact procedure for you. Each consulate requires different things, and what I submitted to the NY consulate is not what the LA consulate requires.

Step 1) Make sure you know which consulate has jurisdiction over your permanent address. If you live in Minnesota but are going to LA for a visit and want to handle it there, it WILL NOT WORK. Your PERMANENT ADDRESS determines which consulate handles your paperwork. I cannot stress this enough. Find YOUR consulate for your HOME ADDRESS.

Step 2) Submit your paperwork to them. They will return your passport to you with the visa inside.

Step 3) Nothing else. If your SCHOOL wants you to send anything to them (mine wanted a scanned copy of the visa and passport information page), do it. But once you have your visa, you do not need to do anything else according to Korean Immigration. Just get on the plane and arrive in Seoul. That's it. No visa issuance number, no apostilled diplomas or CBC at all. Nothing.

FastForward · Joined: 04 Jul 2011

lebenketten · Joined: 10 Mar 2011 Location: South Korea

kboatman · Joined: 30 May 2011

[quote="lebenketten"]I got my F-4 earlier this year, and I also used to work in an agency helping others get visas.

Depending which consulate you speak to, you will get different answers. Make sure you call the consulate that has jurisdiction over YOUR HOME CITY AND STATE. The embassy in Washington DC told me I was not eligible for the visa, but the consulate (which was where I have to send the papers and would be the one to issue the visa) said I could. And I did.

If you live in Montana and send your paperwork to the consulate in NY or Atlanta or DC, they'll send it back. So make sure you know which consulate is yours.

That said, they asked me to send in my birth certificate, passport, the application form, the family registry showing my mother's Korean citizenship, then the paperwork that shows my mother officially and formally renounces her Korean citizenship. If YOU were the one born in Korea, this paper should be YOU renouncing your citizenship.

The visa is multi-entry, valid for 5 years and each entry gives you two years in Korea. Korean Immigration will NOT ask for a background check, nor will you be required to do the health check. Your school may ask for them, as well as your diploma and transcripts, but they are not required by the government.

E-2 holders need to get an ARC (it's green). F-4 holders need to get a "Foreign National Korean Domestic Residence Report Card" (it's blue). It takes about the same amount of time to get.

Hope this helps, but the final word comes from your consulate. Make sure you clearly understand what they say![/quote]

Hey! I'm moving to Korea at the end of February and I was wanting to figure out what I need to get my ARC as it might be different from those on an E-2 Visa. But as you said above will I actually not be getting an ARC? And what do I need to obtain the Blue card? Thanks a ton! I can't really find any information about it...

amoonbot · Joined: 29 Jul 2009

1. You get your visa processed and stamped at your local consulate as long as you provide the necessary paperwork and meet the requirements.
2. The ARC (Alien Registration Card) is the blue or now white card you get once you arrive in Korea and visit the immigration office.
3. Once you obtain your F-4 ARC, that will be your identification card and it can be renewed every three years.

pkang0202 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

I wanted to add,

The Alien Resident Card (your Korean ID Card) and the Visa are separate things.

Even if you have an F-4 VISA stamp in your passport, you still need to get an ARC.

Stella885 · Joined: 10 Jan 2012

Can all of this be done in Korea? I don't have any relatives in Korea who can send me my registry (i was the one born in Korea).

My plan was to go to Korea on a tourist visa and apply/ get my F-4 while in Korea. My consulate is in ATL, and I had to speak to a Korean lady bc the English speaker was not available. My Korean on matter such as these is not that great...

She tells me I must do it here in the US, and that I have to request the registry from the government website. The thing is I don't have time to wait for things to be mailed back and forth. I need it asap.... My friend got hers done in Korea, did something change in the last year?

Help please?

aznhybrid · Joined: 18 Jan 2012

from my understanding it is so much easier to get it done in Korea.

There is a department specifically for F4 visa at the Seoul Immigration office in �Oh Mok Kyo Dong� (2nd floor, room 204).

I believe it is basically a same day transaction, you go with all of your paperwork drop off your passport and then pick it up later that day. Just make sure you your travel visa is not expired, as that will cause some legal headaches.

pkang0202 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

the process is easier in Korea, but obtaining the documents maybe be more difficult.

For example, if they need some documents from the US (citizenship papers, etc...) then you would have to call someone back home, have them prepare the documents, and mail them too you.