Korean Job Discussion Forums

armbar · Joined: 29 Jan 2008

Hello all, I'm hoping to get some clarification on an issue. I recently got married to a Korean. I applied for the F-2-1 visa with all the appropriate paperwork from both of us. This was in late September. I have not heard anything from immigration about the visa status. Is this normal? How long does it usually take?

I know in the past it was a speedier process and the laws have changed since then. I'm just wondering if anyone has any experience with this. Next week will be 8 full weeks since I submitted the application. I have called immigration twice about it and both times they said they cannot check and that I just have to wait. It seems odd that they can't tell me ANYTHING about my status.

Anyway, any help anyone can give me would be appreciated. I'm itching to get the visa and get back to work. Thanks!!

thrylos · Joined: 10 Jun 2008

It can take up to 3 months. It might also depend on where you applied (busier immis in cities will take longer than ones in the boonies) As long as you have the receipt, your immi status is not affected until they approve or reject the application, it serves as a continuation of whatever visa you had before applying. Not sure how that affects you 'getting back to work', unless you didn't have any visa before the submission...

armbar · Joined: 29 Jan 2008

Thanks for the reply.. Well, I'm on an E2 visa but I amicably was released from my last contract. I'd rather get the F2 and bust out some part time work and legal privates rather than go through all the hoops with schools and recruiters with an E2 hagwon job since I have the F2 application submitted. I'll just wait it out I guess. Can't be much longer now,eh?

nw25th · Joined: 15 Feb 2009 Location: Daejeon

I think mine took about 3-4 weeks. That was probably in Sept? You do hear nothing, and as long as you do that's good...it's once you hear from them something needs to be redone and you'll have to start over...did you give them a prepaid envelope as so they send the arc to your house?

fezmond · Joined: 27 Oct 2008

sorry to hijack but...

does the f2-1 require me to have a job? if i apply now, the process should be getting finalised when my current contract ends.

do i need a job/future contract to show immi or because it's a residence visa, do i just need money in the bank and a wife?

seoulsucker · Posted: Mon Nov 21, 2011 8:56 am Post subject:

The officer I worked with told me it would take up to a month, and if I hadn't heard from him by then to just come pick it up. Based on the issue date it only took 4 days from the submission of our documents and the interview.

bekinseki · Joined: 31 Aug 2011 Location: Korea

armbar · Joined: 29 Jan 2008

So----UPDATE.

Apparently my wife found a way to check online on the hiexpat/seoul immigration site. It said that it was approved. I picked it up today. Apparently, it has been done for a while. I wish they would have called or emailed. I really could have used it a month ago.

Anyway all is good in the world.

Thanks for the replies--