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donathanlee
Joined: 19 Jan 2012
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 Posted: Tue Jun 12, 2012 11:21 pm Post subject: Applying for an F4 Visa in Korea vs. in the US |
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Hello,
I've recently read somewhere that applying for an F4 visa while in Korea is easier than applying for it in the US. However, it didn't specifically mention what areas were easier (less documents?) I was wondering if anyone with knowledge of this could shed some light on this. Also, I was wondering if I could remove my name from the Hojeokdeungbon while in Korea when I apply for an F4 visa there. If not, how am I able to do it while in the US? Apologies for the series of questions; family isn't doing well and need to carefully go through all the processes to help them.
Thank you! |
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kalliope
Joined: 20 Mar 2010
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| Posted: Wed Jun 13, 2012 3:07 am Post subject: |
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I got the F4 visa while I was still in the states, but as far as I know, you need the same documents regardless of where you apply. If you did leave out a document and were still given the visa while you were in the states, they'll ask you for it when you go to immigration to get your alien registration card.
I'm not sure about the process to remove your name from the Hojeok, but I don't think it would be easy to do while you are still in the states.
Sorry I couldn't be of much help! |
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slasher
Joined: 24 May 2012
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| Posted: Sun Jun 17, 2012 6:39 am Post subject: |
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I have not applied for F4 abroad, but I did do it at the immigration office in Seoul. You should first look at http://www.hikorea.go.kr/pt/InfoDetailR_en.pt?categoryId=2&parentId=407&catSeq=&showMenuId=378 which details the procedure if you are already in Korea with an another type of visa (the English pages are ok, but the Korean version is slightly more accurate). No doubt it is easier in Korea to get documents about you and/or family which is required for F4.
One thing about removing your name from "hojeok" (they changed the system, it is now split into Basic registry and Family relationship records). This implies that you still have Korean nationality. You need to renounce that before you enter Korea in order to not to be drafted to the army if you are a guy. Depending on your situation, they may still not do it and you may in fact not belong to that category, but you should understand this issue clearly. And it is a pre-requisite anyway to renounce the citizenship before they give you an F4. It is however possible to do it in Korea as I've done it here, provided that you have the relevant documents of course. |
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sml7285
Joined: 26 Apr 2012
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| Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 1:54 am Post subject: |
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| slasher wrote: |
| One thing about removing your name from "hojeok" (they changed the system, it is now split into Basic registry and Family relationship records). This implies that you still have Korean nationality. You need to renounce that before you enter Korea in order to not to be drafted to the army if you are a guy. Depending on your situation, they may still not do it and you may in fact not belong to that category, but you should understand this issue clearly. And it is a pre-requisite anyway to renounce the citizenship before they give you an F4. It is however possible to do it in Korea as I've done it here, provided that you have the relevant documents of course. |
Korean law does not allow the removal of Korean males from the Hojuk and the renouncing of their citizenship until after they do their military service (new nationality laws from 2011 or 2010).
Whether or not this is how it works in actuality, I don't know - the job offer I got was good enough that entering the service for 2 years is worth it. If you're going for an ESL job I'd sleep on the decision a bit. |
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slasher
Joined: 24 May 2012
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| Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 2:24 am Post subject: |
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| sml7285 wrote: |
Korean law does not allow the removal of Korean males from the Hojuk and the renouncing of their citizenship until after they do their military service (new nationality laws from 2011 or 2010).
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It depends on if the person has dual citizenship. If you are born in the US or any other country that grant citizenship based on birth place, this may be the case, but if you are born in Korea and obtained a foreign citizenship later on, you lose your Korean citizenship at that moment, and the hojeok records are then simply considered wrong. There is no problem "correcting" this.
Edit: If you get the foreign citizenship before drafting age, that is. |
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sml7285
Joined: 26 Apr 2012
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| Posted: Mon Jun 18, 2012 1:26 pm Post subject: |
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| slasher wrote: |
| sml7285 wrote: |
Korean law does not allow the removal of Korean males from the Hojuk and the renouncing of their citizenship until after they do their military service (new nationality laws from 2011 or 2010).
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It depends on if the person has dual citizenship. If you are born in the US or any other country that grant citizenship based on birth place, this may be the case, but if you are born in Korea and obtained a foreign citizenship later on, you lose your Korean citizenship at that moment, and the hojeok records are then simply considered wrong. There is no problem "correcting" this.
Edit: If you get the foreign citizenship before drafting age, that is. |
Gotcha. Didn't even think about naturalized Americans. I only know the laws for Koreans born in the US. |
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greenlander1
Joined: 19 Jun 2012
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| Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 6:13 pm Post subject: |
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Could someone please explain to me how to renounce my Korean nationality here in Korea? I keep reading posts about people renouncing it in Korea but when I was at nationality office they said I had to renounce it in my home country, i.e. US.
There must be a way to do the process here in Seoul.
Thanks! |
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greenlander1
Joined: 19 Jun 2012
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| Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2012 7:24 pm Post subject: |
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| Also I was born in US, parents registered me on hojuk, and I am 39 (American age) |
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sml7285
Joined: 26 Apr 2012
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| Posted: Tue Jul 03, 2012 2:46 pm Post subject: |
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| greenlander1 wrote: |
| Also I was born in US, parents registered me on hojuk, and I am 39 (American age) |
I'm pretty sure you're past the age of draft eligibility (35). I wouldn't worry too much about it...
Look into it though. |
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greenlander1
Joined: 19 Jun 2012
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| Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2012 1:29 am Post subject: |
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Noone have any idea on how to get name off of hojuk in Korea?
Dang I know as soon as I hope on a plane, I will find out how to get the process done in Korea... |
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sml7285
Joined: 26 Apr 2012
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| Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2012 2:59 am Post subject: |
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| greenlander1 wrote: |
Noone have any idea on how to get name off of hojuk in Korea?
Dang I know as soon as I hope on a plane, I will find out how to get the process done in Korea... |
If you're 39, there's no reason you need to remove it, unless you plan to do so out of some nationalistic pride. Honestly the only reasons why most attempt to remove their names is because they are 1) male and 2) draft eligible (between the ages of 18 and 35) |
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greenlander1
Joined: 19 Jun 2012
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| Posted: Thu Jul 05, 2012 6:23 am Post subject: |
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| sml7285 wrote: |
| greenlander1 wrote: |
Noone have any idea on how to get name off of hojuk in Korea?
Dang I know as soon as I hope on a plane, I will find out how to get the process done in Korea... |
If you're 39, there's no reason you need to remove it, unless you plan to do so out of some nationalistic pride. Honestly the only reasons why most attempt to remove their names is because they are 1) male and 2) draft eligible (between the ages of 18 and 35) |
Tax implications. |
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sml7285
Joined: 26 Apr 2012
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| Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 12:18 am Post subject: |
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| greenlander1 wrote: |
| sml7285 wrote: |
| greenlander1 wrote: |
Noone have any idea on how to get name off of hojuk in Korea?
Dang I know as soon as I hope on a plane, I will find out how to get the process done in Korea... |
If you're 39, there's no reason you need to remove it, unless you plan to do so out of some nationalistic pride. Honestly the only reasons why most attempt to remove their names is because they are 1) male and 2) draft eligible (between the ages of 18 and 35) |
Tax implications. |
Shouldn't really matter unless you have a 주민득록번호. |
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greenlander1
Joined: 19 Jun 2012
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| Posted: Fri Jul 06, 2012 7:58 pm Post subject: |
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| sml7285 wrote: |
| greenlander1 wrote: |
| sml7285 wrote: |
| greenlander1 wrote: |
Noone have any idea on how to get name off of hojuk in Korea?
Dang I know as soon as I hope on a plane, I will find out how to get the process done in Korea... |
If you're 39, there's no reason you need to remove it, unless you plan to do so out of some nationalistic pride. Honestly the only reasons why most attempt to remove their names is because they are 1) male and 2) draft eligible (between the ages of 18 and 35) |
Tax implications. |
Shouldn't really matter unless you have a 주민득록번호. |
F4 holders can get 15 or 16.5% flat tax (cant remember exactly) or do a graduated tax rate which doesnt pencil for me. Working as Korean subjects me to this graduated tax which ends up being a lot higher than my flat tax rate. Dual citizens working as Korean national dont get option of flat tax. |
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sml7285
Joined: 26 Apr 2012
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| Posted: Sat Jul 07, 2012 12:55 am Post subject: |
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| greenlander1 wrote: |
| sml7285 wrote: |
| greenlander1 wrote: |
| sml7285 wrote: |
| greenlander1 wrote: |
Noone have any idea on how to get name off of hojuk in Korea?
Dang I know as soon as I hope on a plane, I will find out how to get the process done in Korea... |
If you're 39, there's no reason you need to remove it, unless you plan to do so out of some nationalistic pride. Honestly the only reasons why most attempt to remove their names is because they are 1) male and 2) draft eligible (between the ages of 18 and 35) |
Tax implications. |
Shouldn't really matter unless you have a 주민득록번호. |
F4 holders can get 15 or 16.5% flat tax (cant remember exactly) or do a graduated tax rate which doesnt pencil for me. Working as Korean subjects me to this graduated tax which ends up being a lot higher than my flat tax rate. Dual citizens working as Korean national dont get option of flat tax. |
Yes I know this... however, you don't get taxed as a Korean national unless you are registered into the system as such (not just having your name in the Hojuk, but also going through the entire system of getting fingerprinted and getting a 주민득록번호. To the best of my knowledge, it's impossible to get an F4 if immigration is aware that you are a Korean national. I don't think that ROK immigration is aware that you are technically a Korean citizen. |
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