Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Laura_F]

Hi,

I was wondering if anyone who is married to a Korean has any information on getting an F-Visa?

I'm currently in Korea as a tourist, but I do want to get a job soon.

I tried googling, but I can't seem to find a straight answer as to which visa I need (f2? f6?), and what paperwork I need to get it. My husband is even more confused than I am.

Can anyone help me out?

[T-J]

F-2 was the old answer. F-6 is the new answer and the one you are looking for.

Information on necessary documents here:

http://www.hikorea.go.kr/pt/main_en.pt

If you need anything else ask or PM.

Congratulations and good luck!

[Laura_F]

Thank you TJ!

I don't know if I'm dense or what, but I can't find anything on that website about the f-6...

[hellofaniceguy]

http://www.fvisasearchkorea.com/f6-visa-explained/

http://www.buhaykorea.com/2012/03/26/f6-1-korean-spouse-visa/

http://thesoulofseoul.tumblr.com/post/19931150800/getting-my-f6-visa-the-beginning

http://hiexpat.com/korea-blog/getting-my-f6-visa-the-end-3971.html

[Laura_F]

Thank you!

This visa seems like it's going to take quite a while to get. Looks like I'll have to leave the country, too. After I get it I'll post the steps I had to take.

[Emark]

I have done all the paperwork and I'm ready to go to immigration this week to start the application.

Laura, I too have been concerned about some of the information I've tried to acquire online. No, I don't think you have to leave the country. There is a load of conflicting stories one can gather on these forums.
After I complete the process, I too want to compile the steps on how this is done. PM me and maybe we can work together on this because I'm sure that we could create a more concise patch of information than exists here right now. The F6 is really new to most expats.

Good Luck!

[Laura_F]

I PMed you, Emark! Thanks!

[Laura_F]

So, according to immigration I need to go back to America and apply there.

I called the Korean consulate back home and they gave me a list of documents I need:

1. Passport
2. Photo
3: Visa application
4. Invitation letter
5. Bank statement
6. Marriage certificate
7. Letter of reference
8. Background check with apostille
9. Health statement

This is not going to be easy! It seems just as difficult as getting an E2. Letter of reference??

[viciousdinosaur]

The letter of reference is probably not what you think. I'm 99% sure they mean the "reference form". You can fill it out with your spouse at immigration or download it here: http://www.immigration.go.kr/HP/IMM80/index.do

I have personally come over to Korea on a tourist visa and then got my F6 once I arrived. It's possible, or was possible in my case, many years ago.

[Milwaukiedave]

vicious is correct about the letter of reference, it is something your spouse has to fill out.

Hopefully you don't have to go all the way back to the US.

[soomin]

I just turned in my paperwork today and in addition to what the hikorea website says, they also wanted a typed story of our love (in Korean) and a bunch of other forms they handed us at the desk... they literally just kept shoving forms at us that basically all had the same information (ARC number, passport number, foreign address, blah-blah-blah). They also didn't accept both of us having jobs as a sign of financial responsibility, so we had to give them some paper that showed the deed for an extra house my father-in-law owns. We also had to have printed wedding pictures to hand in with the application forms. So, this is what I needed to transfer from an e-2 to an f-6...

*Passport
*ARC
*Documents that prove the family relations (marriage certificate, a copy of family register (Korean), documents verifying the marital relations, and maybe some other Korean documents?)
*Documents that prove the financial capability (We gave copies of our bank books to prove our jobs were paying us/how much they were paying, my contract to show I had housing, and the deed(?) to my father-in-law's extra apartment)
*Translated (into English) and Korean-notarized (at a US approved notary) copy of marriage certificate
*Letter from the US embassy showing they recognized my Korean marriage
*Typed "story of our love" (Korean)
*Wedding photos
*Reference of a spouse with Korean nationality (THEY GAVE US THIS FORM AT IMMI)
*Fee (single-entry visa: $50 (USD), multiple-entry visa: $80 (USD))
*A bunch of other random forms they gave us at immigration
*1 color photo of the applicant (size : 3.5㎝ x 4.5㎝) (I did this at a photo store (remember: wear dark clothes, use a light background, must show forehead and ears))

What a hassle... and now I get to wait 3-4 weeks to see if it gets accepted @.@;;;

Hope that helps!! If you have any questions, feel free to PM me~ ^.^

[viciousdinosaur]

Yup that sounds about right. My family also had to back me up with the deed to their house.

But I didn't need the photos or love story. I brought my mother-in-law instead.

So yeah for anyone in the future who wants to switch to F6, you need all this stuff. Best to let your in-laws take care of it

[Laura_F]

I have lived in Korea for over 4 years, but I have to go to America to apply for my marriage visa? This doesn't make sense at all. Yet my husband and I have both called immigration twice, and each time we have been told that I need to go back to America to apply for this visa.

I asked if I could do it through the mail. THey said no.
I asked if I could do a visa run to Japan. They said I don't know. Now, if immigration doesn't know, then who exactly does know?
Sooooooo extremely frustrating.

I wish I could just put this all on my mother-in-law, but our wedding isn't until spring, and she doesn't know we got married early.

I have an awesome job offer for October that will disappear if I don't have a visa. I want to scream. [/i]

[soomin]

Laura_F, are you currently on an e-2 visa? Where did you get married?

[Laura_F]

Soomin,

I am on a tourist visa. Actually it's not a visa at all. I used to have an e2 visa, but when my last job ended I re-entered Korea as a tourist. We got married at the gu-chong in Jongno.