Korean Job Discussion Forums

[rdkim]

I am a 22 yr old female Korean-American. I was born (1991) and raised in the US, however, my parents did not become US citizens until after my birth and they never formerly renounced their Korean citizenship. Additionally, I am not registered in my family tree (hojuk). From what I've gathered, this makes me something of an "unofficial" dual citizen in the eyes of the Korean government, meaning I'm not eligible for an E-2 visa nor a F-4 visa. I plan on looking for work as an English teacher in Korea and would like to formally obtain dual citizenship so I don't need to worry about visas and such. Is this possible? If so, how do I go about it? PLEASE HELP!

[thrylos]

Can't really help out with advice, but I'm pretty sure if you get and use Korean citizenship for a teaching job (and bypass all the E2 visa hassles), that means you won't get hired as a 'foreign/native speaker', but rather as a Korean English teacher. Less salary, no housing, maybe more hours.

I may be wrong.

[rdkim]

Thank you for your input. At this point, any piece of advice no matter how obscure or seemingly irrelevant is helpful to me! Please keep them coming as I am seriously struggling to find a definite answer!

[12ax7]

I'd call Immigration and ask them.

[Allthechildrenareinsane]

Your best bet is to call your local Korean consulate and ask. As a previous poster mentioned, though, you won't be eligible for airfare or housing if you come over as a citizen.

[faeriehazel]

From what I've read, you have to choose to retain your Korean citizenship before you turn 21; afterwards it is automatically revoked. Your best bet is to call immigration, of course. But seeing as your parents never even registered you with the Korean government, I don't see why they would consider you a citizen at this late a date. I've heard of Korean parents living in the US who deliberately do not register their sons in Korea so they don't run into military duty issues later on in life.

Also, it's not entirely true that working as a Korean citizen means you get hired as a Korean teacher. I am a Korean citizen working as an English teacher (English is my first language), and I've never been paid less than any of my foreigner colleagues. It IS true that you won't get airfare or housing. Also certain jobs will be closed to you, the most significant being university positions; (they are required to hire people with foreign passports to fill certain slots; of course, if you have a PhD you can get hired as a proper professor regardless of your citizenship).

[tob55]

Here is a link from the immigration website that might help you get started on your quest: Restoring Citizenship

It is possible, but you will face the same requirements for dual citizenship as any other foreigner. I have a friend who is a colleague in the same situation and she discussed having to waith a number of years before being allow to file for dual citizenship. Good luck.

[oppa637]

Just take your parents naturalization papers and birth certificate. You'll probably have to do it in korea as you'll have to get your family tree records too.