Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Vox_Populi]

In the point scale for obtaining a permanent residency visa, one way to increase your score is to obtain a certificate from a Korean language institute. Any clue what institute(s) they're talking about specifically?

Really, I work pretty standard 9-5 hours on weekdays in Mokdong so I'm looking for evening or weekend classes that'd fill the bill. Daytime classes are a nonstarter (unless on weekends only).

[World Traveler]

Does one have to graduate from all six levels of a university institute course (which would take a year and a half full time) to get that one point? That was my understanding, but if someone can prove me wrong, please do.

[coralreefer_1]

I was told by an immigration officer that certificates from language institutions (in my case, a university Korean program) were NOT acceptable to prove language ability in regards to the points for the F2 visa. According to him, only official TOPIK results, or otherwise certificates of completion from the various levels of the KIIP program were accepted.

If you have information that says otherwise, Id love to see it as it would save me alot of hassle.

[World Traveler]

Coralreefer1, did you do all six levels? (Few Westerners do.) When you graduate you get a (whole course completion) certificate (which may or may not be worth one measly point).

(The scale has been revised in 2013, making it harder to get the F points visa. Maybe other revisions happened too of which I am not aware.)

[coralreefer_1]

No, I stopped after level 5. I was trying to use the language program points from that for the visa, and he said that only TOPIK scores were accepted.

Now whether there is a stipulation that language institute certifications can be used IF they surpass a certain level, I do not know, but I would be especially interested to confirm if this is the case.

[World Traveler]

I saw this online:

[coralreefer_1]

I'm actually about 4 points shy, so the difference wouldn't help me much. Once I complete the culture portion of the KIIP program, I'll have what I need

But I'm curious because the "levels" at universities are different. For example, the university I was at (not a Seoul university) had 8 levels, rather than 6...with the level 6 covering stuff that would be appropriate to a TOPIK 4,5 - 5.5 (if there were such things as half-levels)

Naturally these levels do not exactly correlate to the TOPIK levels, so Im curious why a language certificate would be accepted (assuming they assume a uni-program level 6 is the same as TOPIK level 6)..and in that case..why wouldnt they allow say...a uni-program level 4 get the level 4 points (I believe 14 or 16) toward the visa.

In short, why would a uni certificate be a valid proof of language ability for x level, but not y level considering many universities use different material and levels for placement.

[World Traveler]

To graduate from any year and a half long full time university program (whether split up into 6 or 8 levels) is hard as heck, so the Korean government awards a point for that. Fair enough I think. (One must graduate (from the entire program) to get the point.)

[World Traveler]

[coralreefer_1]

I tested straight into level 4. The course was good, material was good..but I was somewhat unprepared for the final exam. Admittedly I didn't study for the test, and I failed it by 3 points (needed 60 to pass, I had 57), but I wasnt expecting it to be how it was. Literally EVERY question on the multiple choice test was either an example sentence from the book, or otherwise a sentence that you completed in the book.

Now, I will have to take level 4 again, but I was told that this time there is no final test, and will automatically go to level 5 after completing level 4 this second time (seems strange to me why, but that is the case)