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actionjackson
Joined: 30 Dec 2007
Location: Any place I'm at
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 Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2014 5:02 pm Post subject: Any F visa now has to know Korean? |
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| My wife was watching the news this morning and I guess there was a blurb that scrolled across the bottom saying any foreigners who want any F type visa were going to have to know Korean. She said it takes effect today but it was just one of those scrolling news things so there wasn't a lot of information. I'm curious if anyone else knows anything about this. |
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Unposter
Joined: 04 Jun 2006
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| Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2014 5:11 pm Post subject: |
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In order to qualify for a marriage visa, you and your spouse have to be able to communicate, either in Korean or any other language such as English or Chinese.
Don't worry no one is going to deny you a visa if you don't speak Korean well as long as your spouse can speak English well enough for the two of you to basically communicate.
My understanding is the main purpose is to prevent marriages between two people who are unable to communicate with each other, thus limiting the number of failed marriages and cases of spousal abuse.
When you get past the ridiculous headlines and look at the details, it seems very reasonable. |
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Underwaterbob
Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Location: In Cognito
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| Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2014 5:19 pm Post subject: |
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What are they going to do, make you take a language test at your wedding?
I would guess this is to prevent convenience marriages, but how are they going to enforce it?
Is some Korean teacher going to show up at my doorstep soon and give me a test? |
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furtakk
Joined: 02 Jun 2009
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| Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2014 7:35 pm Post subject: |
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| Underwaterbob wrote: |
What are they going to do, make you take a language test at your wedding?
I would guess this is to prevent convenience marriages, but how are they going to enforce it?
Is some Korean teacher going to show up at my doorstep soon and give me a test? |
Make people achieve a certain level on the TOPIK?
I remember reading about this before, and it is primarily targeted at mail-order brides. Unless they are able to communicate in a common language, they are unable to get F-class visas and thus unable to come to/stay in country. There were a lot of complaints from the marriage brokers (surprise surprise) because the test is only offered twice a year abroad, and is relatively expensive.
It wouldn't apply to most ESLers as their spouses typically speak English. However, in some hypothetical case where the two couldn't communicate in a common language, the foreigner would have to pass a certain level (I think 2) of the TOPIK in order to upgrade to an F6. |
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mr_thehorse
Joined: 27 Aug 2013
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| Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2014 7:58 pm Post subject: |
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| Underwaterbob wrote: |
What are they going to do, make you take a language test at your wedding?
I would guess this is to prevent convenience marriages, but how are they going to enforce it?
Is some Korean teacher going to show up at my doorstep soon and give me a test? |
1)you can get married. just cant get a visa.
2)to reduce the chances of those marrying women from vietnam and such from getting beaten or killed.
3)most likely have a conversation at the immigration office. |
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mr_thehorse
Joined: 27 Aug 2013
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| Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2014 8:00 pm Post subject: |
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| furtakk wrote: |
| Underwaterbob wrote: |
What are they going to do, make you take a language test at your wedding?
I would guess this is to prevent convenience marriages, but how are they going to enforce it?
Is some Korean teacher going to show up at my doorstep soon and give me a test? |
Make people achieve a certain level on the TOPIK?
I remember reading about this before, and it is primarily targeted at mail-order brides. Unless they are able to communicate in a common language, they are unable to get F-class visas and thus unable to come to/stay in country. There were a lot of complaints from the marriage brokers (surprise surprise) because the test is only offered twice a year abroad, and is relatively expensive.
It wouldn't apply to most ESLers as their spouses typically speak English. However, in some hypothetical case where the two couldn't communicate in a common language, the foreigner would have to pass a certain level (I think 2) of the TOPIK in order to upgrade to an F6. |
+1. |
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Rockhard
Joined: 11 Dec 2013
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| Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2014 4:23 am Post subject: |
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| I wonder if F4s get included in that. F5s already have to pass Level 2 TOPIK since last year. |
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Jongno2bucheon
Joined: 11 Mar 2014
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| Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2014 8:03 am Post subject: |
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| Rockhard wrote: |
| I wonder if F4s get included in that. F5s already have to pass Level 2 TOPIK since last year. |
Yeah, lets put restrictions on those adoptees who get F4s. The nerve of them to be adopted, not know their real parents, lived confused as heck, and have visas because of that. The nerve.  |
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candy bar
Joined: 03 Dec 2012
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| Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2014 8:15 am Post subject: |
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| Jongno2bucheon wrote: |
| Rockhard wrote: |
| I wonder if F4s get included in that. F5s already have to pass Level 2 TOPIK since last year. |
Yeah, lets put restrictions on those adoptees who get F4s. The nerve of them to be adopted, not know their real parents, lived confused as heck, and have visas because of that. The nerve. |
yo clyde, you need to attend an anger management class |
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faeriehazel
Joined: 04 Mar 2008
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| Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2014 4:09 pm Post subject: |
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It's for the F6. Previously it was only required of foreign brides from certain countries, but now it has been changed to include everyone. The foreign spouse must have some proof of basic Korean skills (TOPIK level 1). If they are a kyopo then they are exempt (as if being a kyopo is any guarantee of language skills).
If the couple can communicate in another language they are also exempt from the language requirement, but they may be asked to prove that they can communicate in said language. It's a bit vague. |
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Mr. Pink
Joined: 21 Oct 2003
Location: China
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| Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2014 8:26 pm Post subject: |
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| faeriehazel wrote: |
It's for the F6. Previously it was only required of foreign brides from certain countries, but now it has been changed to include everyone. The foreign spouse must have some proof of basic Korean skills (TOPIK level 1). If they are a kyopo then they are exempt (as if being a kyopo is any guarantee of language skills).
If the couple can communicate in another language they are also exempt from the language requirement, but they may be asked to prove that they can communicate in said language. It's a bit vague. |
Interesting. I am glad that they are trying to protect those being exploited through marriage. If you are an English teacher and let's say your nice new Korean wife is also an English teacher, you are most likely safe... |
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nicwr2002
Joined: 17 Aug 2011
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| Posted: Wed Apr 02, 2014 11:35 pm Post subject: |
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| I heard on the radio today about this. You don't need to know Korean if your spouse can converse with you in English or one of your native languages well. Like a previous poster wrote, it is mainly for those couples who don't know each other's language at all. I think it's a good thing to have this requirement actually. |
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Stan Rogers
Joined: 20 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2014 5:01 am Post subject: |
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| Rules are rules. Learn some Korean. It won't hurt you. I laugh at this "the rules are for thee but not for me" thinking so many on this board have. |
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drydell
Joined: 01 Oct 2009
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| Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2014 5:22 am Post subject: |
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| Do we know if the same is true for the F5?.. is a shared language sufficient or do we need a certain level of Korean? |
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Good Will Riker
Joined: 25 Dec 2009
Location: South Korea
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| Posted: Thu Apr 03, 2014 10:50 pm Post subject: |
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| drydell wrote: |
| Do we know if the same is true for the F5?.. is a shared language sufficient or do we need a certain level of Korean? |
This I would also like to know. 
I am Korean American married to my Korean Wife for almost 5 years now and plan on applying for the F-5 visa sometime this year. |
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