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Korean Job Discussion Forums
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jamesy
Joined: 24 Nov 2005
Location: incheon, korea
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 Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2014 6:33 am Post subject: |
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| Rockhard wrote: |
| F5s already have to pass Level 2 TOPIK since last year. |
No, they don't. If you apply for the F-5 visa with a Korean spouse as your sponsor, you don't need to take any Korean tests. I didn't even need to demonstrate communication in any language when I got mine, but I believe this has changed now.
If you aren't married to a Korean, there's a point system for the resident's visa. You can score points in a variety of ways such as taking accredited language courses (run by the government), TOPIK score, and qualifications.
http://www.thekoreaguide.com/2011/10/07/point-system-for-permanent-resident-status-in-south-korea/
This page is a little old, and the criteria might be a little different now, but it gives you an idea of what's required. |
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Handsome Boy
Joined: 03 Jun 2003
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| Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2014 6:41 am Post subject: |
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For an F5 visa YOU MUST BE ABLE TO SPEAK SOME KOREAN, the test is conducted by the local immigration official who then decides yes or no. I don't know what level they are looking for.
My Case: hold F6 visa, renewable every two years. I've been married to a Korean for the past four years, adopted a Korean kid from the past marriage. My wife and I run our own business, no debt or money issues and live in the best part of Busan.
The immigration guy came out to see us both personally. He loved our business and spent over an hour and a half with us. The poor guy was almost in tears because he really wanted to give me the F5 but my Korean level is non-existent.
The other way to get an F5 is to employ five Koreans and have half a million dollars in your account. We're taking this route further down the road.
On a side note I did hear a whisper that they may start extending the F6 visa to 3 and 5 years renewable depending on how long you've lived here but who knows! |
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jamesy
Joined: 24 Nov 2005
Location: incheon, korea
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| Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2014 7:18 am Post subject: |
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| Handsome Boy wrote: |
For an F5 visa YOU MUST BE ABLE TO SPEAK SOME KOREAN, the test is conducted by the local immigration official who then decides yes or no. I don't know what level they are looking for.
My Case: hold F6 visa, renewable every two years. I've been married to a Korean for the past four years, adopted a Korean kid from the past marriage. My wife and I run our own business, no debt or money issues and live in the best part of Busan.
The immigration guy came out to see us both personally. He loved our business and spent over an hour and a half with us. The poor guy was almost in tears because he really wanted to give me the F5 but my Korean level is non-existent.
The other way to get an F5 is to employ five Koreans and have half a million dollars in your account. We're taking this route further down the road.
On a side note I did hear a whisper that they may start extending the F6 visa to 3 and 5 years renewable depending on how long you've lived here but who knows! |
Sorry to hear that mate. I think the Incheon immigration office must be more lenient than Busan on the language front. I got my F-5 about 4 years ago with no Korean interview, and I know someone who did the same a few months back. Hope you have success following the other route.
Another side note; I, and I'm sure many others, have spoken to different employees in the same immigration office, and have gotten completely different responses. |
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wooden nickels
Joined: 23 May 2010
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| Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2014 8:44 am Post subject: |
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| Handsome Boy wrote: |
For an F5 visa YOU MUST BE ABLE TO SPEAK SOME KOREAN, the test is conducted by the local immigration official who then decides yes or no. I don't know what level they are looking for.
My Case: hold F6 visa, renewable every two years. I've been married to a Korean for the past four years, adopted a Korean kid from the past marriage. My wife and I run our own business, no debt or money issues and live in the best part of Busan.
The immigration guy came out to see us both personally. He loved our business and spent over an hour and a half with us. The poor guy was almost in tears because he really wanted to give me the F5 but my Korean level is non-existent.
The other way to get an F5 is to employ five Koreans and have half a million dollars in your account. We're taking this route further down the road.
On a side note I did hear a whisper that they may start extending the F6 visa to 3 and 5 years renewable depending on how long you've lived here but who knows! |
My experience was similar to yours. Been married to a Korean for a number of years. I'm on the F6. Own a business. Have employed Koreans and foreigners. No debt to speak of in many years. Money in the bank. Live in an affluent part of the city. I can read Korean, write a little. My listening and speaking ability is low, but I get around and have the ability to get my messages across in limited ability.
My wife and I asked the immigration official if it would be possible to get the F5. He asked me, in Korean, if I could speak Korean. I replied, in Korean, some, a little. He asked me a few questions. I understood about 1/3, of which I replied. He said that my ability wasn't high enough. He replaced my F2 with an F6. I smiled and said thanks.
I figure at this point I don't want to spend the next couple of years prepping for a test that I might not pass because the bar seems to be continually raised. On top of that, I'm at the age that retirement isn't too far around the corner. If I'm not allowed to live here on an F6 or a tourist visa, there are at least 10 other countries that I will be more than happy to spend my old days in. |
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alongway
Joined: 02 Jan 2012
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| Posted: Fri Apr 04, 2014 4:11 pm Post subject: |
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| Stan Rogers wrote: |
| 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. |
Yes, rules are rules, and the rules don't require someone to know Korean.
They require someone to be able to communicate with their spouse, and that's only if you're new to Korea. If you've already lived in Korea for a year before getting married, like most westerners would have, then there are no language requirements, you're exempt.
Unless someone steps off the plane and knocks up a girl in the first week, they probably will have lived here a year before getting married and it will have absolutely no impact on westerners getting married to Koreans. |
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Rockhard
Joined: 11 Dec 2013
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| Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2014 9:53 am Post subject: |
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| jamesy wrote: |
| Rockhard wrote: |
| F5s already have to pass Level 2 TOPIK since last year. |
No, they don't. If you apply for the F-5 visa with a Korean spouse as your sponsor, you don't need to take any Korean tests. I didn't even need to demonstrate communication in any language when I got mine, but I believe this has changed now.
If you aren't married to a Korean, there's a point system for the resident's visa. You can score points in a variety of ways such as taking accredited language courses (run by the government), TOPIK score, and qualifications.
http://www.thekoreaguide.com/2011/10/07/point-system-for-permanent-resident-status-in-south-korea/
This page is a little old, and the criteria might be a little different now, but it gives you an idea of what's required. |
Perhaps you should do a little investigation before you run your mouth.
Your information is out of date. The rules changed last year. If you apply for an F5 visa now you will be required to show Korean language ability. Luckily I already passed Level 2 TOPIK so I was approved. |
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Stan Rogers
Joined: 20 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2014 4:36 pm Post subject: |
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| Well its obvious they don't want to give out the F5 as freely anymore. I don't blame the Koreans for having some expectations. |
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Lazio
Joined: 15 Dec 2010
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| Posted: Sat Apr 05, 2014 4:52 pm Post subject: |
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| Handsome Boy wrote: |
| On a side note I did hear a whisper that they may start extending the F6 visa to 3 and 5 years renewable depending on how long you've lived here but who knows! |
I got a 3 year extension on my F-6 visa a year and a half ago. The officer said that since I had been on an F-6 visa already for 3 years (1 year initially and 2 years at the first extension) she can give me 3 years. |
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