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Rikus
Joined: 22 Apr 2005 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2005 9:50 pm Post subject: Went to apply for F2 today... |
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So I went to immigration today in response to that confirm your degree memo that everyone has been getting. My wife went with me so while we were there I applied for the F2. It was much easier than I thought. It is much more valuable with all the recent changes. It is also valid for 4 years instead of one, and this is my first one. I am stoked. Will get it next Friday. |
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darkpoet
Joined: 15 Oct 2003 Location: Korea
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Posted: Thu Nov 10, 2005 11:51 pm Post subject: |
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Four years!!! Wow, my first was a change-over from an E-2 to an F-2 for 6 months and my second was only for a year! I hope 4 years is true! |
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wanderer
Joined: 25 May 2003
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Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 12:55 am Post subject: What? |
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Last edited by wanderer on Sat Nov 11, 2006 2:39 am; edited 2 times in total |
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chiaa
Joined: 23 Aug 2003
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Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 1:05 am Post subject: Re: What? |
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wanderer wrote: |
Four years? You don't get it until next week? You decided to apply when you were there?
You aren't stoked- you're stoned.
I went this morning too- with the list of required documents that they gave us on Wed. Odd that you and your wife just happened to have a statement from the bank of current holdings, marriage certificate, family registry, certificate of employment, and lease.
I got my visa a full 10 minutes after dropping down the paperwork.
And, as its my first, its for 1 year, just like everybody elses'.
As a side note, this was the Gwangwha-moon office, and the officer also told me that Immigration does not require me to notify them of change of jobs, but that because of the news as of late, some hagwans still insist that their teachers go. |
I did not need a certificate of employment or a statement from my bank.
You guys got to realize that the rules are never the same. |
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fidel
Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Location: North Shore NZ
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Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 3:08 am Post subject: |
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Neither did I. Or a lease for that matter. |
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Rikus
Joined: 22 Apr 2005 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 4:57 pm Post subject: |
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We had those documents with us because we have been thinking of doing it for some time but were afraid we would not qualify because she isn't working now. The requirements are either a 30,000,000w cheunsae or her proof of employment, not both. We have the 30 grand. So it took only a few minutes. The reason I believe it is 4 years is my wife was watching him fill out the form and he put down 11-11-09 in the validity date. I won't know for sure untill next Friday. Thats the truth.
Oh, and wanderer this was in Omokyo. Are you trying to tell me that they put the visa in your passport and issued you a new ARC right there on the spot. Now, I find that hard to believe. |
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chiaa
Joined: 23 Aug 2003
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Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 5:35 pm Post subject: |
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Rikus wrote: |
We had those documents with us because we have been thinking of doing it for some time but were afraid we would not qualify because she isn't working now. The requirements are either a 30,000,000w cheunsae or her proof of employment, not both. We have the 30 grand. So it took only a few minutes. The reason I believe it is 4 years is my wife was watching him fill out the form and he put down 11-11-09 in the validity date. I won't know for sure untill next Friday. Thats the truth.
Oh, and wanderer this was in Omokyo. Are you trying to tell me that they put the visa in your passport and issued you a new ARC right there on the spot. Now, I find that hard to believe. |
30,000,000 is not a requirement. I did not have 100,000 in the bank when I got mine and there is also not a law anywhere that states 30,000,000. It's just an arbitrary number that some guy said on the phone to someone one time and it just stuck.
I had to go back a week later and get my f visa as well. |
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Hollywoodaction
Joined: 02 Jul 2004
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Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 6:31 pm Post subject: Re: What? |
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chiaa wrote: |
wanderer wrote: |
Four years? You don't get it until next week? You decided to apply when you were there?
You aren't stoked- you're stoned.
I went this morning too- with the list of required documents that they gave us on Wed. Odd that you and your wife just happened to have a statement from the bank of current holdings, marriage certificate, family registry, certificate of employment, and lease.
I got my visa a full 10 minutes after dropping down the paperwork.
And, as its my first, its for 1 year, just like everybody elses'.
As a side note, this was the Gwangwha-moon office, and the officer also told me that Immigration does not require me to notify them of change of jobs, but that because of the news as of late, some hagwans still insist that their teachers go. |
I did not need a certificate of employment or a statement from my bank.
You guys got to realize that the rules are never the same. |
As far as I know, having a job is not a requirement. Think about it, if you lost your job or haven't gotten one it doesn't mean you are any less married to your Korean spouse. I had to bring my proof of employement so that they could transfer my sponsorship from my employer to my wife. I also wouldn't see why the law could require someone to have a lease to apply for the F-2-1 visa because many Korean newlyweds live with their parents. We didn't have a lease when I got my F2-1 because were living in a house that my in-laws usually rent out to tenants. |
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wanderer
Joined: 25 May 2003
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Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2005 10:06 pm Post subject: |
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Last edited by wanderer on Sat Nov 11, 2006 2:46 am; edited 1 time in total |
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jazblanc77

Joined: 22 Feb 2004
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Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 12:40 am Post subject: |
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Actually the 30,000,000 or employment ARE requirements. However, the enforcement of that criterion is dependant upon who processes your visa, as with anything in the Korean bureaucracy. What it says on the internet, what you are told on the phone, and what you experience in a case-to-case scenario can vary widely, especially when dealing with the immigration office. My wife and I usually just bring everything we can and hope that the person who helps us only asks for a fraction of it.
To find out more about the recent changes to immigration laws, read this for the F2, this for the F5, and this for the E2.
It's all in Korean so, if you can't read those pages, get your spouse to read them over. |
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Paddycakes
Joined: 05 May 2003 Location: Seoul
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Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 9:17 pm Post subject: |
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When I was in Korea I had an F2 visa.
My wife had to show proof that she had 30,000,000 Won.
The F2 Visa (at least then) is not work visa so you didn't need a job to get one.
I suppose the 30,000,000 is to prove that you're not going to be applying for Korean welfare, lest you become the target of Mr Kim's Letter to the Editors entitled: "All those damn foreigners collecting welfare off my tax-dollar". Guess they take their lessons from the Canadian right.
Most interesting question on the F2 application was "Which social class are you in?"
I don't know, the proletariat.... |
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jazblanc77

Joined: 22 Feb 2004
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Posted: Sat Nov 12, 2005 11:06 pm Post subject: |
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If your Korean spouse is not employed and you don't have 30,000,000 won, the site says that you may also use your employment to proove self-sufficiency. |
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Hollywoodaction
Joined: 02 Jul 2004
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Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 8:42 am Post subject: |
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Paddycakes wrote: |
When I was in Korea I had an F2 visa.
My wife had to show proof that she had 30,000,000 Won.
The F2 Visa (at least then) is not work visa so you didn't need a job to get one.
I suppose the 30,000,000 is to prove that you're not going to be applying for Korean welfare, lest you become the target of Mr Kim's Letter to the Editors entitled: "All those damn foreigners collecting welfare off my tax-dollar". Guess they take their lessons from the Canadian right.
Most interesting question on the F2 application was "Which social class are you in?"
I don't know, the proletariat.... |
Paddycakes. I love your avatar. He makes some great beer, tabarnak.  |
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paisleyavenger

Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Location: Korea
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Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 3:34 pm Post subject: official info |
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hey guys
i've been reading these F2 visa threads with a lot of interest.
there's an enormous difference between what people are saying is required, so i was wondering if anyone can link to the official documentation?
i haven't found any relating to the new F2 visa changes.
i suppose that would clear things up!
cheers
dave |
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Hater Depot
Joined: 29 Mar 2005
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Posted: Sun Nov 13, 2005 5:30 pm Post subject: |
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Reading the official documentation probably wouldn't matter much. The reason people have such disparate experiences is that the individual immigration officers have such wide latitude to exercise their discretion that the official rules are really more like guidelines. |
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