Korean Job Discussion Forums

suadente · Joined: 27 Sep 2004

Sorry if this was discussed earlier, but in order to get the F5, do you need to hold an F2-1 for two years, or do you need to reside in Korea with an F2-1 for two years?

I'm getting married in a few weeks. However, we want to go back to America in December for a while. When we do come back to Korea in a year, will my two year counter continue or start over?

Cheonmunka · Joined: 04 Jun 2004

Tell the immigration officer as you pass through final check that you'll be staying in US less than a year. They won't cut up your card.
I said we'd be gone 14 months or so, and without a second word he cut my card with scissors rendering it useless.
So, just in case you return before one year it seems you won't have to refile for your F2.
Though, I think the provision is to reside in Korea more than two years, perhaps if you just hold onto your F2 you can still claim that.

chiaa · Joined: 23 Aug 2003

Been waiting a month for my F-5. The thing that sucks is I got the green light to go to Vietnam and Cambodia for a couple of weeks but I cannot leave the country until I get it. Of course, they cannot tell me when that will be...

jinju · Joined: 22 Jan 2006

chiaa · Joined: 23 Aug 2003

Got my F-5 this morning. Even got me a new card too! From start to finish just a hair over four weeks.

There was no language interview and in all actuality I never said one word to an immigration officer or flunky staff member through out the entire process. Cool

bellum99 · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: don't need to know

Welcome to the club!

jinju · Joined: 22 Jan 2006

Southern Drawl · Joined: 13 Mar 2005

My post isn't about F5 visas. I'm just continuing the original topic of this thread concerning F-2 visas.

I just wanted to add my name to the list of those who have received their private teaching license from the Ministry of Education.

My story:
Several months ago my wife and I went to ask the Ministry of Education (Taejeon) about getting a license. They said sure it was no problem but I needed a form from immigration stating I could do work outside of the realm of my visa. We informed them that this form wasn't necessary because of the recent changes to F-2's. But, the girl told us that we needed it anyway. Well, we thought no big deal. Last week we finally got a chance to go to immigration and we requested the form. The official told us that I didn't need this form anymore. We said that we understood that but we would like it anyway. He then requested why. My wife told him that I was going to apply for a private teaching license. At this the official became very rude to my wife and told her that private teaching was illegal. My wife told him that the Education govt. said it was ok for me to get a license. This went back and forth for a moment and then he finally asked for the name of the person in the education govt. who said that to us and he also wanted the names of those foreigners who have the license. (My wife had told him we knew foreigners in Korea who have the license.) He said that no branch of the Korean government allows private teaching. At this moment he got a call on his cell phone and stood up and walked out. My wife said to me he wasn't going to give us the form that we needed. I told her there was no need of arguing with this guy so we just walked out.

Next, we went over to the Education govt. When we asked to apply for the license we didn't mention the form that a few months ago they said they needed. Well, they didn't mention it either. And let me tell you that these people at the Ministry of Education we very friendly. We didn't have any problems. The education guy just looked on an official government document to find out who was eligible to receive the license. And there it was plain as day, F-2 visa holders could get it. This was the Thursday before Children's Day and I received the license in the mail yesterday.

So, there is still a difference of opinion between the two branches of govt. But, clearly stated on my license are the laws which allow me to have it.

I know that some who have read this thread don't see the need of getting the license but for me, personally, it feels good to have it.

Could I have a problem in the future with immigration over this matter?
Maybe.
But at least I'll have my license in my back pocket to pull out.

Demophobe · Joined: 17 May 2004

Hollywoodaction · Joined: 02 Jul 2004

Southern, can you share with us anything that you have that is written in Korean that explains you can have the tutoring license, especially if you the name or the number of the document. That would be a very useful tidbit of information. What's the tax rate that you will have to pay?

Southern Drawl · Joined: 13 Mar 2005

Hollywood,

The following is written on my license in Korean which contains the two laws pertaining to the license:

학원의 설립.운영및과외교습에관한법률 제14조의2제1항 및 동법시행령 제16조의2제1항의 규정

I don't know what the tax rate is at the moment. I do know that I don't have to report my income or pay any taxes monthly like I thought I would. It's yearly. The education govt. will tell the tax govt that I have a license and it is my responsibility to pay my taxes on my income after one year. I also have to keep records of who my students are. And, there is a maximum of 9 students per class.

chiaa · Joined: 23 Aug 2003

Hollywoodaction · Joined: 02 Jul 2004

Southern Drawl · Joined: 13 Mar 2005

I don't know the details, just that F2-1 visa holders were on a list of people eliglible to receive the license and the laws are referenced on the license. I haven't actually read the laws.