Korean Job Discussion Forums

rothkowitz · Joined: 27 Apr 2006

Hi~~

I've gone through some of the prvious threads on F2s but am wondering how someone's recent experience was.I'll be applying for mine mid-August.

1,What did you need to take with you?
2,How was the interview?
3,How quick was it to get it all done? ie in hand
4,Anything to be wary of in particular?

Thanks in advance

Soul Forest · Joined: 22 Mar 2006 Location: Seoul Forest

This is from an EFL law website. I could see by some other things on the site that it's not been updated, but here it is (www.efl-law.com/faqans_F2_visa.html).

EDIT - because it was old info

Soul Forest · Joined: 22 Mar 2006 Location: Seoul Forest

Sorry I looked a little closer at what I just sent. It is quite out of date, in fact. You'd better disregard it, and make a direct inquiry to the immigration office.

One other thing to note -- if you're getting the F2 through marriage to a Korean, then you need to bring her with you to the immigration office when you apply. You also need to have the same address on official documents.

dangsangirl · Joined: 27 May 2006

First you need to go to your embassy to get a marriage certificate. Bring your husband / wife's family register with your name on proving marriage. (You'll need to get this translated and notarized beforehand - about w60,000). When you go to immigration, you need the family register, the marriage certificate from your embassy, your passports (maybe not your Korean partner's passport but at least his / her id card), proof that you have money (your housing contract or bank statements)and of course your ARC. Don't forget to bring your lovely new husband / wife too!! Good luck!

tzechuk · Joined: 20 Dec 2004

rothkowitz · Joined: 27 Apr 2006

I'm taking it that simply a present contract or future contract is sufficient,rather than a bank statement?Is that how it goes?

Hmm..another question.I'll be appying for the F2 visa mid August but will still have 2 weeks left on my present contract on an E2.Do I then have to get the E2 cancelled or do I let it lapse?

noguri · Joined: 28 Nov 2005 Location: korea

I just got the F-2-1, and as the other posters said, it is pretty much automatic if you are married to a Korean citizen. It takes two to six days.

One glitch that held up my ARC was that the immigration official didn't ask me for my photo. I had the ID photos with me, but they didn't ask for them and I didn't give the photo. Later, they called and said that my visa was approved but I would have to come back to give the photo.

I had to go to Uijongbu because I live in northern Gyeonggido. You have to go to the office that has jurisdiction over your place of residence. Uijongbu is a bit of a bus ride, so it isn't just a trip around the block to go back just to give a photo. But anyway, Korean immigration is a heck of a lot nicer and easier to deal with than the U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security.

They also had an English-speaking helper-dude who helps people like us. He said he grew up in Chicago. His English was totally native, and he was really nice and helped us fill out the forms.

We brought our bank statements as well as my newly signed employment contract. The immigration official did seem to want both. But, I can tell you that we don't have much money in the bank at all. Maybe one-tenth of the 30 million won they say you are supposed to have. Nevertheless, we gave them our bank account info and I got the visa, no problem.

rothkowitz · Joined: 27 Apr 2006

Ah Ok...seems like the bank account thing is merely a formality.Guess it depends on the person you get though.People always talk about Immi offices as being little quasi-fiefdoms...I've been spending like jiminy for my wedding and wotnot so my account won't look that healthy.I'm supposing having a signed contract from my new High school should be ok....

I'll add some photos to the list,then!I live in Seongnam,but have to go the Mokdong office,which is a good 2 hours away.Have to do it all in one shot.

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

Ilsanman · Joined: 15 Aug 2003 Location: Bucheon, Korea

I just took the 1st step in registering our marriage at the Canadian embassy just yesterday. This advice may only be true if you are Canadian.

We paid 85,000 processing fee. Expensive ink.

We did not need to translate the documents. We filled our 6 forms (2 different, 3 times each) and it was done in no time flat.

We can go to our local Gu-office at our earliest convenience, and I think that will finalize our marriage. Then I can go alone to the embassy again and finalize it there.

After that, I have no idea about F-2. I live in the 'Chun, so I have to go to Incheon immigration office.

Question: I have no problem showing a bank statement of money, or housing contract. What is sufficient? We have a standard monthly rent apartment, and not a whole lot in the bank.

rothkowitz · Joined: 27 Apr 2006

I went to the NZ Embassy a couple of weeks ago and I paid 77.000 for them to go about getting us a "Certificate of No Impediment",which is just to say they'll find out if I'm already married or not.

Next,marriage ceremony,honeymoon....

When we get back the certificate should be waiting for me.

Collect that from my Embassy.Fill in "affadavit of Eligibility" and "Report and Certificate of Marriage"(39.000).Sign it together at the embassy.

Take the wedding certificate to my wifes regional office,they stamp it,take it back to the embassy.They verify it(39.000)

Next,go to Immigration to get the F2.

seems to be how it is for NZers,at any rate.

Milwaukiedave · Joined: 02 Oct 2004 Location: Goseong

It's interesting to hear how people from other nations go through the process of getting married.

I got my F-2-1 in the beginning of Feb and it was for one year, so I have to renew in Janurary of next year.

mole · Joined: 06 Feb 2003 Location: Act III

suadente · Joined: 27 Sep 2004

Most of this has already been stated, but as I actually bothered to login today, I figure I should write.

I got my F-2 in May. My E-2 was expiring within 2 or 3 days from when we went to the Immigration Office. I was staying with the same school, and already had a signed contract. I had a new passport, which I reported to Immigration about a month beforehand, but I brought both the new passport and the expired passport anyways.

Our process went very smoothly, but we spent a lot of time beforehand getting everything ready. I think the biggest key is that my wife, a Korean citizen, went to the Immigration website and printed a page that stated the requirements for the visa. As we got each document ready and put it in our envelope, we highlighted that item in the list. When we got to the office, we handed him the envelope, and the first paper was that checklist. He didn't question anything, but just told us that we forgot to go downstairs to buy a revenue stamp.

My old E-2 visa automatically became an F-2, and since it was in the hands of, and being processed by the Immigration office, it was ok that it actually expired before I got my passport stamped with the new visa.

One thing to note, when we were at Immigration, I asked the guy behind the counter if the F-2 was a multiple entry visa. (As an American, my previous E-2 visa was automatically multiple entry .) He said that it was multiple entry. However, when we took a trip a month ago, it turned out that we had to buy a multiple entry visa at the Airport Immigration office.

rothkowitz · Joined: 27 Apr 2006

Suadente,

That was really a great idea to take a page of the formal requirements and harmlessly place it on top.Must have taken a lot of ambiguity out of it.

Sprezzatura^^

I'll get a revenue stamp beforehand

Cheers~~