| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Tramxlee
Joined: 05 Feb 2013
|
 Posted: Wed Jan 28, 2015 10:49 pm Post subject: Transfer from F4 to F5 for spouse |
 |
|
| I have an F4 visa right now and my wife's on an E2. She wants to the freedom to work at companies but can't get one without an Fvisa. The F4's spousal visa is F1 (no working visa). We've been in Korea for a couple of years. I want to know if it is possible for me to change my status to an F5 and then sponsor her for an F2 visa. If so, what are the guidelines? TIA. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
BigBuds
Joined: 15 Sep 2005
Location: Changwon
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 2:02 am Post subject: |
|
|
| The F5 visa is for people married to Korean citizens. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Tramxlee
Joined: 05 Feb 2013
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 4:03 am Post subject: |
|
|
| BigBuds wrote: |
| The F5 visa is for people married to Korean citizens. |
I thought F5 is for Permanent Residents and F6 is people married to Korean Citizen. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
tob55
Joined: 29 Apr 2007
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 2:19 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| BigBuds wrote: |
| The F5 visa is for people married to Korean citizens. |
The F5 visa is for people who have been on the F2, F6 (for two calendar years), or by invitation from the Korean Ministry of Justice for some contribution the individual is making to Korea in some field such as sports, science, etc. The following information from the Foreigner Sojourner Guide specifically relates to those who have an F4 visa:
Pg 322 of the 2013 Sojourner Manual states that the only visa allowed for spouses of F4 visa holders is the F1 (non-work) visa.
Pg 327~330 outlines the procedures for F4 individual to securing the F5 visa.
Pg 329 indicates that the F4 person must be a legal resident of South Korea for 2 calendar years to qualify for the F5 visa. (This is the same requirement for foreigners married to Korean spouses)
Pg 331~334 outlines the steps for F4 visa holders to obtain simplified naturalization as a dual citizen of the country.
Pg 334~335 outlines the procedures for family members of F5 (former F4) visa holders to receive their F2 visa under the sponsorship of the family member on the F5 visa.
It's ALL in the Sojourn Guide. People need to download it and read through it. It is available from the HiSeoul Immigration website. It will save time asking these questions and get you brushed up on things you need to know as foreign workers in the country. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
wishfullthinkng
Joined: 05 Mar 2010
|
| Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 5:54 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| easy. convert your f4 to a dual citizenship, get your wife an f5 visa. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Coltronator
Joined: 04 Dec 2013
|
| Posted: Fri Jan 30, 2015 1:02 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Stop saying F5 for marriage visas. That is F6 (Or older style F2) |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Tramxlee
Joined: 05 Feb 2013
|
| Posted: Sun Feb 01, 2015 9:39 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Thanks tob55, I searched for that info but I guess I missed it... I will definitely look for the Foreigner Soju Guide.  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
BigBuds
Joined: 15 Sep 2005
Location: Changwon
|
| Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2015 1:26 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Coltronator wrote: |
| Stop saying F5 for marriage visas. That is F6 (Or older style F2) |
No, because when I got my F5 visa long ago, it was only for those married to Koreans. It was not open to anyone else back then. The F6 visa didn't exist, its relatively new. And for many smaller immigration offices in Korea, that's still the way they treat it. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
nate1983
Joined: 30 Mar 2008
|
| Posted: Mon Feb 02, 2015 2:34 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| BigBuds wrote: |
| Coltronator wrote: |
| Stop saying F5 for marriage visas. That is F6 (Or older style F2) |
No, because when I got my F5 visa long ago, it was only for those married to Koreans. It was not open to anyone else back then. The F6 visa didn't exist, its relatively new. And for many smaller immigration offices in Korea, that's still the way they treat it. |
You just wrote the F5 visa is for people married to Koreans. That is categorically not true. Even if it ever was true (which you allege, but I rather doubt), it is definitely not true now.
The F6 is just one of the old F2 types which now has its own category. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
BigBuds
Joined: 15 Sep 2005
Location: Changwon
|
| Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2015 1:55 am Post subject: |
|
|
| nate1983 wrote: |
| BigBuds wrote: |
| Coltronator wrote: |
| Stop saying F5 for marriage visas. That is F6 (Or older style F2) |
No, because when I got my F5 visa long ago, it was only for those married to Koreans. It was not open to anyone else back then. The F6 visa didn't exist, its relatively new. And for many smaller immigration offices in Korea, that's still the way they treat it. |
You just wrote the F5 visa is for people married to Koreans. That is categorically not true. Even if it ever was true (which you allege, but I rather doubt), it is definitely not true now.
The F6 is just one of the old F2 types which now has its own category. |
Doubt all you like but that fact is that ten years ago only people married to Koreans could get an F5 visa.
If its changed then fine but the F-6 visa didn't exist back then. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
denverdeath
Joined: 21 May 2005
Location: Boo-sahn
|
| Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2015 2:17 am Post subject: |
|
|
| BigBuds wrote: |
| nate1983 wrote: |
| BigBuds wrote: |
| Coltronator wrote: |
| Stop saying F5 for marriage visas. That is F6 (Or older style F2) |
No, because when I got my F5 visa long ago, it was only for those married to Koreans. It was not open to anyone else back then. The F6 visa didn't exist, its relatively new. And for many smaller immigration offices in Korea, that's still the way they treat it. |
You just wrote the F5 visa is for people married to Koreans. That is categorically not true. Even if it ever was true (which you allege, but I rather doubt), it is definitely not true now.
The F6 is just one of the old F2 types which now has its own category. |
Doubt all you like but that fact is that ten years ago only people married to Koreans could get an F5 visa.
If its changed then fine but the F-6 visa didn't exist back then. |
*sorry, meant to say*...
True, the F-6 wasn't around back then. However, others, who weren't 1st on the F-2 for at least 2 yrs married to Koreans, could get the F-5 visa. They were people like soccer ("footy") coaches, and maybe those who would take a bullet for, or give one to, either the South, or North Korean president. And, maybe a Korean-American NFL pro, or semi-pro. Maybe even Bill Gates types had a chance...according to the books, and tales, I've heard.
Last edited by denverdeath on Tue Feb 03, 2015 3:29 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Coltronator
Joined: 04 Dec 2013
|
| Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2015 3:05 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Exactly, F5 was never the marriage visa. It was a residents visa that had requirements that were easiest to meet by already having the Marriage F2. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Yaya
Joined: 25 Feb 2003
Location: Seoul
|
| Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2015 5:21 am Post subject: Re: Transfer from F4 to F5 for spouse |
|
|
| Tramxlee wrote: |
| I have an F4 visa right now and my wife's on an E2. She wants to the freedom to work at companies but can't get one without an Fvisa. The F4's spousal visa is F1 (no working visa). We've been in Korea for a couple of years. I want to know if it is possible for me to change my status to an F5 and then sponsor her for an F2 visa. If so, what are the guidelines? TIA. |
I asked about turning my F4 into an F5 and the requirements told to me were:
1) Being the son of a national person of merit (I don't qualify)
2) Assets of 500 mln won or more (I don't qualify)
3) Annual income equal to double the GNI of Korea, or more than 50 mln won (I don't qualify...yet)
As for getting dual nationality, well, if you are a male and didn't serve in the Korean Army, you have to give up your foreign passport if you want Korean citizenship. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
tob55
Joined: 29 Apr 2007
|
| Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2015 2:23 pm Post subject: Re: Transfer from F4 to F5 for spouse |
|
|
| Yaya wrote: |
| Tramxlee wrote: |
| I have an F4 visa right now and my wife's on an E2. She wants to the freedom to work at companies but can't get one without an Fvisa. The F4's spousal visa is F1 (no working visa). We've been in Korea for a couple of years. I want to know if it is possible for me to change my status to an F5 and then sponsor her for an F2 visa. If so, what are the guidelines? TIA. |
I asked about turning my F4 into an F5 and the requirements told to me were:
1) Being the son of a national person of merit (I don't qualify)
2) Assets of 500 mln won or more (I don't qualify)
3) Annual income equal to double the GNI of Korea, or more than 50 mln won (I don't qualify...yet)
As for getting dual nationality, well, if you are a male and didn't serve in the Korean Army, you have to give up your foreign passport if you want Korean citizenship. |
I just checked it out, and they are misleading you quite a bit. Pg. 329 specifically says "If you are a F-4 Overseas Korean visa holder who has maintained a valid residential address in Korea for at least 2 years and who meets ANY of the conditions below, you are eligible to apply." So, they are thowing out all of the things as requirements to give you the impression that you will never qualify, but that is not the case. Also, there is nothing mentioned about being the son of a national person of merit anywhere in the regulation. Simply, if you are on an F-4 visa there is no reason you should not receive the same treatment as any other person on the visa.
It also says if you have a Jeonsae contract in your name or the name of a family member worth more than 500,000 KRW you are eligible to apply. In other words if you have any rental contract and pay more than 500,000 KRW per month in rent, you are eligible to apply. (Hmmmm, I wonder why they left this out of their explanation???)
I am checking into the simplified naturalization thing, but if your parents are no longer Korean citizens, the immigration people may be wrong on that one too, but I need to do more research on it. Anyway, the fact is the people at immigration often tell you what they want you to hear, rather than giving you the whole story about how to make things work for you. I'll get back on this when I can find the definite information. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
wishfullthinkng
Joined: 05 Mar 2010
|
| Posted: Tue Feb 03, 2015 5:51 pm Post subject: Re: Transfer from F4 to F5 for spouse |
|
|
| Yaya wrote: |
| As for getting dual nationality, well, if you are a male and didn't serve in the Korean Army, you have to give up your foreign passport if you want Korean citizenship. |
i'm pretty sure this isn't true.
http://www.kadoption.or.kr/en/info/visa_f4.jsp
however, if you try to get dual citizenship before the age of 36 you may have to serve military service unless you are a highly skilled worker such as an engineer. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
