Korean Job Discussion Forums

[bish]

I've been looking into what I will need to apply for my F2 visa. It doesn't look to difficult but the requirement of "Proof of financial ability" is a bit vague.

I called immigration and they said I need "proof of employment" but not a contract. She said my employer could provide this but I am not sure this will fly when I actually go to the immigration office.

What have others on here used as "proof of financial ability" when applying for an F2? I would have thought a contract would be enough. Does my wife (who is Korean) need to show any "proof of financial ability"?

Thanks

[njamesd]

When I got married I also found the paperwork confusing. The proof of employment was a form from your work that says you actually work there. It's different than the contract. Your work should know about this form. Also (and this was one of the hassles for me), your wife needs one as well. If she doesn't work, then I don't know. But when I went, they required it from her as well as me.

I don't know about your living situation, but you need to both be registered as living at the same address. Since I (we) live in an officetel, and one cannot "legally" live in an officetel, this was a bit of a hassle. Just make sure you both have the same address and things should be no problem.

[bish]

[ttompatz]

[crossmr]

You don't need proof of employment. Thousands of people are given F2s every year without proof of employment. You need proof of finances, which equates to about 30M won in assets. This can either be on your part or your spouses part, some immigration officers include housing deposits, some don't.

If you don't have 30 M in assets, some people have mentioned using their contract to show financial ability, but no one has ever really given up any details on that when asked.

All she really needs is to get some money in her account, get the bank stamp, and take the housing contract and if it totals 30 M you're fine unless you get a picky officer who insists on 30 M in cash in the bank account. If that's the case have her hit up family/friends. She doesnt' need to keep the money permanently, she can transfer it in, make the stamp, transfer it out same day.

Better bet is to have your wife call them and ask them in Korean. They'll tell her exactly what she can use and tell her if they want to see cash or if "assets" is fine.

[njamesd]

If I remember correctly, the address thing was not needed to get the marriage license. After we went to the embassy (US embassy for me), and got everything official, I was then able to be put on her family registry as her wife, and then we could be listed as living together. This was required before I could apply for the F2 visa. The requirements for the marriage license and the requirements for the F2 are different. Have your fiancee call immigration and double, no, triple check everything. And then always bring more documents than you think you'll need.

feel free to PM me if you like.[/quote]

[bish]

edit

[bish]

[crossmr]

[bish]

[njamesd]

to register or change your address you must go to the local ward office in the area where you live. If your permanent address is different from where you live, you obviously must go to the ward office for the permanent address (as is my case). Your wife will know all about these, for she must go there to get any personal documents for the visa process.

I don't remember there being any wait time for the Korean marriage license, but that might have changed. We got the marriage licenses at the Korean immigration office in Seoul, (they gave us two copies) and then went to the US embassy right around the corner. The embassy stamped both certificates and that was it.

I then had to give one of the stamped certificates to the Korean immigration office to get the F-2 visa along with all of the other paperwork.

I suppose you could then go and get your address changed, and go to the correct immigration office after that, but it could be quite a hassle.

Anyway, good luck with it all, and of course...

Congratulations!!

[Weigookin74]

Hold on, that 30 million rule applies to F2? I'm sure there are many weigooks paying student loans and who can't save 30 mil. There has to be a way to get an F2 without that. I had thought that requirement was for the F5. Would immi actually deny a visa to someone who is married? How woud that wprk?

[bish]

[crossmr]

[Lost]

They wanted to see "our" savings for the F-2. For the F-5....all they wanted was the work certificate. Happy I never have to go back to immigration again.