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tigerjh
Joined: 03 Aug 2010
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Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 10:04 pm Post subject: How to get an F4 visa while IN Korea |
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Hello all,
I'm sorry if this topic has been beat like a dead horse but I just recently found out about this particular visa and would like to try and acquire one. I don't know if I can get one but I have at least one parent of Korean heritage back home in the States.
I basically came over with the EPIK program under an E-2 visa and I am "stationed' in the Gangwon province aka the Boonies of Korea.
I'm wondering if anyone could give me some advice or just point me in the right direction as I am very lost here in Gangwondo and my Korean ability is little to none. I frequently make weekend trips to Seoul and I'm assuming I would have to turn in the related paperwork SOMEWHERE in Seoul.
thanks for your time. |
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ttompatz

Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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Posted: Mon Oct 04, 2010 10:27 pm Post subject: Re: How to get an F4 visa while IN Korea |
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tigerjh wrote: |
Hello all,
I'm sorry if this topic has been beat like a dead horse but I just recently found out about this particular visa and would like to try and acquire one. I don't know if I can get one but I have at least one parent of Korean heritage back home in the States.
I basically came over with the EPIK program under an E-2 visa and I am "stationed' in the Gangwon province aka the Boonies of Korea.
I'm wondering if anyone could give me some advice or just point me in the right direction as I am very lost here in Gangwondo and my Korean ability is little to none. I frequently make weekend trips to Seoul and I'm assuming I would have to turn in the related paperwork SOMEWHERE in Seoul.
thanks for your time. |
Go to your LOCAL immigration office - they are the ones who will change your status from E2 to F4. They will also tell you what THEY want for you to do the change (get the list in writing).
Get the name of the officer you talk to when you go and try to always make sure you deal with him so you don't end up on too many wild goose chases during your switch.
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jsis
Joined: 05 Nov 2009
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Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2010 5:01 pm Post subject: |
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It was really easy for me, I went in to apply for my alien registration and told them I wanted my visa switched. I had to pay about 50,000? but as I remember, the multiple entry visa cost more than that. If you have an F-4 you don't need a multiple entry stamp, so it actually costs you less to get your F-4 with all the privileges.
I got my registration card with the F-4 status on it in a few days.
Every time you go somewhere abroad they'll make a fuss about your visa because the immigration doesn't change anything in your passport. Just show your registration card with your passport.
edit
Yeah you just go to your local immigration office, where you would go to apply for your alien registration |
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tigerjh
Joined: 03 Aug 2010
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Posted: Tue Oct 05, 2010 5:43 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks for the help guys.
I'm gonna have to go find my local immigration office now.  |
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tigerjh
Joined: 03 Aug 2010
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Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 4:05 pm Post subject: clarification needed |
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I got in contact with the local immigration office and after much back and forth it seems like they want to deny me the f-4 visa due to the "changed law."
Apparently there are 3 conditions for being denied a visa and if you fit even one of them, you are out of luck.
I wasn't sure what their explanation was but if you are NOT on the family registry in Korea and you were born overseas BEFORE 1998, then you are a "Korean national." AND you cannot renounce this nationality?? I am very very confused, I've got almost all my documents together and if I have to run into this bureaucratic mess, it would be very disheartening... |
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ThingsComeAround

Joined: 07 Nov 2008
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Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 4:58 pm Post subject: Re: clarification needed |
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tigerjh wrote: |
I got in contact with the local immigration office and after much back and forth it seems like they want to deny me the f-4 visa due to the "changed law."
Apparently there are 3 conditions for being denied a visa and if you fit even one of them, you are out of luck.
I wasn't sure what their explanation was but if you are NOT on the family registry in Korea and you were born overseas BEFORE 1998, then you are a "Korean national." AND you cannot renounce this nationality?? I am very very confused, I've got almost all my documents together and if I have to run into this bureaucratic mess, it would be very disheartening... |
Sounds like they want you to stay in Korea 2 more years... in the military |
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tigerjh
Joined: 03 Aug 2010
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Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 5:57 pm Post subject: |
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I guess so...
I'm wondering if anyone could tell me in English what this new "law" means exactly. Something about not able to renounce the dual citizenship or something.
I wonder why the govt implemented this new "law." And at this time too...are there too many people with F4s? I'm sorry if I posted this in the wrong thread. I'm new to Dave's Cafe but I could certainly use the help... |
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ttompatz

Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2010 7:06 pm Post subject: |
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tigerjh wrote: |
I guess so...
I'm wondering if anyone could tell me in English what this new "law" means exactly. Something about not able to renounce the dual citizenship or something.
I wonder why the govt implemented this new "law." And at this time too...are there too many people with F4s? I'm sorry if I posted this in the wrong thread. I'm new to Dave's Cafe but I could certainly use the help... |
The reason (for the change in the law) was too many (rich) families were using "anchor babies" (babies born abroad) to skirt around the conscription laws (mandatory military requirement for all males).
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