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bbud656
Joined: 15 Jun 2010
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 Posted: Fri Dec 10, 2010 3:25 pm Post subject: Breaking down the ambiguity on the new F2 visa points |
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Does anyone know the details on the F2 visa points?
How is language ability measured?
What qualifies as professional work experience?
How they measure volunteer time?
Details on the culture class.
How long you have to be on your E visa to qualify?
A lot of people are probably pretty close depending on some of these things. |
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rebellis
Joined: 26 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 12:06 am Post subject: F-2 visa |
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| I had a Korean friend call and ask about the requirements. Basically, it's impossible unless you marry a Korean or have a huge amount in your bank account (to invest in a business). Their requirement list make it "sound" possible, but they contradict each other, making the whole process impossible. |
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crossmr
Joined: 22 Nov 2008
Location: Hwayangdong, Seoul
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| Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 12:59 am Post subject: Re: F-2 visa |
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| rebellis wrote: |
| I had a Korean friend call and ask about the requirements. Basically, it's impossible unless you marry a Korean or have a huge amount in your bank account (to invest in a business). Their requirement list make it "sound" possible, but they contradict each other, making the whole process impossible. |
Well someone better get over here and tell IlIlNine to give his visa back because apparently he's done the impossible. I wonder if he can divide by zero too
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=195665
Language is based on topik score
you need to be on your e-series for at least 1 year before applying.
volunteer time has to be registered somewhere to count.
the culture class is a lot of hours, takes about 6 months to get through. I think it's weekends only even though one of the biggest targets would be foreign brides who probably aren't working.
most people though probably aren't close depending on those things. You need a topik 5/6 for max language points and that is well beyond most people who haven't completed an extensive language course.
I think the average esler who came here out of university probably only has about 51 points after their first year.
age + education + income
I don't think "being able to order a beer" qualifies you for 10 points on the languages. |
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Young FRANKenstein
Joined: 02 Oct 2006
Location: Castle Frankenstein (that's FRONKensteen)
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| Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 3:48 am Post subject: Re: F-2 visa |
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| rebellis wrote: |
| I had a Korean friend call and ask about the requirements. Basically, it's impossible unless you marry a Korean or have a huge amount in your bank account (to invest in a business). |
Wrong. I personally know three people who have gotten their F2 on the points system, with another two waiting for their results. |
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Hugo85
Joined: 27 Aug 2010
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| Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 9:00 am Post subject: Re: F-2 visa |
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| crossmr wrote: |
most people though probably aren't close depending on those things. You need a topik 5/6 for max language points and that is well beyond most people who haven't completed an extensive language course. |
I don't recall reading that 15 points = Topik 5... mostly speculations over whether it was 4 or 5. |
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misher
Joined: 14 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 12:21 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
rebellis wrote:
I had a Korean friend call and ask about the requirements. Basically, it's impossible unless you marry a Korean or have a huge amount in your bank account (to invest in a business). Their requirement list make it "sound" possible, but they contradict each other, making the whole process impossible.
Well someone better get over here and tell IlIlNine to give his visa back because apparently he's done the impossible. I wonder if he can divide by zero too
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=195665
Language is based on topik score
you need to be on your e-series for at least 1 year before applying.
volunteer time has to be registered somewhere to count.
the culture class is a lot of hours, takes about 6 months to get through. I think it's weekends only even though one of the biggest targets would be foreign brides who probably aren't working.
most people though probably aren't close depending on those things. You need a topik 5/6 for max language points and that is well beyond most people who haven't completed an extensive language course.
I think the average esler who came here out of university probably only has about 51 points after their first year.
age + education + income
I don't think "being able to order a beer" qualifies you for 10 points on the languages. |
Good point Crossmr. Just because there is a new revised point system doesn't mean it is easy. You still have to pay your dues by either upgrading your qualifications to an MA and improving your Korean skills by a considerable amount. This is no walk in the park for the average joe with a BA teaching at a Hagwon and nor should it be.
| Quote: |
rebellis wrote:
I had a Korean friend call and ask about the requirements. Basically, it's impossible unless you marry a Korean or have a huge amount in your bank account (to invest in a business).
Wrong. I personally know three people who have gotten their F2 on the points system, with another two waiting for their results. |
On the other hand....
Your "friends" were ESL teachers yes? Ili9 and one other guy I know are the only people who I've known that have received this visa. They clearly deserved it but the thing is they have a specialized skill set and are not in the same league job wise as the rest of us. Until I hear about ESL TEACHERS getting it, I still can't help but be a teeny weeny bit skeptical. |
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IlIlNine
Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Location: Gunpo, Gyonggi, SoKo
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| Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 3:10 pm Post subject: Re: F-2 visa |
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| Hugo85 wrote: |
| crossmr wrote: |
most people though probably aren't close depending on those things. You need a topik 5/6 for max language points and that is well beyond most people who haven't completed an extensive language course. |
I don't recall reading that 15 points = Topik 5... mostly speculations over whether it was 4 or 5. |
10 Points: Topik Level 1/2
15 Ponts: Topik 3/4
20 Points: Topik 5/6
The only ambiguity is whether they'll take the lower number or if the higher one is also required. I'm pretty sure they'd take the lower number for the points (otherwise what amount of points would they give for level 3, for example?)
I passed level 2, fwiw. |
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Young FRANKenstein
Joined: 02 Oct 2006
Location: Castle Frankenstein (that's FRONKensteen)
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| Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 5:11 pm Post subject: |
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| misher wrote: |
| Quote: |
| Wrong. I personally know three people who have gotten their F2 on the points system, with another two waiting for their results. |
Your "friends" were ESL teachers yes? Ili9 and one other guy I know are the only people who I've known that have received this visa. They clearly deserved it but the thing is they have a specialized skill set and are not in the same league job wise as the rest of us. Until I hear about ESL TEACHERS getting it, I still can't help but be a teeny weeny bit skeptical. |
Two were ESLers, one was not. Of the two waiting, only one is an ESLer. With regards to the three ESLers, all have been in Korea for more than 6 years, so they're not FOBs. The one waiting is a PS teacher, but the other two were a uni prof and a hagwon monkey. |
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bbud656
Joined: 15 Jun 2010
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| Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 5:24 pm Post subject: |
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It actually doesn't seem that difficult.
Age and bachelors degree net you 49-50 points.
If you do the culture class you are at around 60.
Everyone has less than 35 million won, so you are at 65.
Get a 1 on TOPIK, you are at 75
Take a language course at Uni, +1
Volunteer for 1 year here +3
Have a certificate in something else and work experience 1-5 points.
Doesn't seem that impossible. |
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crossmr
Joined: 22 Nov 2008
Location: Hwayangdong, Seoul
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| Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 7:22 pm Post subject: |
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| Young FRANKenstein wrote: |
Two were ESLers, one was not. Of the two waiting, only one is an ESLer. With regards to the three ESLers, all have been in Korea for more than 6 years, so they're not FOBs. The one waiting is a PS teacher, but the other two were a uni prof and a hagwon monkey. |
That can't be true. If it were true, no one here would have anything to complain about.
| Quote: |
It actually doesn't seem that difficult.
Age and bachelors degree net you 49-50 points.
If you do the culture class you are at around 60.
Everyone has less than 35 million won, so you are at 65.
Get a 1 on TOPIK, you are at 75
Take a language course at Uni, +1
Volunteer for 1 year here +3
Have a certificate in something else and work experience 1-5 points.
Doesn't seem that impossible. |
No it isn't impossible, but you're fudging points a lot there.
I think the majority of people who come here seem to be quite young. For someone who comes here a little older, the age points works more in their favor. But fresh out of uni, and after 1 year here, they're only getting 20 points for age.
So your average person only has:
20 age
26 education
5 income
for 51
the culture course is going to eat up your weekends for about 6 months. Not a lot of people want to put that kind of time in, but if you do:
+10
you still need 19 more points.
Most people in that situation won't have any "professional" work experience back home, not that we have any full details on that, but I suspect it requires you working at a higher level in corporate or as a specialist to some degree.
There is no "certificate" points for anything other than getting a single point of studying language in Korea.
So you take a language program and manage to get the first level of language points for 11 total
that only puts you at 72, meaning you need 8 more points.
for most fresh out of university students, it's going to be impossible to make those up, unless their major back home was Korean.
However, after 2 years in country they should be able to make it up.
They should arrive here at 22-23 depending, and maybe they'll hit 25 years old after 2 years. +3 points, and if they volunteer for those 2 years they'll make 80 right on the nose.
On the other hand, if you come here after having worked (or not) for a few years post-grad back home, it's much more favorable.
If you come here after you study to a masters back home you're looking at:
23 age
30 education
5 income
58 total.
10 for the culture course
1 for studying korean and 10 for the language
which gets you to 79
volunteer for a couple months just to have a record of it, and you get 1 point for that.
It is a little difficult for young people without big education or a lot of experience. For someone a little further along life's path, it shouldn't be overly difficult if they really want it. |
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Young FRANKenstein
Joined: 02 Oct 2006
Location: Castle Frankenstein (that's FRONKensteen)
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| Posted: Sat Dec 11, 2010 7:29 pm Post subject: |
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| crossmr wrote: |
| Young FRANKenstein wrote: |
Two were ESLers, one was not. Of the two waiting, only one is an ESLer. With regards to the three ESLers, all have been in Korea for more than 6 years, so they're not FOBs. The one waiting is a PS teacher, but the other two were a uni prof and a hagwon monkey. |
That can't be true. If it were true, no one here would have anything to complain about. |
Not my problem people want to be whingy bitches. |
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bbud656
Joined: 15 Jun 2010
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| Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2010 1:15 am Post subject: |
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It isn't a breeze for fresh out of uni E2s, but it really shouldn't be.
I am pretty close and it is my first year here, assuming I can get a TOPIK score of 1. Which I believe is just 50% correct on the beginner test. So, if I agree to eat up my weekends and take a Korean class at a local uni (both of which will help me get at 1 TOPIK score) I am on the threshold. Also, I am 25 and have 'professional' work experience (still not sure what that means) but I had to earn a certificate at my uni along with my degree to qualify me for the job I have had for the last 2 years. My only concern is that it is a lot of work and Im not confident that the rules won't change by the time I finish. I have to wait 6 months or so anyway because I need to be on my E2 longer to qualify. |
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misher
Joined: 14 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2010 4:08 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
crossmr wrote:
Young FRANKenstein wrote:
Two were ESLers, one was not. Of the two waiting, only one is an ESLer. With regards to the three ESLers, all have been in Korea for more than 6 years, so they're not FOBs. The one waiting is a PS teacher, but the other two were a uni prof and a hagwon monkey.
That can't be true. If it were true, no one here would have anything to complain about.
Not my problem people want to be whingy bitches. |
Well now, I'm not trying to be a whingy "bitch" so I apologize if I came across that way.
If that is the case for your friends then it looks like things are changing in our favour. I for one am definitely more positive about this than I was a few months ago.
If the bar was lowered and ESL teachers can obtain PR, I think guys married on F-2s aren't going to like it. They may not feel threatened at first but if all it takes is a few contracts completed, a uni language course and an MA (practically everyone is getting them online these days) then the applicant pool for all of those juicy part-time gigs and the supply of teachers for privates will most likely swell over the next 5-10 years driving down wages. I know this is a negative outlook and it may not happen entirely like I previously described but if I were on an F-2 sitting pretty with only a BA and married with a kid or 2, I couldn't help but be a little bit concerned about my future employment options even if I created a good network or not. |
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crossmr
Joined: 22 Nov 2008
Location: Hwayangdong, Seoul
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| Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2010 4:34 am Post subject: |
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| and the supply of teachers for privates will most likely swell over the next 5-10 years |
I think a great number of E2s are teaching privates anyway. Getting caught generally only happens to those who shout it from the rooftops.
I don't think it will have a great effect there. E2s have a 50% turnover rate each year anyway, including both new teachers and old teachers.I don't think there is really that huge of a number who stay here a very long time and don't end up marrying a Korean or are on an F4 or who don't have something going on where they wouldn't want to be beating the streets for privates.
It does take a little more than a few contracts completed and a uni language course. It does require some effort and investment both in education, language learning, and time.
While I expect a few people will take advantage of this, I don't think we're going to see huge droves of people suddenly switching to F2s. |
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Mr. Pink
Joined: 21 Oct 2003
Location: China
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| Posted: Sun Dec 12, 2010 2:38 pm Post subject: |
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| misher wrote: |
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crossmr wrote:
Young FRANKenstein wrote:
Two were ESLers, one was not. Of the two waiting, only one is an ESLer. With regards to the three ESLers, all have been in Korea for more than 6 years, so they're not FOBs. The one waiting is a PS teacher, but the other two were a uni prof and a hagwon monkey.
That can't be true. If it were true, no one here would have anything to complain about.
Not my problem people want to be whingy bitches. |
Well now, I'm not trying to be a whingy "bitch" so I apologize if I came across that way.
If that is the case for your friends then it looks like things are changing in our favour. I for one am definitely more positive about this than I was a few months ago.
If the bar was lowered and ESL teachers can obtain PR, I think guys married on F-2s aren't going to like it. They may not feel threatened at first but if all it takes is a few contracts completed, a uni language course and an MA (practically everyone is getting them online these days) then the applicant pool for all of those juicy part-time gigs and the supply of teachers for privates will most likely swell over the next 5-10 years driving down wages. I know this is a negative outlook and it may not happen entirely like I previously described but if I were on an F-2 sitting pretty with only a BA and married with a kid or 2, I couldn't help but be a little bit concerned about my future employment options even if I created a good network or not. |
Shhh. You shouldn't tell all the F-2 visa people what's really going to happen....
Like any job market, skills will be dependent on one's education, and if you are in the sector of education (teaching), what qualifications you have related to that. So, yes, someone with only a BA is going to be in trouble in the next 5-10 years. Not a lot of people are visionaries and can see ahead in that respect. I am an F-2 that did see that things would change, and I have upgraded to the point I don't really see a problem with myself ever not having a job in my field, but those days of cushy legal privates and side jobs are going to be over in the near future.
One thing that you don't say that will happen is this: if enough F-2s are present, employers will stop hiring new E-2s as it will be easier to avoid all the visa problems those types of visas require.
Lastly, those with spousal F-2s will always have an advantage over a professional F-2 in that their spouse is Korean and Korean laws (and society) favor their own over foreigners. I mean this in terms of living in Korean society at large, not in terms of employability. |
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