| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Binch Lover
Joined: 25 Jul 2005
|
 Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 5:19 pm Post subject: How long does it take to get F2 visa? |
 |
|
Hi, I recently got married in Korea. I'm going to apply for an F2 visa but I need to know how long they are going to keep my passport because I will be going on vacation in early July.
I called immigration and they said it would take between 1 and 3 months. This seems like a long time! I looked at other threads here that suggested some people got their passports back in a week.
Can anyone share recent experiences of applying for an F2? I'd like to know how long it took between application and receipt of the visa. Also, any other helpful info would be good! |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
horton1
Joined: 29 Apr 2010
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 7:12 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I'm in the process of doing the paperwork now. Just waiting to get the official marriage certificate from the Gu office, then back to the Canadian embassy and finally immigration. I've talked to immigration about the process and was told it only takes 1 week, unless there are problems. 1 to 3 months seems excessive, perhaps they gave you the worst case scenario. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
giraffe
Joined: 07 Apr 2009
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 7:37 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| i applied for my F2 in Canada. Took 10 days to get my passport back from Korean Embassy. After that once i arrived in korea I had to apply for a F2 extension because the one i got in canada was for 90 days only. The extension took roughly 1 week. As the previous poster said, 1-3 months sounds excessive. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Fox
Joined: 04 Mar 2009
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 7:42 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I walked into the immigration office with the materials required for an F-2 visa and walked out with an F-2 visa stamp in my passport. The entire process took literally minutes. This was last September. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
crossmr
Joined: 22 Nov 2008
Location: Hwayangdong, Seoul
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 7:56 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Fox wrote: |
| I walked into the immigration office with the materials required for an F-2 visa and walked out with an F-2 visa stamp in my passport. The entire process took literally minutes. This was last September. |
That's extremely unusual. An F-2 usually requires they hold the passport for 7-10 days. Perhaps if you were in some middle of nowhere immigration office where there were no other foreigners. No way they'd be doing that at Seoul immigration, but even still, it's an application not a guarantee and I believe it usually requires someone process and approve the application.
1-3 months might be for chinese nationals. I know they have much stricter regulations about what's required for their application. They're supposed to provide a picture of their house where they will live and other information to demonstrate the marriage is real. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Drew10
Joined: 31 Mar 2009
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 8:34 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Mine took around 2 weeks, it would have been sooner but I opted to have my ARC and passport mailed back to me rather than go pick it up. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Underwaterbob
Joined: 08 Jan 2005
Location: In Cognito
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 8:43 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Don't forget your spouse has to go with you and you have to do an interview. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
crossmr
Joined: 22 Nov 2008
Location: Hwayangdong, Seoul
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 8:46 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Underwaterbob wrote: |
| Don't forget your spouse has to go with you and you have to do an interview. |
For an F-2? Neither is a requirement. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Drew10
Joined: 31 Mar 2009
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 8:55 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| crossmr wrote: |
| Underwaterbob wrote: |
| Don't forget your spouse has to go with you and you have to do an interview. |
For an F-2? Neither is a requirement. |
Correct.
The immi officer told us that normally they come to the couple's home and conduct interviews, but seeing as we were married for 2 years at that point and had our kids with us, they told us it wouldn't be necessary in our case.
I assume the guy was referring to the normal procedure for mail order brides of Korean men. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
crossmr
Joined: 22 Nov 2008
Location: Hwayangdong, Seoul
|
| Posted: Mon Apr 25, 2011 11:26 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| Drew10 wrote: |
| crossmr wrote: |
| Underwaterbob wrote: |
| Don't forget your spouse has to go with you and you have to do an interview. |
For an F-2? Neither is a requirement. |
Correct.
The immi officer told us that normally they come to the couple's home and conduct interviews, but seeing as we were married for 2 years at that point and had our kids with us, they told us it wouldn't be necessary in our case.
I assume the guy was referring to the normal procedure for mail order brides of Korean men. |
I've never heard of anyone who frequents these boards or others having to go through an interview. Possibly for the Chinese as there are higher restrictions, but it's not mentioned on the immigration website as a requirement. The F5 requires an interview, and they talk to your spouse, and do a background check in your home country. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Lazio
Joined: 15 Dec 2010
|
| Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 1:37 am Post subject: |
|
|
| crossmr wrote: |
| Underwaterbob wrote: |
| Don't forget your spouse has to go with you and you have to do an interview. |
For an F-2? Neither is a requirement. |
Not much of an interview but the officer asked a few questions from my wife like: How did we meet, where, when? Did we meet each other's parents/ where, when and how? Than the officer asked the same things from me in English.
Wife was told on the phone that she has to be there. Both for applying and renewing my F-2.
It took about 10 days to get back my passport.
Last edited by Lazio on Tue Apr 26, 2011 4:20 am; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
crossmr
Joined: 22 Nov 2008
Location: Hwayangdong, Seoul
|
| Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 1:48 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Lazio wrote: |
| crossmr wrote: |
| Underwaterbob wrote: |
| Don't forget your spouse has to go with you and you have to do an interview. |
For an F-2? Neither is a requirement. |
Not much of an interview but the officer asked a few questions from my wife like: How did we meet, where, when? Did we meet each other's parents/ where, when and how? Than the officer asked the same things from me in English.
Wife was told on the phone that she has to be there. Both for applying and renewing my F-2.
I took about 10 days to get back my passport. |
I know several people that have renewed their F-2 without their spouse present. When asked they just said "She's at work" and that was the end of it.
As always with immigration your mileage may very but as far as I know there is nothing on paper that requires their presence for either step. But it usually makes it go quicker and smoother. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Fox
Joined: 04 Mar 2009
|
| Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 2:28 am Post subject: |
|
|
| crossmr wrote: |
| Fox wrote: |
| I walked into the immigration office with the materials required for an F-2 visa and walked out with an F-2 visa stamp in my passport. The entire process took literally minutes. This was last September. |
That's extremely unusual. An F-2 usually requires they hold the passport for 7-10 days. Perhaps if you were in some middle of nowhere immigration office where there were no other foreigners. |
It was in Donghae, Gangwon-do, so yes, pretty remote I suppose. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Binch Lover
Joined: 25 Jul 2005
|
| Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 4:17 am Post subject: |
|
|
| Thanks for all the replies. Puts my mind at ease |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Radius
Joined: 20 Dec 2009
|
| Posted: Tue Apr 26, 2011 4:28 am Post subject: |
|
|
| I have a question about this. I have not had to have a national CBC yet for E2 visa because they waive it one time in 2011. My next contract will expire in July of 2012. I expect to be married by then, but in order to get the F2, would I need to get the National CBC by then?? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
