Korean Job Discussion Forums

[eddielee82]

Korean American born in US
Parents are Korean citizens
My Korean name is in family registry. Too late to take it off.
But I only use my American name in my passport and E2-Visa.

I had an E2-Visa in the past. Had no problems going in and out of Korea before 2011. No problems getting my ARC Card.

Should I have a problem going into Korea. Concerned about getting drafted into the military.

[Hokie21]

According to this site its a possibility.

http://www.richw.org/dualcit/faq.html

This same word of caution may also apply to people who were born in the US, but whose parents (or even grandparents) came from somewhere else. Many countries have laws conferring citizenship on the basis of the citizenship of one's parents or grandparents (even the US has a limited law of this kind). I personally knew someone, some years ago, who got into trouble in South Korea because his father was born in Korea. Even though my friend was born in the US and had never claimed or believed himself to be a Korean citizen, he had to cut short his visit to his ancestral homeland in order to avoid being drafted into the South Korean army.

In general, before visiting any country which might possibly have any reason to claim you as its citizen (due to circumstances of your birth or naturalization, or that of any of your relatives), it is a good idea to check both with that country's consular officials and the US State Department. And don't accept any travel documents identifying you as a citizen of the other country, unless it is your true intent to accept such status

[DHC]

If you are in the family registry, you are subject to Korean military service if authorities are aware that you are in your parent's registry. You could be prevented from leaving KR until after your service. In that case there is nothing the U.S. Embassy can do about it. There is a warning page in your U.S. passport concerning dual citizenship.

[eddielee82]

I called the Korean Consulate and they advised me not to go. But I don't understand how I got away with it in the past.....

Does this new dual citizenship law effective in 2011 have to do anything with it? That's what the consulate keeps telling me. They will force me to get a Korean passport and SS#.

[one-four]

in the past, how long did you stay in Korea for? if under 90 days, that's probably it because you don't need any papers to stay in Korea that long if you are a US citizen.

also, they changed the law in 2008 or something that states that if a male born in another country doesn't officially reject his Korean heritage by his 18th birthday(taken off the family registry and signing a petition stating that you no longer are Korean), then he is now a Korean citizen and not a citizen of the country where he was born.

[eddielee82]

i stayed for 14 months under an E2 Visa.. Jan 2009 - March 2010
Went back in the fall under a tourist visa for a month.

[crossmr]

[minos]

You can worm out of the korean army if you lived abroad long enough.

My friend who initially grew up here until age ten lived abroad after that until he came back to party and make money.

He's a korean citizen 100%, but did something and even obtained a letter from the government that prevents him from serving.

We used to joke that they'd come looking for him one day and force him to join.....and they DID 1.5 years later...but he got the letter to get clear.


The F-series visas are SO much better than the e-2....if you can get away with it, screw getting an E-2.......being a gyopo on an e-2 is sad existance job wise.