Korean Job Discussion Forums

[chonga]

I've read almost all posts concerning F-4 but all seem to point at people who got them in Seoul.

I was wondering if I could obtain this visa by visiting my nearest Korean consulate in NYC?

I'd prefer to get the visa before flying over as it seems that would be much easier. Does anyone have any idea or experience to this?

[winterfall]

[sboix23]

I got my F4 in the korean consulate in nyc. the office is on park ave between 58th and 57th.

My parents got naturalized a while back which automatically gave me US citizenship. you need to get 3 registries, yours and your parents. You get these in korea but since you're here, you need give someone power of attorney to pick up your documents in the korean embasssy in korea.

My parents and I filled out the POA along with a document stating why you want to denounce korean citiczenship (even though we are all US citizens, you still have to fill out a form saying why you dont want to be a Korean citizen anymore. You just simply say that you're applying for F4 visa or something) and mailed it to my aunt in korea. Along with that document you have to mail a copy of your certificate of citizenship.

My aunt went to the embassy and was able to get 3 family registries. I think it's 2 documents per person. one shows your registry number with your name. the 2nd form shows if you have any kids. my dad's registry had his name and his parents on it. the 2nd document showed his name, my mom's name and my name. Same thing went with my mom. 1st document showing her name and her parents name, 2nd document showing my dad's name and my name.

My aunt express mailed it back to us which took around 3-4 business days. I brought all this to the consulate and I was then finally able to apply for my F-4 visa. you need a passport sized picture, visa application, and $45? They told me to come back the next day to get my visa so it doesnt take long.

The part of the whole process that is time consuming is waiting to have the documents sent from korea. it takes about 5-7 business days to send documents to korea, then another 3-4 days to have them sent back. so you're looking at about 2-3 weeks. thats IF you have a contact in korea that can get your paperwork ASAP.

You have to pay to make copies in the korean consulate so make sure you bring extra copies of your certificiate of citizenship and passport. I forgot when you're sending the POA to korea to get the registry, you need to send them a copy of the passport as well.

It might sound confusing but just do one thing at a time and you'll get it in no time.

here's the cliff note version:

1. fill out POA letting someone in korea get your registry.
2. fill out document stating why you want to denounce korean citizenship. you need copy of passport and certificate of citizenship. you give this to them and they process it for you.
3. apply for visa, get it back 1-2 business days later.

hope this helps.

[chonga]

I guess I should've clarified.

My father was an American citizen (US Military) while my mother is Korean.

So I was born a US citizen on Korean soil. I don't think I ever had a family registry but have contacted my aunt to get my mother's.

She has a US passport and proof of US citizenship. She says she doesn't remember renouncing Korean citizenship so I may have to take her with me to NYC to do this.


Not sure if that changes anything but that's the situation. So if you know what the process would be for that, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks sboix23 and winterfall!

[sboix23]

take your mom to the consulate to renounce citizenship. she has to get her registry from korea. make sure you bring your passport and certificate of citizenship

[chonga]

[winterfall]

[sboix23]

have them fax you the forms if the trip is far

[SFValley]