Korean Job Discussion Forums

[FastForward]

I'm trying to figure out what is needed to renew my F4 visa. I looked online and called immigration and both are giving different information. Online is stating I need a lease agreement showing where I live,my family tree again,passport, and ARC.

When I called immigration they said I don't need the lease agreement, because I received the letter from them and bring that instead. They also said I don't need the family tree and need to get something from city hall for my information( No idea what this is), passport, and ARC.

Can anyone tell me which on is correct, so I don't waste my time when I go there.

Thanks

[andrewchon]

What they are asking for is, i.e. the people at the 왜국인관리관 (alien bureau) is a piece of paper that has your name and address printed on it. e.g. a 고지서 for your rent, aprtment utility bill, maybe health insurance bill, anything official to show that you're living at the address. They'll make a scan of the document and return it to you. You'll also want to make sure the address on your ARC is same as the one on paper. To do that you'll have to go to your local city hall.

Note: I renewed Nov. 2013, I don't know what happened after that.

[pkjh]

Renewed 3 years ago. I brought in everything, but all they did was look at my card, and made me fill out a couple forms and it was renewed within a minute. They didn't even ask to see my passport.

Don't know if you want to risk that, but next time (in January) I'm just going in with my card, and passport.

I'm assuming you're American. If so, I wouldn't worry too much about the documents. They tend to give F4 visa holders from countries like Russia, China, and other industrializing countries, a hard time with renewal.

http://www.hikorea.go.kr/pt/CvlapplInfoDetailR_en.pt?cvlapplCd=12700007A03&locale=en&cvlapplGbSeq=

- China Koreans and overseas Koreans residing at fomer Soviet Union area
stay in Korea less than 6 months or more than 7times departure and arrive in Korea past 1 year from application date : no additional paper
stay in Korea more than 6 months or more than 7times departure and arrive in Korea- past 1 year from date of apply (Choice one of those document below): certified copy of corporate registration or copy of certification of business registration, certificate of employment, Bank statements, withholding slip of earned income, etc , contract of real estate, certificate of studentship.(only in case of student)

- Other nationality alien(Only need the document below for the first extension. do not need after 1st extension)
Person who have a name on the Family registration : Jaejoeck deungbon (Certified removal from family registration)
Person who doesn’t have a name on the Family registration: Father (Mother)'s Jaejoeck deungbon (Certified removal from family registration)

[FastForward]

[andrewchon]

When you get there, you fill out a form for renewal. Take your ARC, the document confirming your residential address, passport, money to buy stamps (around 30,000 won). If you're going to Suwon, then go left after the front door. (if you go right, you're amongst 500 Chinese doing god-knows-what) After you fill out the form, and wait for your number to be called, and have documents checked, then you'll be told to go and buy some stamps. That's when you go where the Chinese are and buy some stamps. You take the stamps back and you'll have your visa renewed.

Note: you can renew only if there's less than 2 months left on your permit. However, immi has sent you a letter, so you're probably due. (Gee, I wonder why the immi has never been nice to me like that? )

The family history thing is required when you're renewing for the first time. (I've renewed twice and didn't need it for the second time) You must've had some family history document when you first made your F4 visa. If you have brought them to Korea with you then take them with you, the clerk will know which one they need. If you don't have the family docs then you'll have to make them again. (once again, ask the clerk) Fun, fun, fun.

[amoonbot]

If it's your first time renewing, there are some additional documents (listed on the Hi Korea website) that you need to submit.

However, after the first renewal, you just have to submit an application, a copy of your current housing contract, and a payment of 60,000 WON.

Personally, I would recommend doing it online (yes, it is possible!). Of course, the English version of the online application doesn't work too well, so if your Korean isn't too good, I recommend having a Korean friend help you.

[pkjh]

Renewed my F4 visa a few days ago.

The lady looked at my F4 card, and the application paper. Asked for something proving I lived there. She said renewal letters were sent out 2 months ahead of time, but I never got one. She said the letter could have been used as proof of housing. Showed them my email cell phone bill with my address, and it was good enough. She said any regular bill with your name, and mailing address is proof. Had to go get 60,000-won of stamps and then they printed my new expiry date on the back. She didn't even look at my passport.

So I'm good for another 3 years.