Korean Job Discussion Forums

Rikus · Joined: 22 Apr 2005 Location: Seoul

So I went to immigration today in response to that confirm your degree memo that everyone has been getting. My wife went with me so while we were there I applied for the F2. It was much easier than I thought. It is much more valuable with all the recent changes. It is also valid for 4 years instead of one, and this is my first one. I am stoked. Will get it next Friday.

darkpoet · Joined: 15 Oct 2003 Location: Korea

Four years!!! Wow, my first was a change-over from an E-2 to an F-2 for 6 months and my second was only for a year! I hope 4 years is true!

wanderer · Joined: 25 May 2003

chiaa · Joined: 23 Aug 2003

fidel · Joined: 07 Feb 2003 Location: North Shore NZ

Neither did I. Or a lease for that matter.

Rikus · Joined: 22 Apr 2005 Location: Seoul

We had those documents with us because we have been thinking of doing it for some time but were afraid we would not qualify because she isn't working now. The requirements are either a 30,000,000w cheunsae or her proof of employment, not both. We have the 30 grand. So it took only a few minutes. The reason I believe it is 4 years is my wife was watching him fill out the form and he put down 11-11-09 in the validity date. I won't know for sure untill next Friday. Thats the truth.

Oh, and wanderer this was in Omokyo. Are you trying to tell me that they put the visa in your passport and issued you a new ARC right there on the spot. Now, I find that hard to believe.

chiaa · Joined: 23 Aug 2003

Hollywoodaction · Joined: 02 Jul 2004

wanderer · Joined: 25 May 2003

jazblanc77 · Joined: 22 Feb 2004

Actually the 30,000,000 or employment ARE requirements. However, the enforcement of that criterion is dependant upon who processes your visa, as with anything in the Korean bureaucracy. What it says on the internet, what you are told on the phone, and what you experience in a case-to-case scenario can vary widely, especially when dealing with the immigration office. My wife and I usually just bring everything we can and hope that the person who helps us only asks for a fraction of it.

To find out more about the recent changes to immigration laws, read this for the F2, this for the F5, and this for the E2.

It's all in Korean so, if you can't read those pages, get your spouse to read them over.

Paddycakes · Joined: 05 May 2003 Location: Seoul

When I was in Korea I had an F2 visa.

My wife had to show proof that she had 30,000,000 Won.

The F2 Visa (at least then) is not work visa so you didn't need a job to get one.

I suppose the 30,000,000 is to prove that you're not going to be applying for Korean welfare, lest you become the target of Mr Kim's Letter to the Editors entitled: "All those damn foreigners collecting welfare off my tax-dollar". Guess they take their lessons from the Canadian right.

Most interesting question on the F2 application was "Which social class are you in?"

I don't know, the proletariat....

jazblanc77 · Joined: 22 Feb 2004

If your Korean spouse is not employed and you don't have 30,000,000 won, the site says that you may also use your employment to proove self-sufficiency.

Hollywoodaction · Joined: 02 Jul 2004

paisleyavenger · Joined: 21 Apr 2004 Location: Korea

hey guys

i've been reading these F2 visa threads with a lot of interest.

there's an enormous difference between what people are saying is required, so i was wondering if anyone can link to the official documentation?

i haven't found any relating to the new F2 visa changes.

i suppose that would clear things up! Very Happy

cheers

dave

Hater Depot · Joined: 29 Mar 2005

Reading the official documentation probably wouldn't matter much. The reason people have such disparate experiences is that the individual immigration officers have such wide latitude to exercise their discretion that the official rules are really more like guidelines.