Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Charles in Korea]

I have tried contacting the Immigration Bureau, contacting legal offices, e-mailing and calling the South Korean embassy in the US, doing every web search imaginable, posted on every messageboard, etc. Yet, I simply cannot find the answer to this question:

Is it possible to get the F-2 visa after living in Korea for seven years continuously (not because you're married)?

Therefore, I am offering a 250,000 won reward for the following:
If you have an F-2 visa that you acquired by living in Korea for seven years, and can prove that you got it by meeting the fabled time requirement and not by being married, I will reward you with 250,000 won! This need not take more than a couple hours of your time. I am desperate for the information, because I have looked/called/e-mailed everywhere and simply cannot find out if anyone has ever done this! I am about to make some important decisions based on whether or not this visa is attainable. Therefore, I really, truly, am willing to pay 250,000 won for this information! Please PM me.

If you know someone who got the F-2 through meeting the time requirement, I want to talk with them. I will pay them the 250,000 won and the both of you can split it in whatever way you want.

I know I probably sound deranged, but I need to make some very important decisions very soon based on this information, and if I make the wrong decision, it's going to be far more costly than 250,000 won, so this is worth it!

[Ya-ta Boy]

When I was at that point, I took a Korean friend who is fluent in both languages to the Masan Immigration office. I was informed that the law was written for Korean-Chinese to make it easier for them to live here, not for the rest of us.

I cannot swear to the authenticity of that because it was just one immigration officer at one immigration office on one particular day.

[The_Conservative]

Umm. Mr Charles, someone who is married and has a F-2 could collect that award simply by showing you his passport and claiming that he is not married.

And you would never know different. I'm not saying that any of the fine upstanding ladies and gentlemen of Dave's would lie in order to collect 250,000 won. but a few freaks do slip through the cracks.

[Captain Corea]

Why F2? Would it not be an F5 someone is shooting for after having lived here for so long?

[Charles in Korea]

Ya-ta Boy,

I would really love to do that. I have plenty of Korean friends that I could go with. The only problem is that a question about the F-2 is bound to piss off the immigration officers because it's their job to prevent foreigners from getting a hold of that information. The immigration officer is going to remember me next time my current visa comes up for renewal -- and he might choose to "interpret" my eligibility for extension in a less-than-desirable way.

Furthermore, immigration officers already have said "I don't know," and are bound to just say it again. They are under no obligation to answer a question they don't feel like answering, especially one related to a foreigner getting a residency visa (his boss will probably pat him on the back for withholding the information).

The_Conservative,

Yes, there's a danger that I could get deceived, and I'd rather just get this information for free (should it cost 250,000 won to get a simple answer to a question). However, since I'm offering 250,000 won, I'm going to expect proof -- a sufficient amount to be satisfied. For example, if someone has an F-2 and can prove that they're married to a non-Korean, I'd take that as sufficient proof that they got their F-2 through a means other than marriage. I haven't decided what kinds of proof I'll ask for yet, but for 250,000 won, it'd better be good!

Captain Corea,

Unless you have hundreds of thousands of US dollars, I don't think you can go for the F-5 directly. The F-2 is a prerequisite for the F-5. Since I don't have $500,000 laying around, it's more realistic to wait seven years -- I can do that, but getting $500,000 and employing five Koreans is nearly impossible (more so than living here seven years).

[europe2seoul]

Contact a lawyer in Korea - a Korean immigration lawyer.

[Charles in Korea]

I did just that. I contacted Sigong Law both through the telephone and through e-mail. They were able to answer a few of my preliminary questions, but eventually admitted that F-2 is not their specialty. When I asked if they knew of anyone who specialized in F-2 law, they said they didn't think anyone did, because this kind of thing is so rare/untested.

I will continue trying to track down a lawyer who knows F-2 law, but I'm not optimistic about it. I may find one lawyer who knows about it, and that'll be good. I'll still want to see some living proof, though. You can't make major life decisions based on the advice of one lawyer who may or may not know what he's talking about -- you have to see proof with your own eyes, too.

[tfunk]

If you don't find somebody that satisfies the original criteria of your post then here's my alternative opinion:

Step 1: Offer 100,000 to a competent Korean friend of yours to find out the details. If you've lived here that long you must know somebody that can spend some time trying to help you out.

Step 2: Top my account by 7 million. Just because I'm a genius and the world needs people like me to visit their forums.

[tfunk]

Go to immirgration and say that you want to apply for the visa and then get the application form. By law, it's legally obliged to print the conditions on the form before you sign it.

If you don't sign anything then you won't get in trouble, just read the form!

Simple!

[Roch]

[leebumlik69]

[Pak Yu Man]

F-2 is a family visa. Why would you get a family visa when your not married? Why would the government issue you one?

I think you could get an f-7 years ago if you were here long enough, but guess what. They changed all the visa requirements a couple of years ago. If you want a visa that bad. Just marry some random chick.

[Mashimaro]

It is completely ridiculous if there isn't a permanent residence type visa for SINGLE foreigners who've been here a considerable time, perhaps speak the language and have a lot to offer Korea. They are just encouraging sham foreigner-korean marriages so the foreigner can get a decent visa..

[tzechuk]

[Captain Corea]