Korean Job Discussion Forums

[ron_j]

I did the sticky in the travel forum... no response =/

So here's the deal with myself.

I have some questions. My father isn't around (he left us a while ago) and my parents divorced. They were both US citizens. However, I think my pops went back to Korea to avoid debt in the states. Guess who had to pay that debt off?

As of now, I have my mother's old passport, her hojuk, her certification of US citizenship and old tax papers that's it. Also, I do not have my original birth certificate. I went to the state to get a new one and it does not state any of my parent's names. I figure a tax return is just as valid. Now the hojuk is under her maiden name. So is her old passport. She doesn't have her marriage certificate. Wondering if that would be a problem? Anyone have any idea how I can go about getting my F4 visa with these obstacles?

Also, I need a promise of a job before I can apply for an f4 correct?

Thanks in advance for any helpful advice.

[kalkamagi]

hey ron_j
sounds like you're in a difficult situation.

-they ask for a birth certificate to prove that you are your mother's child. is there any reason why doesn't it have your parents' names on it? at any rate you need to establish some kind of line tying you to korea. if you do find a proper one, you can just have someone scan it and email it to you. immigration will accept it.

-i don't think tax returns count. (by think, i mean assume, after 4+ years of dealing with immigration, it's a safe assumption.)

-if your parents were never married (ie, your mom's still on her family hojuk) it might be possible just to use her docs. after all, you just need one korean parent to get the F4

-you do not need a job prospect to get one.


i would just go to immigration and ask what you need. but ask several times, because they can give you conflicting information. (on purpose, it seems!)

good luck

[richardlang]

I agree with the other person about needing a birth certificate with something showing you came from your mother.

Also, if and when you do get an F4 visa, make sure to bring all of your papers, your mother's papers, all birth certificates, and everything to Korea because the immigration office needed to verify for themselves the authenticity of my F4 visa. Even though my Korean embassy in the U.S. had to verify all of those documents before issuing me my F4.

By the way, don't let your mother's original U.S. citizenship certificate out of your hands. It takes almost an act of Congress, and a year or two of waiting, to get another issued.

[ron_j]

Well, the reason my birth certificate doesn't have any parent name on it is because I lost my original one. When it came time to renew my driver's license, I had to go to the state to get a replacement. The hospital doesn't keep the records by the way. The replacements have the water seal and emblem..just no parents' name.

My last name is under my father's. They were married. That's why I bring up the whole mother's maiden name and marriage certificate thing.

As for bringing the documents to Korea..can I just bring photocopies? I mean...that citizenship paper is pretty important considering what it takes to receive a replacement. Geez 2 months and an act of congress...

I guess I gotta hear from the horse's mouth. I'll give the Korean consulate in the US a call. I'll update...hopefully update good news.

thx for the replies btw

[aphong420]

Hey man - nobody's going to know what to do on here. It seems like yours is a special case and they do things case-by-case anyways. Try calling the consulate in your area. They should be able to tell you more....

Or, if you go to this site: http://www.immigration.go.kr/

-> turn it all into English (top right), then try the online service -Q&A -- post a question and someone (with authority) will post a reply fairly quickly.

Good luck to you.

[ron_j]

update: the Korean consulate was as helpful as anybody else here on my unique situation. Either way, I called the state and now they have NEW certificates that have the parents' names on them. So, the ones I have now are pretty worthless.

However, I can't get my f4 because my mom never renounced her citizenship in Korea. That takes 3-4 months. Looks like it's E2 for me...

Is it possible to change my visa status during the term of the E2?

[Captain Corea]

[ron_j]