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acousticlive
Joined: 15 Jun 2007
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 Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2007 8:35 am Post subject: Can I get an F Visa? |
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I've tried checking for this through the embassy websites but I can't seem to find the information that I need. I'm going to Korea this month on an e2 visa, but I wanted to know if I was eligible for another kind.
See, my mom's still a Korean citizen, but I was born and have citizenship with the U.S. My dad's also a U.S. citizen. Am I able to get an F visa based on my mom's Korean citizenship?
Any info is appreciated! |
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jay-shi
Joined: 09 May 2004
Location: On tour
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| Posted: Thu Jul 12, 2007 10:17 am Post subject: |
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F4 Visa
Who can obtain this visa?
1. People of Korean decent residing overseas that immigrated after 1948.
2. Overseas Korean Nationals (Haewe-Hankook/Dongpo = Kyopo)
3. Foreign National Koreans (Wekook-Kookjeok-Dongpo = OAKs, Overseas Adopted Koreans)
4. Koreans born overseas with another citizenship.
5. Koreans who have changed their citizenship. |
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mehamrick
Joined: 28 Aug 2006
Location: South Korea
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| Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 8:36 am Post subject: |
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| And if your male you can do your mandatory 2 years of military service as well... |
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acousticlive
Joined: 15 Jun 2007
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| Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 11:27 am Post subject: |
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| Well, fortunately, I'm not male. I just for some reason thought the f4 visa was for people whose parent's renounced their Korean citizenship. |
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boyne11
Joined: 08 Jul 2007
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| Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 3:53 pm Post subject: |
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| acousticlive wrote: |
| Well, fortunately, I'm not male. I just for some reason thought the f4 visa was for people whose parent's renounced their Korean citizenship. |
Well, you can still choose to do voluntary military service. 
With regards to your F-4, you can get your answers from here:
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=25615 |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 5:27 pm Post subject: Re: Can I get an F Visa? |
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| acousticlive wrote: |
I've tried checking for this through the embassy websites but I can't seem to find the information that I need. I'm going to Korea this month on an e2 visa, but I wanted to know if I was eligible for another kind.
See, my mom's still a Korean citizen, but I was born and have citizenship with the U.S. My dad's also a U.S. citizen. Am I able to get an F visa based on my mom's Korean citizenship?
Any info is appreciated! |
If you are female and your mother is still Korean (and has NOT taken out US citizenship) you may be elegible for actual citizenship instead of just an F-visa. |
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tob55
Joined: 29 Apr 2007
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| Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 6:42 pm Post subject: BUT... |
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But why, would she want to do that? Not trying to play Devil's advocate here, but would that be an advisable or recommended option for her?
I agree, ttompatz your posts are very informative and provide people with great information...Thanks for sharing your insights... |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 6:54 pm Post subject: Re: BUT... |
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| tob55 wrote: |
But why, would she want to do that? Not trying to play Devil's advocate here, but would that be an advisable or recommended option for her?
I agree, ttompatz your posts are very informative and provide people with great information...Thanks for sharing your insights... |
Why do that? For the ease of travel carrying 2 passports. She is female so she does NOT have to worry about military service. If she was MALE it would be different.
Her American passport gets her into most western countries with little or no hassle.
If she can get her Korean one, aside from allowing her an unlimited stay and job opportunities without restriction here, will get her visa free into many Asian countries that her US passport wont or that require high visa fees for US passport holders.
. |
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tob55
Joined: 29 Apr 2007
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| Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 6:58 pm Post subject: Limitations... |
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| What is the current rule on dual citizenship...For how long could she carry both without having to declare? |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 7:22 pm Post subject: Re: Limitations... |
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| tob55 wrote: |
| What is the current rule on dual citizenship...For how long could she carry both without having to declare? |
Unlike places like Canada, the Philippines and most of Europe that do recognise people with dual citiizenships, neither Korea or the US will recognise a dual citizen. (They are still a little behind the times and a bit barbaric that way in this era of globalization and international travel).
Korea will treat her as a Korean and ignore her US citizenship. The states will treat her as a US citizen and ignore her Korean citizenship.
For example:
If she enters on her US passport and gets into trouble here she is entitled to US consular assistance as a US citizen BUT If she entered on her Korean passport the Korean police would not allow her to contact the US embassy nor would they allow consular assistance.
If she gets into trouble in the states she will not be entitled to Korean consular assistance.
There are some laws that each country enforce even though the event takes place outside their jurisdiction. eg: a Korean goes to Amsterdam and partakes of some marijuana. Even though it is legal there, she could be arrested on her return to Korea for her actions.
If she goes to Cuba on her Korean passport (perfectly legal) she could be arrested on her return to the US because it is illegal for US citizens to go to Cuba. |
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boyne11
Joined: 08 Jul 2007
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| Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 7:25 pm Post subject: Re: Limitations... |
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| tob55 wrote: |
| What is the current rule on dual citizenship...For how long could she carry both without having to declare? |
Current rule is that Korea allows dual citizenship until you are 21 years of age. After that (when you're 22), you must renounce one of your citizenship so you have either choose to be Korean or what ever other nationality.
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Nationality Act Article 12(Obligation to choose nationality by people with dual nationality)
The person who has acquired Korean and foreign nationality before turning 20 by provisions of birth or other laws (hereinafter referred to as �dual nationality holder�) must choose one nationality before turning 22 and the person who became a dual nationality holder after turning 20 should do the same within 2 years according to provisions of sections 13 and 14. But the person who falls under the reason set by presidential decree must choose one of nationality within 2 years after extinction of such reason. |
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pkang0202
Joined: 09 Mar 2007
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| Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2007 7:30 pm Post subject: |
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The Government of the Republic of Korea does not permit dual citizenship after the age of 21. American citizens of Korean descent who hold dual citizenship under South Korean law and work or study in South Korea are usually compelled by the Republic of Korea to choose one or the other nationality soon after reaching that age.
In addition, South Korean men over the age of 18, including American citizens of Korean descent, are subject to compulsory military service. A dual national may not be allowed to abandon his ROK nationality until he finishes his military service, or has received a special exemption from military service. There have been several instances in which young American men of Korean descent, who were born and lived all of their lives in the United States, arrived in the ROK for a tourist visit only to find themselves drafted into the South Korean army.
http://seoul.usembassy.gov/dual_citizens_.html
The last thing the OP needs is a Korean citizenship. 20 years from now her 18 year old son visits the "Motherland" only to be drafted into the Korean Army because his mom is a Korean citizen and his relative put his name into the Korean National Registry. |
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acousticlive
Joined: 15 Jun 2007
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| Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2007 8:54 pm Post subject: |
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| Thank you all so much for the information! I admit that obtaining citizenship is tempting, but it seems the F4 visa has similar perks to citizenship (at least, the benefits that I'm interested in). |
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valkyrian2
Mod Team
Joined: 15 May 2007
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| Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2007 9:11 pm Post subject: |
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| acousticlive wrote: |
| Thank you all so much for the information! I admit that obtaining citizenship is tempting, but it seems the F4 visa has similar perks to citizenship (at least, the benefits that I'm interested in). |
It is not a matter of your choice.
A CITIZEN (or someone who qualifies as one) cannot get an F4 visa.
Your mom may (will) have to renounce her Korean citizenship BEFORE you can get an F4.
If she is NOT a US citizen (just a green card holder) she cannot renounce her Korean citizenship because then she would be stateless and not eligible to hold a greencard in the USA. |
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acousticlive
Joined: 15 Jun 2007
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| Posted: Sat Jul 14, 2007 9:20 pm Post subject: |
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| valkyrian2 wrote: |
It is not a matter of your choice.
A CITIZEN (or someone who qualifies as one) cannot get an F4 visa.
Your mom may (will) have to renounce her Korean citizenship BEFORE you can get an F4.
If she is NOT a US citizen (just a green card holder) she cannot renounce her Korean citizenship because then she would be stateless and not eligible to hold a greencard in the USA. |
Thanks for clearing that up. |
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