[tjg_marantz]

(I posted this on eslcafe but no answer yet, I am hoping that linking to an esl cafe thread is okay, if not, do feel free to remove the link)

In fererence to posts at: http://www.eslcafe.com/forums/korea/...pic.php?t=5677

The OP Radhagrrl asked about her husband who did not have a 4 year degree finding work in Korea. It kind of veered towards the end of the thread without a definitive answer. After some research I have found that dependants can work PT in Japan, in teaching even if they can find someone to hire them. What is the answer for Korea? Can a dependant work at all? Full-time, part-time, anytime? If yes, are they not allowed to work teaching jobs or is it fine if they can find someone who will hire them? Does anyone have the answer to this question?

I apologize in advance if this very answer has been given before, my extensive use of the FAQ and search functions did not turn up a definitive answer.

Thank you.

[Eric]

Quote tjg_marantz

What is the answer for Korea? Can a dependant work at all? Full-time, part-time, anytime? If yes, are they not allowed to work teaching jobs or is it fine if they can find someone who will hire them? Does anyone have the answer to this question?

This information is rather obscure and not so easy to get. Here is what I found. This is from the Ministry of Justice Immigration Bureau

F-1 Status (Visiting and Joining Families)

A. The Object of Visa Issuance
F-1 visa is granted to foreigners who wish to stay in Korea to visit their relatives, join their families, be supported by families, help household affairs or with other purposes corresponding to those above. This visa category involves the following individuals :

。who wish to help household affairs of diplomats stationed at foreign Embassy or Consulate ;
。who wish to temporarily stay with their families or relatives having A-1, A-2, A-3 status or having alien registration completed ;
。who wishes to stay for a long period of time without participating in employment activities ; and
。who has not been granted the F-2 status as a wife/child of Korean or a person having F-2 status.
。Korean-foreigner

B. Application and Required Documents

(1) Traditional Procedures

A foreigner shall make an application for a visa to a Korean Embassy or Consulate abroad and required documents are as follows:

ㅇ Passport
ㅇ Application form (refer to Annex 2)
ㅇ Required documents

① In the case of visiting their relatives or joining their families in Korea
- substantiating documents for verifying the relationship of families or relatives(e.g.: marriage certificate, birth certificate or a Korean family tree register)
- reference

* In the case of an adopted Korean-foreigner, a confirmation letter from an organization of adoption or statement of adoptive parents is required instead of a letter of reference.

② In the case of a housework assistant who wishes to help household affairs of diplomats stationed at foreign Embassy or Consulate
- official letter from foreign Embassy or Consulate
- employment contract
- copy of employer's diplomat ID Card

③ In the case of a foreigner student who is enrolled at elementary school, middle school or high school
- substantiating documents for entrance into a school or a certificate of studentship
- certificate of tax payment of the person responsible for supporting the student

※ If necessary, the chief of a Korean Embassy or Consulate abroad may ask an applicant to submit more documents than required.

(2) The Procedures in which a Certificate for Recognition of Visa Issuance is involved

ㅇ A certificate for recognition of visa issuance is issued to a person concerned in Korea(proxy) on the grounds of his application by the chief of a district or branch office. (Ujongbu, Ulsan, Donghae)
ㅇ A person concerned in Korea(proxy) sends the issued certificate by the chief of immigration office to the applicant abroad.
ㅇ An applicant(foreigner) applies for a visa to a Korean Embassy or Consulate with the above certificate, passport and application form.
ㅇ Required documents by a person concerned in Korea(proxy) are the same as those of traditional procedures. If necessary, the chief of a district or branch office may ask a proxy to submit more documents than required.

※ An applicant may ask to issue a certain visa which is not mandated to the chief of a Korean Embassy or Consulate abroad. However, in this case, the chief of a Korean Embassy or Consulate abroad shall get prior approval from the Minister of Justice.

C. The Standard of Visa Issuance

ㅇ The chief of a Korean Embassy or Consulate abroad may issue a single visa(F-1) with 1 year period of sojourn to individuals who are ① to visit their relatives or join their families in Korea and ② to help household affairs of diplomats stationed at foreign Embassy or Consulate without getting permission from the Minister of Justice (excluding China, Cuba and Macedonia).
ㅇ For an applicant from U.S.A. which has an agreement for multiple visas with the Republic of Korea, a multiple visa stipulated by the agreement will be issued(refer to Annex 6)

D. Visa Issuance

When the application is approved, the chief of a Korean Embassy or Consulate abroad shall affix a visa stamp in the passport of the applicant. On a visa stamp, there are the status of sojourn(F-1), period of stay(less than 2 years) and validity of a visa.




F-3 Status (Dependent Families)

A. The Object of Visa Issuance
An F-3 status may be granted to individuals who meet the following requirements :

(a) A spouse of a person who applies to one of D-1 status through E-7 status ;
(b) Children underage and unmarried of the person described in the above (a).


* However, individuals who are involved in D-3 status are excluded from this visa.

B. Application and Required Documents

(1) Traditional Procedures

A foreigner shall make an application for a visa to a Korean Embassy or Consulate abroad and required documents are as follows:

ㅇ Passport
ㅇ Application Form (refer to Annex 2)
ㅇ Required Documents
- substantiating documents for the relationship of families(e.g.: marriage certificate, birth certificate or Korean family tree register)
- certificate of inviter's employment and tax payment

※ If necessary, the chief of a Korean Embassy or Consulate abroad may ask an applicant to submit more documents than required.

(2) The Procedures in which a Certificate for Recognition of Visa Issuance is involved

ㅇ A certificate for recognition of visa issuance is issued to a person concerned in Korea(proxy) on the grounds of his application by the chief of a district or branch office. (Ujongbu, Ulsan, Donghae)
ㅇ A person concerned in Korea(proxy) sends the issued certificate by the chief of immigration office to the applicant abroad.
ㅇ An applicant(foreigner) applies for a visa to a Korean Embassy or Consulate with the above certificate, passport and application form.
ㅇ Required documents by a person concerned in Korea(proxy) are the same as those of traditional procedures. If necessary, the chief of a district or branch office may ask a proxy to submit more documents than required.

* An applicant may ask to issue a certain visa which is not mandated to the chief of a Korean Embassy or Consulate abroad. However, in this case, the chief of a Korean Embassy or Consulate abroad shall get prior approval from the Minister of Justice in advance.

C. The Standard of Visa Issuance

ㅇ The chief of a Korean Embassy or Consulate abroad may issue a single visa(F-3) with 1 year period of sojourn to individuals who are ① immediate family members of the holder of D-1 status through E-7 status(excluding D-3 status) and registered in Korea for the purpose of joining their families and ② accompanying immediate families with the holder of D-8 status without getting permission from the Minister of Justice of Korea. (China : refer to Annex 5,8, excluding Cuba and Macedonia)
ㅇ For an applicant whose country(U.S.A, Japan, etc) has an agreement for multiple visas with the Republic of Korea, a multiple visa stipulated by the agreement will be issued.

D. Visa Issuance

When the application is approved, the chief of a Korean Embassy or Consulate abroad shall affix a visa stamp in the passport of the applicant. On a visa stamp, there are the status of sojourn(F-3), period of stay(less than 2 years) and validity of a visa.

The F3 seems to be the visa you need and it doesn't say anything about NOT working like for the F1. I have friends who have an F4 visa and they are allowed to teach private lessons but must declare taxes. (I don't think they ever do but whatever)

If you go to the link for the Ministry of Justice and go near the bottom of the page you will find the F Status visas. Below that are G Status which might have some value to you as well. Something about a working holiday and being allowed to work though it doesn't seem to apply to americans.

It seems we keep having the same issues in our lives. I was interested in this issue as well and actually had this page bookmarked on my computer. Plus the traveling with pets thing.


Anyway. i hope this helps. its not definitive but it might be a bit more information than you have already required.

eric

[Eric]

Side note: If you get an F3 visa, private lesson work will probably be available. Most foreigners teach privates in Korea. Most don't have any problems. Just "keep it on the down low" and you shouldn't have any problems.

* sweet, never had the chance to say "keep it on the down low" before

[tjg_marantz]

Thank you very much for the information and link. I think I am really going to have to call the consulate on this one. I agree it says nothing about NOT working but it also doesn't say anything about being ABLE to work, hehe. I'd hate to be the one to test that law and fail

As for private lessons, being illegal, I am not thinking about doing any. I am more interested in what I can legally do as stated by a government official or website. Once I know that info for sure, I can see about all the "down low" stuff.

*just wanted to use it so there could be two posts in a row with it in there

[tjg_marantz]

Well after a bit more digging, I was wondering if you had any thoughts on this.

http://www.moj.go.kr/HP/ENG/eng_03/eng_306050.jsp

Under the section

A. Permission to Engage in Activities Other Than Permitted by the Status of Sojourn

Stated:

ㅇ The holder of F-1(visiting and joining families) or F-3(dependent families) status doesn't have to get additional permission for an education or language course below a high school level educational institute.

Does this mean someone on F-3 can TAKE high school courses and below or can TEACH high school courses and below. Talk about not too clear, wheeeee.

[Eric]

I think that is referring to studying in high school or below. But it's so vague that i couldn't say for sure.

[tjg_marantz]

Yeah, consulate calls will be made, heads will roll, worlds will crumble!!!

Euh, well, consulates will be called in any event

[little sage]

I found a really nice chart that summarizes all the different kinds of visas for entering Korea and which documents are required to get each visa. This is an American site and I'm not sure if the papers are exactly the same for other nationals, but I'm assuming it must be close.

Here is the link:
http://www.koreaembassyusa.org/visit...g_visatype.cfm

[Newbee]

Hi, I am new here and very interested in the F3 question. If you could tell me the answer consulate gave you, it would be great!!!!!!!!Many thanks.

Any one can tell me what happend after the Korean immigration forced the teachers to sign the verification form? And how they can find out a university degree is fake or right, please advise thanks.

[little sage]

Though I've been in Daejeon for all 6 of my teaching years and I've submitted my actual diploma to the immigration office in this city several times, including when applying for my work visa last December (2005), they still asked me to sign the verification form when I went in March to apply for my immigration card.

Basically, it's a form you sign promising that your diploma is real. There is a computer at the back of the office (in Daejeon) where you must look up your university on-line and give the immigration office the phone/fax number they need to contact your university directly. And they do contact your university directly.

I heard of one girl whose university "didn't have her on record". Needless to say, she had some big problems.

Karen

[Lauraeb]

Me and my fiance are thinking about moving to korea next year. He is korean and and i was wondering about the F2 visa. We will be married by the time we go, so will i be able to get an F2 visa as soon as i get there? will i be able to work even though i dont have a BA? Ive been teaching in china for 4 years but from what ive read experience doesnt matter, everything is about that degree.
Im very confused because i have read so many things that all say different things and Iam now a little worried about it all.
I will be grateful for any advise anyone can give me!!!