New Requirements for Current F-2s

I have an F-2 visa and heard there will be some new requirements for those who want to renew their visas. A local hagwon owner told me she attended an informational government meeting today and said that new legislation was passed that will make things harder for F-2s to renew.

According to her, current F-2s will need to jump through the same hoops as E-2s (updated appostilled criminal background checks, notarized diploma copies or whatever else they are asking for this year, as well as an updated medical examination and local criminal check) when it comes time to renew their visas or sign a contract for a new job. The new rules will apparently go into effect at the end of November.

Anyone else heard of this or have any information? 

Re: New Requirements for Current F-2s

SO....you have to be a college grad to be a spouse to a Korean national now?  lol.  That's crazy.   An F2 visa isn't a working visa, per se, so how could they justify demanding that an applicant have any kind of qualifications...let alone a Bachelor's degree?

I could see a criminal background check happening...that doesn't sound that crazy. 

So according to your boss...in order to legally reside in Korea as a spouse of a Korean national, you have to be a holder of a university degree?  That's the biggest load of crap I've ever heard...whether it be true or not.

Re: New Requirements for Current F-2s

The proposed "new" regulations come from the Ministry of Education not Immigration.  You will be able to renew your F2 without these documents.  If you don't teach these changes won't affect you.

However if you teach you will be required to provide a criminal background check,  your passport, ARC and degree.

It has always been a legal requirement that hagwons teachers must have completed at least 2 years of university whether they be Korean or foreign.  No change there.

Most hagwons in the past haven't registered F-visa teachers with the local education office.  There are now larger penalties if they don't register teachers.

 

Re: New Requirements for Current F-2s

thanks for the responses. T_B_T how did you find out about the details? Is there a link you can post because I can't seem to find anything.  

As most the F-2s I know are teachers, it seems like this will affect a lot of people.  With the turn around time on the criminal background checks, this could cause a lot of scrambling.  I found a good link for anyone who will need to do this: 

http://kasham.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/guide-to-getting-your-fbi-criminal-background-check-while-in-korea/

 

Re: New Requirements for Current F-2s

I got my F2 after the policy changes last April, which means I had to have an apostilled copy of my criminal check for the actual visa, so I think I'm really getting screwed. The embassy in the states kept the original. So, what? Now I have to get an additional FBI check to keep my PT gigs. That's insanity. I'll be calling them tomorrow to see what I need to do to get my original copy back. Seems like it'd be a lot easier if all F-2 visas had to have the FBI, which is what I was told, that way you don't have to run around with the document in hand. Insanity.

Re: New Requirements for Current F-2s

Technically, every person teaching in Korea-be it hagwon, public school, camp, whatever--both Korean nationals and non-Koreans--has to be registered with the Dept. of Education. What this has meant in the past is that dirctors/principals have had to submit copies of diplomas and ID cards/ARCs (sometimes passports) to the Dept. of Ed. whenever they employ a teacher.

From what I've been getting off other forums and blog posts is that because there have been "problems" with teachers hired in the past (ie: the F4 guy who was teaching here and wanted for murder in the States) the Dept. of Ed. will soon be requiring criminal background checks as well for people employed as teachers--again, regardless of nationality.

This has been an issue at my university. In the past E2s have had to submit one CBC to immy for their visas and a second copy to the school. F2 and F4 visa holders have only had to get one copy for the school (not for immy) but they have had to do it. Seems like they're going national with this.

This potential new requirement is not related to your visa or immigration. It's a Dept. of Ed. thing, and what it ends up being is duplicate bureaucratic documentation, especially for E2s. It's possible that they will have to submit once copy of docs to immy for their visa and a second copy of their docs to the Dept. of Ed. if this rule comes down from above. Ugh.

Also, technically again, for every PT gig an F2 works, they are supposed to be registered, for every gig, at the Dept. of Ed. So, if the hagwons you've been teaching at are doing it right, you should have had to have submitted your docs for each hagwon. The schools basically have chosen not to register you properly. They're trying to crack down on this in the future AND adding the CBC to the mix as well.

If this actually goes through (and I haven't seen a timeline for this anywhere but from where dcross posted November) there will be leeway to the timeline. Every time the gov't demands new paperwork from foreign workers, they say they want it "now", then realize that it takes a while, and either pushes the deadline, or gives a bit of a grace period.

If your record is clean, I wouldn't worry about the timeline. You may need to submit proof of processing but you most likely won't lose your job while waiting for the CBC.

 

Re: New Requirements for Current F-2s

 From what I have heard: f visas should register with D of  E for full time or part time roles - this includes submitting Uni documents and a local criminal check. I do not think they have to be aposilised.You should be a registered tutor for private work. Two ways to do that with D of E.

Re: New Requirements for Current F-2s

Are you saying that they have had to submit a criminal check or will have to submit it? I have never had to submit a criminal background check so far. Also, I have never submitted uni documents personally to the Dept. of Education, whether or not my employers have done that, I don't know.

Re: New Requirements for Current F-2s

So there's nothing new here except that they're going to start cracking down harder.  It's always been the  case that regardless of visa type or immigration status that you had to hold a Bachelors in order to teach...public or private.

AND it's also been the case that tutor's had to be registered and cannot hold the profession of both a teacher at an institution and do tutoring at the same time.  In other words, you can't teach at a hagwon or a school and be a private tutor at the same time...LEGALLY.

Doubt it really does anything to stop it, though.

Re: New Requirements for Current F-2s

I live in Gangneung, Gangwon-do and accidentally overstayed my F-2 visa, it expired over Chuseok. I got a call from the immigration office in Donghae and was told I would have to pay a 200,000 won fine. I didn't have to submit any documents from my end, all that was needed was our Korean family document which my wife picked up from our neighborhood town office. 

Since we have a child now, my new visa is good for 3 years!

Re: New Requirements for Current F-2s

so many hoops to jump through. and for what? here's wishing china hacks immy-ungracious, sending them back to the dark ages...oh wait, they are in the dark ages

. oh well then, here's hoping y'all with F visas have few headaches while sticking it to the man.

 

Re: New Requirements for Current F-2s

Are there any more updates with this? I know Dcross and we heard the news from the same source, -my director, who said that today was the start date for this policy....although i have still to hear anything about it. Also, is it being said to many people, or just a few? (As it was myself it was originally said to. - UK citizen on F2)

 

p.s. the MOE representative told my director (while ont he phone) that "it would be easier to just hire an E2"..yeah, thats pretty much EXACTLY what they seid to her. Discusting approach to take during official advice if not anytime.

 

So is it that marrying a foreigner is now being discouraged? (my wifes opinion of it)....anyways, any updates would be great guys n gals.

Re: New Requirements for Current F-2s

I'm on an F-2, and I work at five different establishments teaching.

About three weeks ago, I was asked for a local criminal record check, copy of my degree and CV at one place. On Monday I was asked by another school to supply a copy of my degree and alien card.

Today, at another school, I was asked for documents, but not completely sure what ones as my boss doesn't speak English and my korean isn't so hot.  It would appear that I've been asked for a criminal record check (my wife doesn't know if it's a local or a UK one required), a health check with a drugs check, and my degree (my wife doesn't know if it should be apostilled etc, it doesn't specify). The information my wife read seems quite vague. Anybody else been approached today?

I think the DoE has had over 15 copies of my degree so far, and likewise for my alien card.

Re: New Requirements for Current F-2s

Wow this is getting a lot of play.

4 Months ago I went to imi to get my card, No Background, no crim check, just the family docs, a pic and the fee.

In SF where I got my original F-2(must be done in your country of origin, I was told, then transferred to Korea) no crim check...

At my job, did not need anything apostiled, just an a copy of my original degree's, said it was not for imi, just to have on file for their own documentation.

If you are an F-2, you should have a Korean spouse... just have them call immigration(sounds strange right) and find out the truth(same with Ministry of Education)...

Why bother listening to the Hagwon owners who have been lying for ages...lol this thread is funny.

 

That said, I completely expect to get a background check and degree's apostiled next time I go home, might as well have them on hand since Korea is becoming more difficult to work with...

Re: New Requirements for Current F-2s

This thread is pretty old, but I thought I'd update everyone on my nightmare. My wife and I got married in the US in 2010. Last March we decided to come back to Korea. I went about getting my F2 from the consulate in Houston. They had me submit everything in March, minus the FBI check. I was told it wasn't necessary. I went in to pick up my tour visa in April because they said I could transfer it over to my F2. I went in on April 2nd. When I got there, they informed me that the policy changed and I needed my FBI check. Well, since that takes 3+ months, and I was planning to leave, we complained, which did no good... Until, we called the ministry of justice. I was admitted and given my visa under the old statutes, but I went ahead and got the check and submitted it in August. It was never returned as they said it would be. Well, it's true. You need it now. So much so that I have almost lost my hagwon and lost several part-time gigs. I have repeatedly been told that immigration should be able to print and notarize a copy of the FBI check, but the offices have no record of my check. Houston won't send it back, and I even had my lawyer call. Now, I'm getting a duplicate, but it'll take 3 months and I might have to go without legally working. Anyway, that's my horror story.

Re: New Requirements for Current F-2s

You should apply for a new FBI check every 6 months, not only does Immigration require it but now the Ministry of Education is requiring it as well and the two offices don't work together...so you'll need a new one for both. The immigration officers are sometimes quite incompetent and don't follow procedure as other officers might.

 

Re: New Requirements for Current F-2s

Well, we got it figured out, but I've never experienced anything so aggravating in all my life. We were able to get a copy, and I'm re-applying for another one (probably two) to carry around. What we've been told by Education office, Immigration office, and Korean Consulate is that if you're documentation is processed in Korea, then all that is required is obtaining a copy from your local immigration office. That is, if they haven't lost it. So, the best bet is to have one to hold onto, because, thus far, none of the Education offices have kept my docs. They return them. Good news, I successfully demoted an incompetent employee at the Houston consulate, who not only screwed up my documentation, but cost me more than $500 in expenses, and then tried to bribe me... Very nice. 

Re: New Requirements for Current F-2s

Well, we got it figured out, but I've never experienced anything so aggravating in all my life. We were able to get a copy, and I'm re-applying for another one (probably two) to carry around. What we've been told by Education office, Immigration office, and Korean Consulate is that if you're documentation is processed in Korea, then all that is required is obtaining a copy from your local immigration office. That is, if they haven't lost it. So, the best bet is to have one to hold onto, because, thus far, none of the Education offices have kept my docs. They return them. Good news, I successfully demoted an incompetent employee at the Houston consulate, who not only screwed up my documentation, but cost me more than $500 in expenses, and then tried to bribe me... Very nice. 

Re: New Requirements for Current F-2s

You should apply for a new FBI check every 6 months, not only does Immigration require it but now the Ministry of Education is requiring it as well and the two offices don't work together...so you'll need a new one for both. The immigration officers are sometimes quite incompetent and don't follow procedure as other officers might.

 

Re: New Requirements for Current F-2s

Yes i  heard  that  F 2  need a  drug test       now      The drug testing of E 2s is a joke   A drug test  is only real  when it is a random test   they  should give the drug test to e 2 s on a random basis   You never tell a person when they are talking a drug test   Now    F 2   should sudmit a drug test to the eduacation board

Re: New Requirements for Current F-2s

Stained F 2 Visa ?  The F 2 visa  has been stained  by some bad actions of some teachers . and by the actions of Korean men ordering mail order brides   They also come under the F 2 visa    there has been some domestic problems with the mail oder brides and the horrible story of a young lady age 21 from vietnam  was murdered by her husband after a week in Korea He was near 50 . Femamale actoin groups have pressured the government to make it harder for people to order a mail order bride Its best to remmber when you think about an f 2 visa its not only a teacher married to a korean but a korean farmer who has brought in a mail order bride  . 

Re: New Requirements for Current F-2s

Another point here that really makes this even more frustrating is that perhaps these new requirements are being made in order to get better teachers or prevent future problems.  Well then what is being done to protect the teachers?  Remember all the stories which we have heard about how a hagwon or school cheated someone, a foreigner usually, out of money, housing or a ticket?  Yes is the Ministry of Education doing anything to prevent this or are there any better ways for reporting such things? 

Re: New Requirements for Current F-2s

Just an update: 

A copy of my FBI check sufficed in Yangsan, but would not work in Daegu, where I am currently living. The reason: it was more than 6 months old. So, word to the wise, if you're looking to change full-time gigs, you're going to need a new FBI check every 6 months. Otherwise, it's likely to be refused. I had posted a few months back that my copied FBI check worked out; however, the hagwon I was working at never actually registered me. So, last week, when I quit my hagwon, I was notified by the education office that I had no documents on file and that I had never actually worked at this particular hagwon. If the education office would've received my docs 6 months ago, I would already be in the system, which is great, but they said I would still need an updated one when changing full-time jobs. Apparently, my hagwon considered my a part-time worker, so there was no need to register me. A lot of insanity and now I'm out of work until I can get an updated one. 

Re: New Requirements for Current F-2s

Hi,

An old topic. But some questions and irregularities.

I came to Korea in 2009; I did a seminar at KKW for 5th-6th Dan’s before moving in with my wife in Daejeon in December 09. I registered as a tutor in Feb or Mar after getting my f2 marriage visa. I submitted all of my degrees ENG, Teaching, Martial arts, but since 2010 I have never submitted a background check nor have I been asked for one. I doubt being an Army reservist and my last job was FBI and CIA Counter drug- Counter terrorism had anything to do with it. I have been registered at Several Hagwons though with YBM, No. I worked as a head teacher at the headquarters and traveled Daejeon teaching foreign head teachers how to do their job and training new teachers. I also worked for a company that let me Part time working at Uni’s teaching Toeic at 2 uni’s and Toeic seminars all around Korea. I have worked for Ee Bo Young and Pt at other school. Most registered me and paid into the pension though none gave be insurance or a house. I also have monthly pay slips (급여명세서) from all of my jobs and the 2 businesses I co-own and invested in.

Why have I never been required to present a CBC?

Does being a registered tutor and registered and hagwons not require it? Why am I special?

Does having a degree from Korea make it different?

Currently I only work at 1 uni doing morning classes, 1 company as an engineer and 1 company as a tutor but that's as 10pm I dont teach children exept at my hagwon and I am registeres there.

When I renewed my f2 visa recently they said I don’t need an f6 and f2 is better for me. I also applied for my f5 and an waiting to pick it up soon.