3. Detailed Procedure for Granting Overseas Korean (F-4) status

3. Detailed Procedure for Granting Overseas Korean (F-4) status

If a Korean-Chinese wants to enter Korea under Overseas Korean status, detailed Procedures for visa issuance and immigration control are as follows.

A. Eligible Applicants for an Overseas Korean (F-4) Visa

○ You used to be a Korean national, but you lost your citizenship after acquiring a foreign nationality.

○ Either of your parents/grand parents was a Korean national and acquired a foreign nationality.

B. Procedure for Overseas Korean (F-4) visa issuance

□ Required documents for an Overseas Koreans visa application are as follows.

○ If those identified by the standard below are unable to submit certificates of their family relations, then they can submit a population register, resident register, or birth certificate to prove that they are indeed Overseas Koreans.

□ Additional Documents for Specific Visa Codes for Overseas Koreans Visas are as follows.

Eligible Applicants	Supplementary Documents
①You have stayed in Korea for at least 6 months on Cultural Arts(D-1), Journalism(D-5) Trade Management(D-9), Professorship(E-1), and Non-professional Employment(E-7) visas.	• No supplementary documents are required.
② You have a bachelor's degree in engineering from a Korean university, a graduate of university in․outside of Korea or a student invited by the government including the National Institute for International Education.   󰁾 CONTENTS	• Proof of enrollment or a diploma • Any documents proving that you are a student invited by the government.
③ You are a permanent resident of any OECD country.	• You need a document issued by a respective organization to prove that you are a permanent resident of the respective country.
④ The CEO and Executives and Management Staff - Only 2 people among executives and management staff in a corporation can be given overseas Koreans status. ※ Granting Overseas Koreans status to the CEO, executives or employees of a corporation is limited to the companies that have been established for at least one year. Also, only those executives who have been employed for at least 6 months or management staff who have been employed for at least a year will be given Overseas Koreans status.	• If you are the CEO or a corporate executive, - you need to submit official documents equivalent to a business registration of your company issued by your country, proof of employment and an oath to non-employment. • If you are an employee of a corporation, - A copy of domestic residential address card for the CEO of the company or a copy of Overseas Koreans (F-4) visa issuance details, a business registration of your company, a proof of employment, a personal reference from the CEO of a corporation and an oath to non-employment ※ In case the CEO is not receiving the Overseas Koreans visa, then Overseas Koreans visas will be issued to employees who have applied with their CEO.
⑤ A business owned by an individual whose sales was worth more than $100,000 in the previous year. (The CEO of personal business)   󰁾 CONTENTS	• Certificates equivalent to business registrations such as sales results, operation weaving and etc.
⑥ Executives of multinational corporations, Executives of media companies or Journalists, Lawyers, Accountants, Doctors, First level Recognized by the government of the respective country (equivalent to a university professor)▪Second level(equivalent to an associate professor of a university) Artists, Industrial R&D Researcher, Agriculture Technician at the Intermediate level, Advanced Technician of a ship or a flight (private airline)	• Proof of enrollment and a copy of business registration of your affiliated association or other certificates for jobs • if you are an Agriculture technician, an inter-mediate level of certificate in professional skill is required. If you are an advanced technician for a ship or a flight (private airline), then you need relevant certifications to prove your qualifications.
⑦ The President or the Vice President of an overseas Korean support group recognized by the host country, or of a cultural․artistic Associations. - For a single groups, maximum number of employees and members eligible to overseas Koreans visas is 10. ※ Overseas Koreans support groups refer to government-registered overseas Korean associations, including the regional Korean-Chinese Business Owner Association, the World's Korean Trade Association, Yeonbyeon Korean-Chinese Self-Governing Province Artist Association, Yeonbyeon Korean-Chinese Traditional Culinary Association, Beijing Korean Culture and Economy Research Association, and others. - For domestic overseas Korean support groups, two employees are allowed per each group. ※ For employees, the visa issuance is limited to those who have been employed for at least 1 year at international overseas Koreans groups. (excluding domestic overseas Koreans support groups)	• Proof of Registration and proof of employment of your association <Employees or Members of International Overseas Koreans Support Group> - Business registration, Current Statistics of an Association, recommendation from Overseas Koreans Groups, Proof of Employment, Oath of Non-Employment <Employees of Domestic Overseas Koreans Support Groups> - Business Registration of the associations, recommendation letter from the chair of the Overseas Koreans associations, Proof of Employment, An Oath of unemployment
⑧ Former․Current Member of the National Assembly, Civil Servant with at least 5 years of public service experiences and a worker at a public company.	• Proof of employment
⑨ Professor (including an associate professor and a lecturer), teacher at middle․high school or elementary school	• Proof of employment, Appointment Letter from the host country or Lecturers Certificates for middle and high schools, Certificate of Teacher
⑩ Someone who wants to open and run a new business in Korea (Your visa status is irrelevant at the time of your application.)	• Documents proving that he/she has invested ₩100,000,000 or more into Korea Ex) Investment Corporation Business Registration Application, Wire Transfer Receipt, Foreign Exchanges Receipt Certificate of exchange rates and usages, a business venue lease contract and statement of deposit remittance ※ If your assets / profits are formed in Korea, then you do not have to submit the investment corporation business registration application.
⑪ You are on a working visit visa, and you have worked at the same place for at least 2 years, in industries such as baby sitting, agriculture, livestock, fishery, local manufacturing, and etc. (please refer to p.45)(F-4-24)	• Any documents that can prove your place of employments as well as employment relations for the past 2 years (ex. employment Income receipt), copy of business registration, copy of training certificate (for baby sitters only)
⑫ Overseas Korean under age 60 (F-4-25) ※ Not including pure tourism	• Eligibility will be checked by an overseas Korean document proof
⑬ Those who came to Korea before the Korea-China relationship was established, who obtained a special sojourn permit and visa, and who is currently staying as a Working Visiter (F-4-26)	• Eligibility will be checked through the immigration information system
⑭ Those who acquired national skill licenses (technician or above) accredited by the Korean government (NOT including skills related to construction or for Metal Joinery or those who acquired the license before 2013) (F-4-27)	• Please submit the original copy for the copy of license

 

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※ Among those listed above, F-4 Overseas Korean status will be granted to only graduates of a Korean university, registered alien (including past registrations), frequent travellers to Korea, and employees of domestic Overseas Koreans Support Groups, whose submitted documents can be either issued in Korea or verified by the immigration information system. These people are allowed to change their status in Korea, but visas of others must be issued at a diplomatic mission abroad.

※ ⑪ Baby Sitter Requirements

- Detailed Standards for Granting Sojourn Privileges to Those Who Have Completed Baby Sitter Training ○ Eligible Applicants: H-2 Work and Visit ○ Duration of Continuous Employment: After the completion of training, the applicant must work for the same employer for at least two consecutive years as a baby sitter. ※ (Calculation) Date of Work Commencement Declaration and Date of Employment Commencement Declaration (continuous employment), Employment Insurance or Salary Bankbook Account Balance History ○ Place of Employment: After the declaration of employment commencement, you can work for any household that has a child under age 10. ○ Privilege: F-4 Overseas Korean status will be granted ※ If the applicant meets requirements, such as employment commencement report before the training completion and continuous employment place, the prior work experiences will be included in the duration of continuous employment.

○ A multiple entry visa which is valid for 5 years and which the sojourn period lasts for 2 years will be issued.

□ A treatment of family members of someone on Overseas Korean (F-4) visas is as follows.

○ A spouse or an underage child of someone who has obtained Overseas Koreans visas will be granted Family Visitor (F-1) visas regardless of them being overseas Koreans.

※ Please note that only those whose family relations can be clearly verified by an official birth certificate or a family registration from their countries can enjoy such privileges mentioned above.

○ Those who have been given F-4 Overseas Korean status must submit a local domestic residential address report, a copy of visa issuance details (including a copy of passport), and an oath to non-employment, to prove that they are eligible overseas Koreans.

□ Following applicants will not be able to obtain Overseas Korean(F-4) visa status.

○ You are ineligible to apply if you have violated the immigration control act in the past 3 years and have been charged with fines worth of ₩2,000,000 or more OR have been ordered a deportation.

○ You have been sentenced to jail in the past 5 years.

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C. Procedure for Overseas Koreans Immigration Control

◈ Overseas Koreans who have entered Korea with the Overseas Korean (F-4) visa should report their resident addresses to a local immigration (branch) office. ◈ Immigration Control Procedures for those entered Korea on Overseas Koreans visas are as follows.

□ Those listed below are eligible to switch their status to an Overseas Korean.

Eligible Applicants	Required Documentation
1. You stayed in Korea for 30 days or less within the past 2 years with a single-entry visa (C-3～C-4) or an H-2 work and visit visa, and you have entered Korea for at least 10 times. Also, you stayed in a foreign country for at least 150 days every year in the past 3 years after you entered Korea on the H-2 visa. ☞ However, if you meet these conditions within the 1 year period, then you are not eligible under this category.	• An oath to non-employment
2. You have contributed to national interests of Korea while holding a working visit visa as below.
㉮ Someone working for at least 2 years at regional business places of Agriculture․Fisheries(including farming fishes)․ Manufacturing *‘Regions’ refer to areas outside of Seoul, Incheon, and parts of Kyung-gi province (a town․city of population 200,000) ※ Areas in the Kyung-gi province that are considered "region" (a town․city of population 200,000 or below): Yangju, Pochun, Dong-du cheon, Guri, Osan, Gwacheon, Euwang, Hanam, Ansung, Icheon, Yeojum Yeonchun, Gapyung, Yang Pyung ※ If you have altered your work place at your employer's faults, for example, the employer closed down the business, etc, your duration of work in the previous work place will be considered parts of the total employment duration. (if you have changed an employment field, then this will not be considered valid) ※ ‘Those who reported employment start report before July 31st, 2011 will be administered by the previous guideline	• Any documents proving your employment relations with your employer for the past 2 years (receipt for earned income tax withholding), a copy of business registration ※ The Ministry of Justice will examine whether the change in work place of the applicant was due to the close down of business by employer through the employment start report forwarded from the Ministry of Employment and Labor. ※ Please note that a caretaker or a household assistant has not been admitted since August 1st, 2011.
㉯ You are 60 years of age or older	• Documents proving that you are overseas Korean
3. You have entered Korea before the establishment of the Korea․China diplomatic relation with a special visa and you are currently staying in Korea with a working visit visa.	• Documents proving that you are overseas Korean
4. You have obtained a National Certified Technician License (higher than the technician's license - but the construction field is not included)	• A copy of your certificate (you need to submit an original copy as well, see enclosed form number 4)

○ Eligible applicants and required documentation

 

※ Those who have obtained Overseas Koreans visas through the streams 1-4 above are not allowed to invite their spouse or underage children by a family visitor (F-1) visa.

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○ You will be given maximum 3 years for the permitted period of change of visa status, from the date of change.

□ An Overseas Koreans(F-4) visa holder needs to get a permission for extension of sojourn period if he/she wants to stay in Korea longer.

○ By principle, the maximum length of stay is 3 years.

○ Please note that if you have violated koran laws in the past, you will not be able to get a permission to extend your sojourn period in Korea.

○ Following documents need to be submitted for applying for extension of your sojourn period.

- Application and fee (₩60,000 with stamp)

※ If you are caught being engaged in the simple labor service, then you will be prohibited from receiving a permission for extension of sojourn period, and you will be ordered to leave the country.

□ The range of employment activities of Overseas Korean (F-4) visas holders is as follows.

○ The Overseas Koreans(F-4) visa holder is not allowed to get a job in the following conditions.

- You are engaged in a simple labor service (Please see the enclosed form number 2)

- You are engaged in activities against virtuous public customs and order such as speculation

- Other cases involved with subjective judgments when your activities are considered somethings against collective interests or domestic public order on employment, which the necessity of limiting applicants is recognized by the Ministry of Justice.

○ Excluding the circumstances mentioned above, everyone has an equal chance of getting a job and being engaged into employment activities.

※ However, even if your employment activities are allowed by principle, if Koreans Laws require particular qualifications or a set of skills to get a particular position, then you have to possess those qualities to work.