F-2 Visa Option for E-series Visa Holders

by TSC Thu Jun 23, 2011 9:35 am

In January 2010, the Ministry of Justice announced* a new programme through which some E-series visa holders may be eligible to change their visa status to that of F2-S (permanent resident status).

Foreign nationals with permanent residency status (F2) have work flexibility that is similar to that of Korean nationals and are eligible to open a business without having to invest a minimum of W50million won in foreign currency.

The government has created a point system under which certain E-series visa holders (Professor:E-1, Foreign language teaching:E-2, Research:E-3, Technological guidance: E4, Profession: F-5, Specially designated activities: E-7 status*) may be eligible to get an F2 visa. Points are given in different categories including things like age, income, academic credentials, income, social integration and Korean language ability.

To get the F2-S visa, you must:
- have had an E-series visa for at least one year before applying
- reach at least 80 points our of a possible 120. Following is a summary of what is involved:

1. age (points vary depending on age-group - in this instance older is not necessarily better)

2. income (higher income brackets earn more points)

3. academic credientals (if your degree was done in Korea it is worth extra points)

4. Korean ability (have to take the S-TOPIK (test) - level achieved determines number of points)

5. Volunteer activity (proof is required - points assigned base on length of time given)

6. You can get an extra points for completing the Social Integration Program run by Immigration Services - developed in part for foreign spouses of Korean nationals (website in Korean only)

Specific information on each points category as well as an official translation of the Korean application points calcultation form are available here.
Each application may be assessed on its own merits, on a "case-by-case basis", by Ministry of Justice officials. Although not officially stated, it is unlikely that this upgrade was intended for E-2 visa holders.

by TSC Thu Jun 23, 2011 9:36 am

Requirements to Obtain F2-S Visa

Moving from an E-series visa to the new F2-S category visa is based on a point system. Applicants must have had their E-visa for at least one (1) year before applying for the 'upgrade' and must have a score of at least 80 points out of a possible 120. Following are details regarding the point system** (note that the point requirements for each category were updated sometime between Feb and Sept 2010*:

Age - (maximum 25 points)
18-24 years old = 20 points
25-29 years old = 23 points
30-34 years old = 25 points
35-39 years old = 23 points
40-44 years old = 20 points
45-50 years old = 18 points
51 or older = 15 points

Academics (maximum 35 points)
Graduate from Junior College (more than 2 yrs course) = 25 points
Bachelor's degree = 26 points
2 or more Bachelor's degree = 28 points
Master's degree = 30 points
2 or more Master's degrees = 32 points
Ph.D degree = 33 points
2 or more Ph.D. degrees = 35 points

Korean proficiency (maximum 20 points)*
General Comprehension/Basic Communication =10 points
Topic Comprehension/Communicates well in Familiar Subject = 15 points
Proficient Communication for Everyday Life = 20 points
(*based on results of S-TOPIK, the Standard Test Of Proficiency in Korean)

Yearly income (maximum 10 points)
Under 35,000,000 won / year = 5 points
35,000,000 - 50,000,000 won / year = 6 points
50,000,000 - 80,000,000 won / year = 7 points
80,000,000 - 100,000,000 won / year = 8 points
100,000,000 won or more / year = 10 points
(no change in income section)

Additional Categories:

Completion of Social Integration Program = 10 points.

Korean Academic Studies *
A Korean language certificate = 1 point
B.A. = 3 point
M.A. = 5 points
Ph.D. = 10 points
(*certificate/degree earned in Korean institution)

Public Service in Korea *
Under 1 year = 1 point
1-2 years = 3 points
Over 2 years = 5 points
(*refers to volunteer work that can be credibly documented - no change in points in this category)

Overseas Work as a Specialist*
1 year = 1 point
1-2 years = 3 points
Over 2 years = 5 points
(*no definition of specialist included - no change in points in this category)

Deduction of Points:
There are also some penalties built into the point system for a maximum loss of 5 points. It appears that infractions by both dependents and the invited person are included.
illegal stay = loss of 1 point
noticed disposition (probably means some other legal infraction) = loss of 2 points