F-4 Visa
For the 1.5 and 2nd generation 교포 (gyopo), F-4 Visa allows us to go to Korea and work.
Today I got some of my documents ready to apply for my F-4
Visa. You can find out all about the F-4 Visa at the
Korean Consulate in LA. Also check out Mike's Blog for very important info regarding serving in the Korean military.
The only document I’m missing is 호적등본 (hojukdeungbon). And it needs to be less than 6 months old. I called the Consulate and asked how I could obtain this 호적등본 while residing in the U.S. The reply was that I could either have a relative in Korea obtain it for me and mail it to me or, I could fly out to Korea and obtain it myself. I could then apply for F-4 Visa while I’m in Korea. I decided on the 2nd approach. If you’re an American citizen, you can visit Korea without a Visa for up to 30 days.
One more thing. If you were born in Korea and immigrated to U.S. and then became a naturalized citizen, then chances are that your name is still on the 호적(hojuk) which technically means that you’re still a Korean citizen. However, Korea doesn’t recognize dual citizenship. Per Korean law, the day you became an American citizen, you automatically lost your Korean citizenship. The 호적(hojuk) just doesn’t reflect this fact. Therefore, when you apply for the F-4 Visa, you have to also file another document called 국적상실신고서 to report when and how you lost your Korean citizenship. After filing this, then your name gets erased from the 호적(hojuk).
Korean Military Service
Unlike our 2nd generation 교포(gyopo), 1.5 generations don’t have much problems with having to serve in the military. This is the explanation that I got from one of my 2nd generation cousins who had significant problems with this issue. If you were born in the U.S. and you registered your name on the 호적(hojuk), then the Korean government asks, what is your intention? Do you want to become an American? Or, do you want to be become a Korean? Therefore you have to go through a lot of legal hurdles.
However, if you were born in Korea, and then became a naturalized U.S. citizen (귀화), then this means that you denounced and lost your Korean citizenship. Therefore you do not need to serve in the Korean military. This is the general rule of thumb, but every situation is different.
(Legal disclaimer: I am not an attorney. I cannot be held liable for any unintended errors or interpretations. Please do your due diligence, verify this information and consult an attorney. You have been advised)
Today I got some of my documents ready to apply for my F-4
Visa. You can find out all about the F-4 Visa at the
Korean Consulate in LA. Also check out Mike's Blog for very important info regarding serving in the Korean military.
The only document I’m missing is 호적등본 (hojukdeungbon). And it needs to be less than 6 months old. I called the Consulate and asked how I could obtain this 호적등본 while residing in the U.S. The reply was that I could either have a relative in Korea obtain it for me and mail it to me or, I could fly out to Korea and obtain it myself. I could then apply for F-4 Visa while I’m in Korea. I decided on the 2nd approach. If you’re an American citizen, you can visit Korea without a Visa for up to 30 days.
One more thing. If you were born in Korea and immigrated to U.S. and then became a naturalized citizen, then chances are that your name is still on the 호적(hojuk) which technically means that you’re still a Korean citizen. However, Korea doesn’t recognize dual citizenship. Per Korean law, the day you became an American citizen, you automatically lost your Korean citizenship. The 호적(hojuk) just doesn’t reflect this fact. Therefore, when you apply for the F-4 Visa, you have to also file another document called 국적상실신고서 to report when and how you lost your Korean citizenship. After filing this, then your name gets erased from the 호적(hojuk).
Korean Military Service
Unlike our 2nd generation 교포(gyopo), 1.5 generations don’t have much problems with having to serve in the military. This is the explanation that I got from one of my 2nd generation cousins who had significant problems with this issue. If you were born in the U.S. and you registered your name on the 호적(hojuk), then the Korean government asks, what is your intention? Do you want to become an American? Or, do you want to be become a Korean? Therefore you have to go through a lot of legal hurdles.
However, if you were born in Korea, and then became a naturalized U.S. citizen (귀화), then this means that you denounced and lost your Korean citizenship. Therefore you do not need to serve in the Korean military. This is the general rule of thumb, but every situation is different.
(Legal disclaimer: I am not an attorney. I cannot be held liable for any unintended errors or interpretations. Please do your due diligence, verify this information and consult an attorney. You have been advised)
posted by Jonathan J. Kim at
2/25/2005 07:21:00 AM
3 Comments:
Hi Jonathan, I like your blog-lotsa good info, regarding American/Korean duality. My wife, Young Mi Kim, was born in Korea, and emigrated in 1969. We now live in San Francisco, and Young Mi went back last year for the 1st time since emigrating. I just received dual citizenship via my Irish grandfather (yes, I'm a honky). I was writing because I was curious, as is she, is there no way to get dual citizenship-American/Korean? She can piggyback on my Irish citizenship/passport and gain EU citizenship, but only if we live continuously in Ireland for three years, which we cannot do. Anyway, if you had any input we'd really appreciate it! You sound like a neat guy- and i think you've got a strong, clear writing style too. Keep up the good blogging brother and take care
your pal
Tim Talbot
talbs12@gmail.com
By
talbs12, at Friday, September 21, 2007 7:18:00 AM
Tim, thanks for the comments. As for your question, this is what I’ve found out when I was going through my F-4 Visa process about 2 1/2 years ago. Things may have changed but probably not.
As far as I found out, Korea does not allow dual citizenship whereas the United States allows it. As a matter of fact, I’ve met some Korean-Canadian gyopos who hold dual citizenship with Canada and the United States. However, this means that you are not allowed to hold a dual citizenship with Korea and the United States.
I know someone who was born in Korea as a Korean citizen, then became an American citizen losing his Korean citizenship and then went back to Korea to become a Korean citizen again. However, when this person became a Korea citizen again, he had to give up his American citizenship. As far as I know, you cannot get Korean citizenship without giving up your current citizenship.
I hope that helps.
By
Jonathan J. Kim, at Monday, September 24, 2007 12:30:00 AM
Hey, thanks for the info! I'm a 1.5gen gyopo, born as a US citizen. I was wondering if you knew whether I need the family registries for BOTH of my parents, or if just one side is sufficient? I'm asking because all of my father's family immigrated to the US, so there's no one left in Korea to obtain the family registry for me. :( Thanks in advance for any help you can give me. ^^*
By
yoori, at Wednesday, January 16, 2008 1:36:00 PM
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