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Permalink Reply by Steven S. Bammel on January 6, 2011 at 10:22am

There are several angles to answering this question....

 

1. Marry a Korean and the process is super easy. As you mentioned, money will solve things too (I think it's US$100,000, not $500,000 though, isn't it?) Otherwise...

 

2. ... you're stuck with the points system. Interestingly, I had checked out the points approach first and found out that even though I had enough to quality on that basis, it didn't matter because I was on a student visa and you can't go directly from student visa to permanent residency no matter how many points you have.

 

3. It's possible to learn Korean adequately without attending one of the language courses in the big city. I did it and others have too. Pick up a book, hire a college student as a tutor and then study like crazy for a couple years.

 

4. Even if you don't have the Korean ability for the test, you can earn your points another way. Just pick up the points guide at immigration and see how many you get. I think you have to have 80 so if you're short, look at what you have to do to get more. Even without reaching an advanced level in Korean, you could still study toward beginner or intermediate level and get some, but not all, of the available points that way.

 

In the end, it's not a matter of deciding whether or not to "ask" for permanent residency. Once you quality, you can apply and get it.

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Permalink Reply by Narayanan Kannan on January 6, 2011 at 10:30am

Thanks! I'm not aware of the point system you mention. I've indeed attended Korean classes organized by Geoje City Hall thrice. Will that earn some points? Currently, I'm attending a Korean Class organized by a local church. In spite of a large foreign population in this island, Korean learning possibilities are pretty less. At times, I wish I live in Seoul!

The Hi Korea pages inform that if we deposit US$500,000 and employ 5 Koreans in our business, permant residency is given without questions!

It is time that I need to extend my annual visa in Korea. This thought came to me.

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Permalink Reply by Lara Tosh on January 6, 2011 at 11:06am

Steven gives great advice -When you go to the Immigration Office to renew your visa, ask for the point guide & see how many moe points you need.

 

Actually, go in with your resume & proof of employment and ask the immigration officer if you qualify.

 

Someone with your career & your level of education is likely not too far away from the magic number of points (80) ^.^

 

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Narayanan Kannan on January 6, 2011 at 11:09am

Lara, that's encouraging :-) Monday, I plan to visit the local immigration office. Let me check with the officer. Hope luck prevails ;-)

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Permalink Reply by Simon Hoggett on January 7, 2011 at 10:56am

Sometimes a quick search on the internet helps too :)

 

Below is a breakdown of the points system. (Which I've summarized from the original article)

Link to Original Article

 

You need 80 points out of a possible 120 points to get the visa, and you MUST have an E-series visa for at least one year before applying for the F-series visa.

Age  (maximum 25 points)
18-24 years old = 15 points
25-29 years old = 20 points
30-34 years old = 25 points
35-39 years old = 20 points
40-44 years old = 10 points
45-50 years old = 8 points
51 or older = 5 points

Academics (maximum 35 points)
Associates degree = 5 points
Bachelor's degree = 10 points
2 or more Bachelor's degree = 15 points
Master's degree = 20 points
2 or more Master's degrees = 25 points
Ph.D degree = 30 points
2 or more Ph.D. degrees = 35 points

Korean proficiency (maximum 20 points)
General Comprehension = 5 points
Topic Comprehension = 10 points
Sufficient Level for Everyday Life = 20 points

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

 

Korea Social Integration (maximum 30 points)

Social Integration Program = 10 points.

 

Studies in Korea:

Korean language certificate = 1 point
B.A. = 1 point
M.A. = 5 points
Ph.D. = 10 points

Domestic Community Service
Under 1 year = 1 point
1-2 years = 3 points
Over 2 years = 5 points

Overseas Work as a Specialist
1 year = 1 point
1-2 years = 3 points
Over 2 years = 5 points

As always things can be revised, but this is the best explanation that I found.

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Permalink Reply by Narayanan Kannan on January 7, 2011 at 11:16am

Simon:

wow..what a clarity!! This really helps. I've asked our secretary to help further. May be we need some certification. My old Korean teacher has agreed to prepare me for an exam, if needed. So I've decided to wait for sometime till I get all things cleared.

This community is Great! Thanks a lot.

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Permalink Reply by Narayanan Kannan on January 7, 2011 at 2:48pm

This information is available in English in a Korean Official site:

Gov’t launches point system for F-2 residence status


The point system form is available for download there. My calculation shows that I get 58 points. I can get the rest of 22 points if I know how to get points in 1. Social Integration (10 points), 2. Domestic Community service (max.5 points) 3. But I still need to work on my Korean to get a score of 10 or 20. I don't think it is easy to get the magic number 80. Well, you have to be young and earn well :-)

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Permalink Reply by Lara Tosh on January 7, 2011 at 5:32pm

Exactly ...and I'm at a total loss as to WHY that is ...as far as I'm concerned maturity is an asset & one's salary is usually commensurate with experience -which take TIME (ie: age) to accumulate.

 

I found the system frustrating as I read Simon's interpretation ...oh well, I suppose it's a start & I trust that improvements will follow in the near future ...if this country is trying to bolster their national "assests" by opening up residency, they are definitely shooting themselves in the foot with their agist policy (but it is consistent with how Korean currently treats it's citizens as they age as well).

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Narayanan Kannan on January 7, 2011 at 5:38pm

You are right Lara. I expected a gentle system like in Germany where if one completes 3 years of stay in Germany is eligible for permanent residency. Usually, if one submits proper papers it was stright forward without any exams or other hassels ;-) Why should it be so complicated here? Already, there is a gossip in my Institute that why should I apply for a permanent residency in Korea!!!

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Permalink Reply by Lara Tosh on January 7, 2011 at 6:06pm

Korea is definitely a differnt world^.~ ...things do change here rather rapidly, however.

 

re: the office gossip ...I'd interpret it positively:  they are likely in awe that you would consider affiliating yourself in a more deep way with their country^.~

 

Here's how I handle office gossip:  I address it by "joining in" and giving what's being said my DIRECT input & spread the "spin" that I wish to give  -I talk to EVERYONE directly ^.^

 

...they usually learn after that to speak to me directly if any future "outbreaks" (of gossip) occur ^.^

 

 

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Permalink Reply by Simon Hoggett on January 7, 2011 at 8:41pm

Narayanan,

 

I am not sure how to get your Domestic Community Service verified/approved, but I can tell you about the Social Integration program. From time to time, immigration sends me an invitation to take the social integration course;  but I'm working during the times the courses are offered. Maybe I'll take it one of these times. It might be interesting.

 

As to your Korean classes, I think to get a certificate you might need to attend an approved institute in order to get credited with points.

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Permalink Reply by Narayanan Kannan on January 10, 2011 at 9:20am

Thanks Lora and Simon for your tips!

I don't think I can make it to 80 points without mastering Korean or getting younger by age!! :-)

So I think the gossip will end on its own!

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