Guide Book For Foreign Spouses of Korean Nationals

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Preface
Korea is changing rapidly from the traditional
homogeneous society to the multi-racial
heterogeneous society in line with the increasing
international personal exchange. Marriage-immigrants'
families stand in the heart of this change.
As of Oct. 30. 2006. there are 90,210
foreigners (except those naturalized) married to
Korean nationals in this country. It is remarkable
that the number of intenational marriage reached
up to 13.6% of all the marriages in Korea, 2005.
In the midst of such a change, many marriage-immigrants well integrate into
Korean society, but some fail to settle down in the new environment because
they have to face so many difficulties : differences in language, culture, way of
living and lack of information, friends, support organizations.
I'm confident that the settling down is not solely the marriage-couple's job,
but some should be shouldered by the government, civil society, and citizens
alike.
Thus, the Seoul Immigration Office organized conventions for interracial
families four times throughout Seoul city and its satellite cities in
August-September, 2006, under the title, " I with U ". Through the I with U
(Immigration with You) convention, the Office encouraged the immigrants to form
a network for helping each other, and initiated public support network jointly run
by public entities and NGOs. Besides, the Office distributed Korean guidebook for
international-marriage couple at that time.
Now, I'm very pleased to inform that we translated the Korean guidebook into
the multi-language version and come to publish it. The languages include English,
Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, Thai, Mongolian, and Russian. I wish the
multi-language guidebook would help marriage-immigrants obtain useful informa
tion more easily so that they could successfully settle down in Korea.
To marriage-immigrants,
I'd like to take this opportunity to remind you of two such cases. They are
golfing hero Tiger Woods, and Hines Ward, the hero of the super-ball games.
Both of them, who were born to interracial marriage, have become leaders who
everybody respect, making the most of their society's diversity. I hope you and
your family set such a good role model in Korea. The diversities your family is
making now could be a blessing to Korea in the future.
I think each of you arrived in Korea with precious dreams. My wish is for
you to have a happy family life and to realize your dreams in Korea. The Seoul
Immigration Office is always with you, until your dreams come true.
I with U, Immigraion with You ! Thank you.
Nov. 30. 2006
Min Kwang-sik
The Chief of the Seoul Immigration Office
CONGRATULATORY MESSAGE BY
H.E. SUSAN O. CASTRENCE
I wish to congratulate the Seoul Immigration Office for

successfully coming up with this invaluable English brochure
for foreign spouses of Korean nationals. This publication will
no doubt help many Filipinos to be more aware of their
rights and privileges and facilitate an easier integration into Korean society.
I am proud of the close cooperation between the Embassy of the Philippines
and the Seoul Immigration Office. Being a country that has approximately 50,000
of its nationals currently residing in South Korea, the Philippines Embassy actively
monitors their conditions and regards their welfare with utmost significance.
Regular consultations and an open relationship with the Immigration Office
therefore become mandatory in order to maintain a smooth working relationship
essential in the mutual protection of our respective countries' interests.
I have always been proud of the adaptability and strength of character of
Filipinos. Filipinos are in almost every corner of the world, living as students,
spouses or workers whose hard work is directed towards their families back home.
Many of those married to Korean nationals today enjoy successful marriages,
but there are also those who need support and help. I hope that this brochure
will help Filipino women, as well as women from other countries, better adjust to
life in Korea by providing useful information on the resources available at their
disposal and the institutions they can turn to for support.
To my kababayan, I wish to leave you with the reminder that knowledge of
relevant customs, laws and other practices will further empower you as
independent, strong-willed individuals and homemakers. I am confident that you
will meet the challenges of raising a multicultural family head on. We in the
Philippine Embassy will always be ready to assist you.
The Republic of the Philippines
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Contents
. Guide to immigration service
1. Concept of immigration service ·························································· 66
2. General information on residence ······················································ 67
3. Permission to stay of foreign spouses ··········································· 69
4. Invitation of families and relatives to Korea ·································· 72
5. Permanent residency by foreign spouses 75
6. Nationality and Naturalization 78
. Q & A on foreign spouses

Overview on the Seoul immigration office ······································ 84
Employment ····························································································· 89
Naturalization ··························································································· 97
Invitation of relatives ··········································································· 101
. Excerpts in Multi-languages
Chinese(中国) ························································································ 105
Japanese(日本) ····················································································· 109
Vietnamese ···························································································· 113
Monglian ································································································· 117
Thai ········································································································· 123
Russian ··································································································· 127
. Counselling organizations for foreign spouses ·················· 131
. Support programs by public entities ········································ 132
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Ⅰ. Guide to immigration service
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1. What is Immigration service

To secure national interest and social security, we exercise border control at
airports, harbors, and land
We also deal with such services as issuing pre-visa, alien registration,
residence permission, investigation into unlawful foreigners or immigration law
offenders, detention or removal of unlawful foreigners, refugee recognition,
naturalization, control on overseas Koreans staying in Korea, etc.
2. Entry of foreigner
○ Anyone who intends to enter Korea should have valid visa and passport
3. Stay of foreigner
○ Foreigners may stay only within their status of stay and period, but if they
engage in other activities without additional permission, they shall be
punished
○ If foreigners want to engage in vocations in Korea, they should possess the
relevant status of stay, and work at a designated place
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1. Residence procedure overview

○ Extension of period : 1 year granted each for the initial two years. Afterward,
2 years granted each time
○ Personal reference (guarantee) : maximum period of reference is 4 years
※ Where to find forms : http://www.immigration.go.kr→ download of application form
※ If necessary, immigration officers could demand more documents than those written
below
Classification Time to report Documents Fee
Apply for registration at a local application form (integrated form)

immigration office having the passport
Alien
jurisdiction over the place of your Korean family tree register 10,000
registration
stay, within 90days from entry resident register of Korean
date 2 color photos(3*4)
application form (integrated form)

Apply for permission to extend
passport, alien registration card
stay at a local Immigration office
Korean family tree register
Extension of within two month prior to
resident register of Korean 20,000
length of stay expiration date
reference(the form is furnished in
You should apply no later than
the immigration office, no need
expiration date
notary)
According to the Immigration

It is possible for a F-2-1 holder to
Enforcement Ordinance
engage in employment activities
Additional Revision(25.Sep,2005), F-2-1
without additional permit
activities under holders can engage in
employment without immigration's Still,If relevant laws other than N/A
current
status permit Immigration law require a certain
qualifications, those condition should
F-2-1 : a foreign spouse of a
be met
Korean national
When you move to a new

Report address, it is imperative to report
passport
on address the fact to an immigration office N/A
alien registration card
change or local governments(i.e. Si, Gun,
Gu) within 14 days after move
Classification Time to report, Documents Fee

In accordance with both Korean law and foreign law, the marriage should be
effective and be registered with the family tree register as a Korean's spouse
application form
passport
50,000
alien registration card
Report on ( 60,000,
family tree register of Korean (showing the fact of marriage)
change of w h e n
resident register of spouse
status alien card
effective marriage certificate issued from homeland country (marriage
re-issued)
certificate)
evidence of financial capacity(certificate of employment, the lease of house
contract, etc)
reference (by a Korean spouse)
if anyone temporarily leaves Korea, he/she needs to get "re-entry permit"
from any local or port immigration offices, prior to departure 30,000
required documents : passport, alien registration card, application form (single
Re-entry Korean's spouse can apply for multiple permit at an immigration office at journey)
permit airport / harbor
extension of re-entry permit : if one couldn't enter within re-entry deadline, it 50,000
is possible to extend the deadline within 15days at the overseas Korean (multiple)
embassies or consulates.
2. Alien registration
A. Carrying and presenting an alien registration card
○ Foreigners should always carry passport or alien card (except foreigners
under the age of 17 )
○ In the event that an Immigration officer, during his official duty, or a public
servant who has the relevant authority, ask you to present passport or alien
card, you must obey
B. Return the alien card
○ When leaving Korea finally, you should return your alien registration card to
an Immigration officer at air/sea ports
○ When you abandon your foreign nationality and acquire Korean nationality
(return the alien card to an immigration office within 14 days from the date
of nationality acquirement)
Otherwise, you will be fined
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1. General standard of sojourn permission

◦ If there is a need to confirm whether the couple live together or not, we
could demand attendance of Korean spouse before granting visa extension
◦ The holder of Residency status(F-2-1) is not restricted from employment
activities.
The foreigner in F-2-1 status can enjoy nearly full access to job opportunities in Korea.
However, employment is not allowed for F-1 status holders whose aims are to divide
property or settle household affairs
2. Visa extension in case of death or missing of Korean spouse

○ Required documents
- Reference : sponsor shall be altered from Korean spouse into a third party
with guarantee capacity, or a spouse's relative or an intimate friend
※ evidence documents of financial capacity : letter of employment, certificate of
tax payment, certificate of property tax payment, etc)
- Death certificate( substantiating death)
- Substantiating documents for the adjudication of missing in accordance with
Civil law article 27.
- Statement(supporting parents, rearing of children)
- Application documents
○ Permission procedures
- Permit to stay as F-2-1 status, after immigration's scrutinizing
3. Visa extension in case of divorcing with Korean spouse

① When causes of divorce lie in Korean side, or when you rear the children
who were born through the marriage, or support parents or families of
Korean spouse, we can permit F-2-1 status
② In case of property partition or household affairs settlement, we can change
your visa to F-1 status(visit or join families), until you solve the problem(less
than 2years)
- Reference : sponsor can be altered from Korean spouse into a third party
with guarantee capacity, or spouse's relatives or intimate friends.
Documentation of financial capacity : letter of employment, certificate of tax
payment, certificate of property tax payment, etc
- Documents proving divorce( divorce judgement letter, family tree register,

letter of divorce by mutual consent)
- Confirmation documents proving supporting children and families (letter of
neighbor's guarantee, confirmation of residents, judgement letter)
- Other documents which verify inevitable circumstances of domestic
stay(statement, etc)
4. Visa extension in case of being separated from Korean spouse

① When causes of separation lie in Korean side(example : Korean's
disappearance from home, violence, grave troubles at home, etc), or when
you rear the children who were born through the marriage, or support
parents or families of Korean spouse, we can permit F-2-1 status.
② When there is inevitable need to stay longer, such as filing a divorce suit or
settling household affairs, we can permit F-2-1 status every 3months and we
urges parties to solve the problem as soon as possible
- Reference : sponsor can be altered from a Korean spouse into a third party
with guarantee capacity, or spouse's relatives or intimate friends.
Documentation of financial capacity : letter of employment, certificate of tax

payment, certificate of property tax payment, etc)
- Evidence documents which verify reasons of separation

- Confirmation documents proving supporting children and family (letter of
neighbor's guarantee, confirmation of resident, judgement letter)
5. In case foreign spouse in G-1 status completed divorce lawsuit

○ In cases of disruption of marriage lie with Korean spouse, or when
,irrespective of cause of divorce, you rear the children who were born
through the marriage, we can allow change of status and visa extension with
F-2-1 status (period of stay: 1year) after field investigation by immigration
officers, in principle
- Reference : sponsor could be altered from a Korean spouse into a third
party with guarantee capacity, or spouse's relatives or intimate friends
Documentation of guarantee capacity : letter of employment, certificate of tax
payment, certificate of property payment, etc
- Evidence documents of divorce (divorce judgement letter, family tree register,

etc)
- Documents proving that you support children and families (letter of neighbor's
guarantee, confirmation of residents, ruling of divorce)
The I with U convention session 1 jointly organized by the

Seoul Immigration Office and Yeongdeungpo-gu Office on
Aug. 30. 2006.
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1. Application procedure
○ The foreigner who intends to enter Korea shall apply for his/her visa directly
at and get it issued from Korean embassy & consulate overseas
○ In some cases inviters in Korea could apply for visa issuance at immigration
offices, namely 'certificate for recognition of visa issuance' , which leads to a
pre-visa status
○ When foreigners want to visit Korea through pre-visa procedure, Inviters in
Korea should apply for pre-visa at local immigration office and notify the
serial number of pre-visa to foreigners abroad so that the foreigners inform
Korean embassy or consulates overseas of pre-visa issuance
2. The cases in which the Certificate for recognition of visa

issuance(= pre-visa) is available
○ In case that an ethnic Korean, who obtained Korean nationality, wants to
invite relatives ( within certain degree)
○ In case that an ethnic Korean, who has yet to obtain Korean nationality,
wants to invite his/her children ( under 20 years old)
○ The foreigner, who is given child custody and the fact is verified by the ruling
of divorce, enjoy the same procedure as the ethnic Korean does
3. Required documents
○ Application for certificate for recognition of visa issuance (pre-visa)
○ Invitation letter
○ Korean spouse's family tree register & resident registration transcript , copy of
Korean's identification card
○ Reference, and Color photo(3Cm × 4Cm)
○ Copy of passport, copy of residence certificate(in case of Chinese)
○ Original copy and duplicate of family population register(in case of Chinese)
○ Certificate proving relationship with the family, photos featuring family
○ Copy of alien registration card
(In case the inviter is a foreigner who has yet to get Korean nationality)
○ The letter of consent on invitation by Korean spouse
○ Certificate of divorce or ruling of divorce (infomation about child custody
included)
4. In the cases below you should apply for visa in Korean

Embassy & Consulate overseas
A. Mongolian relatives' visit
○ Documents needed for visa applicant
- application form for visa issuance

(color photo attached )
- copy of passport
- copy of I.D card(residence registration card, or driver's license)
- letter of employment(by emplyer) or a certificate of studentship(by school)
- certificate indicating all the family members
- letter of employment of sponsor with financial capability
(address or phone number of sponsor written)
- certificate of bank balance or bankbook copy of the sponsor with financial
capability
○ Documents needed for inviter's part
- notarized letter of invitation, reference, certificate of employment, written
pledge to guarantee invitee's return
- original copy of family tree register of inviter
ln case of marriage, wedding invitation letter, contract of wedding hall should be
added
B. Vietnamese relatives' visit

○ If Vietnamese spouse complete the alien registration, the father
(mother)-in-law could be invited by Korean spouse. However, in case there
are no parents alive in Vietnam, brothers or sisiters (older than 50) could
be invited
- invitation letter(Korean notary)
- reference (Korean notary)
- family tree register(officaial copy)
- copy of alien registration card of Vietnamese spouse
- photo featuring inviters & invitees
- birth certificate of Vietnamese spouse(English translation notary)
C. Filipino relatives' visit

- Korean family register issued within the latest 3months
- Copy of Korean's passport
- Copy of foreign spouse's passport
- NSO marriage certificate issued from Philippines government
- Invitation letter from Korean
D. Above-mentioned documents should be submitted to Korean Embassy

or Consulates overseas
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1. Who is eligible ?
○ Residency(F-2) status holders, who have been married and lived in Korea for
over two years, can apply for change of status to permanent residency(F-5)
status, while maintaining original nationality
2. Requirements
○ Korean's foreign spouse who has resided in Korea over 2 years with
Residency(F-2-1) status is eligible, on the condition that one of the followings
is satisfied :
○ The person who has been married to and lived with a Korean spouse
○ The person whose Korean spouse died or was acknowledged to disappear by
courts
○ The person, being under divorce or separation, who is able to prove that the
blame of the disruption lies with a Korean spouse
○ Even if the marriage no longer continues, the person who rear child(ren)
under 18, the offspring of the marriage
3. Documents required are as follows (except when additional

documents required by immigration officials)
O Universally required,
- Application(uniform form), Passport and alien registration card,
- Copies of spouse's family registration(indicating the fact of marriage) and resident
registration, fee ￦50,000
- Documents proving financial ability(Select one among following documents
indicating financial ability equivalent to ￦30 million) :
- Certificate of bank account under the name of applicant or applicant's family
members
- Copy of real estate registration
- Copy of house lease contract
- Certificate of employment of applicant or applicant's spouse
Those Japanese spouse who acquired F-2 status prior to Aug. 4. 2002, is immune
from submitting documents showing financial ability and a guarantee letter
O Required on a case by case basis

- In case of missing : Verdict of disappearance issued by court
- In case of divorce or separation due to Korean side's fault : Official documents
upholding foreign spouse's argument
- In case of rearing child under 17 who was born during their marriage : Family
registration of the child, resident registration, court's decision(divorce report and
confirmation), and confirmation letter written by a relative of Korean spouse or
a head of village( tong jang or ban jang )
4. How to calculate period of domestic residence

○ In principle, if you leave Korea before your sojourn period has expired, the
sojourn period ends and calculation of period begins all over again upon
re-entry. However, if you return to Korea with a re-entry permit ( issued for
trip overseas shorter than 3 month) and are recognized to have continuity in
residency, the periods you have lived in Korea before and after departure will
be summed up together
5. Those not qualified are as belows :

○ Those who violated Korean immigration law in the latest past of 3 years.
However, those who already paid fine causing from breach of duty of reports
or article 79 of immigration law can apply
○ Those sentenced confinement or more severe punishment
6. Privileges for permanent resident

○ Exempt from duty of extension of sojourn period
- No need to visit immigration office for extension of stay
○ Applicants who wishes to go abroad for shorter than 1 year, re-entry permit
is not needed. However, when applicants wishes to go abroad for more than
1 years, re-entry permit is required
○ Free economic activities are allowed
○ Immune from compulsory deportation except the following cases
- Committing treason stipulated in chapter 2 of Criminal act
- Being sentenced imprisonment or confinement more than 5 years
- Organizing, instigating, or helping illegal immigration or emigration en masse
○ In the case of 3 years' passing since obtaining permanent residency,
applicants have the right to vote in local elections. Hence, applicants may
elect city mayor, province governor, local assembly man. The first-ever
exercise of voting by such foreigners was realized on May 31. 2006.
7. The flow of permanent residency application and follow-ups

Application → screening and interview → field investigation (fact-finding) →
criminal record check → opinion submission by local immigrations to
headquarters → opinion gathering by the Justice Ministry (Division of Nationality
& Refugee ) → decision
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1. Preface
○ We investigate foreign spouses who applied naturalization, because disguised
marriages sometimes cause social problems and bona fide Korean national
falls victim to fake marriage
○ It takes long time for naturalization applicants to be given the final answer,
because once the nationality is given, it can hardly be deprived. Therefore, it
is handled with proper discretion
2. The Precess of naturalization by marriage

Local immigration Nationality&Refugee division
Application, field investigation
of Justice Ministry
Screening N&R division
Decision of permit or reject N&R division
Informing to applicants, announce through

N&R division Ministry of Administration
official gazette
Family registration Applicant local go'vt(district office)
Abandonment of original nationality Applicant Embassy in Korea applicant
Confirmation of abandonment of original

Applicant immigration applicant
nationality
Korean resident registration card issuance Applicant town office applicant
Hand in alien registration card Applicant immigration
3. Acquisition of nationality by foreign spouse

A. Foreign spouse married to Korean prior to Jun,14,1998
○ Foreign wife : automatically given Korean nationality at the same time as she
was married and can be enrolled on husband's family register
○ Foreign husband : given Korean nationality on the condition that the Ministry
gives approval
B. Foreign spouse married to Korean posterior to Jun,14,1998
○ Regardless of sex, either side can be granted Korean nationality if one is
qualified to the 'simple naturalization' requisite, stipulated in the article 6 of
Naturalization act
"Simple naturalization" requisite, stipulated in the article 6 of Naturalization act

Foreign spouse must be married to a Korean spouse and live in Korea for over
two years ; or be married to a Korean spouse for over three years and stay in
Korea continuously for over a year.
Foreigners must be an adult on the basis of Korean Civil law
Must act civil
Must be able to make a living by property or craft of one's own, or by help of
other family members who live under the same roof
Must have essential knowledge such as Korean language, and Korean tradition
In principle, the foreign spouse is exempt from taking the written test. If you
apply for naturalization at the Justice Ministry(Division of Nationality &
Refugee), you will undergo an investigation by immigration officers about
your actual condition of sojourning and eligibility inspection as well. And then
you will be notified of approval or rejection
4. Required documents (simple naturalization by marriage)

○ Naturalization application form (available at the Ministry of Justice's Division of
Nationality & Refugee or local immigration offices and immigration's web site(
http://immigration.go.kr http://seoul.immigration.go.kr )
- Application should be submitted only following local offices : Seoul, Busan,
Daegu, Gwangju, Daejeon, Masan, Chuncheon and Jeju immigration
○ Statement
○ Passport, alien registration card
○ Fees and 3 color photos
○ Copies of spouse's family registration(indicating fact of marriage) and resident
registration
○ Letter of guarantee
○ Documents proving financial ability(Select one among following documents
indicating financial ability equivalent to ￦30 million) :
- certificate of bank account under the name of applicant or applicant's family
members
- copy of real estate registration
- copy of house lease contract
- certificate of employment of applicant or applicant's spouse
- If the above-mentioned documents of finance are not available, financial
guaranty by a Korean national can be submitted instead
○ Other materials such as pictures, letters, which could be help in supporting
the evidence of real marriage
And additional documents could be required by Immigration without prior notice
5. Notice
○ When apply for naturalization in the immigration office, you need to
accompany Korean spouse to show that you are in normal state of
marriage. However, if there is any inevitable reasons, you could visit alone
with an ID card of the spouse
○ The burden of proof of the inevitable situation lie with applicant (e.g.
certificate of hospitalization)
6. The subsequent procedure

○ After application is submitted, if change occur, such as address, phone
number, etc, you must inform those to the Justice Ministry's naturalization
and refugee department (tel: 031-478-5027~8. location: Pyeongchon-dong in
Anyang city). Otherwise it will cause serious harm to the process
○ In ordinary cases, immigration officers visit the applicant's home or
surroundings. But in the case that there are child(ren) between the applicant
and spouse, the field inspection can be omitted.
○ Following the field inspection, the applicants will be given the message from
the Justice Ministry's naturalization and refugee department to undergo
interview procedure. Interview is done in the naturalization and refugee
department(Pyeongchon-dong in Anyang city)
7. After acquiring permission of naturalization

Even you are given notification of permit to naturalization, the procedure is not finished.
Nor is Korean resident card automatically issued. Therefore, in order to exercise rights
to the fullest as a Korean, you should undergo the procedures as below :
A. Report of family registration

- Within a month of receiving notification of permission to naturalization, you
must hand in the 5 copies of the notification to family registration
department of local government office (city, district office)
B. Renunciation of foreigner's original nationality
- You should immediately notify the foreign embassy in Korea on renunciation
of your original nationality, and be issued a "foreign nationality renunciation
certificate
- If you do not perform renunciation of nationality within six months after the
date of notification of naturalization, you automatically lose your newly-gained
Korean nationality
C. Confirmation of renunciation of foreign nationality

- You must visit the local immigration office and submit your "foreign
nationality renunciation certificate", copy of family registration, and
naturalization permission notification. You will then be issued by
immigration office a written confirmation of foreign nationality renunciation
- However, if you do not give up your original nationality within six months
due to unavoidable circumstances, you must be issued by immigration
office a written confirmation on reserve about foreign nationality renunciation
- In such a case, reservation period is given shorter than 2 years
D. Application for Korean resident registration card (i.e. Korean ID card)
- You must bring naturalization permission notification, a copy of family
registration and written confirmation of your foreign nationality renunciation
to your local town office (i.e. Dong-samuso), report resident registration and
apply for issuance of Korean resident registration card
E. Return alien registration card
- The alien registration card should be returnd to the local immigration office.
When you visit immigration, you need to bring your naturalization permission
notification, a copy of family registration, Korean resident registration card
and alien registration card. This is the final stepl of the entire procedure.
Until you finally return your alien registration card to immigration office as a sign
of completing the whole process, you should extend your visa in the immigration
like ordinary foreigners
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Ⅱ. QA on foreign spouse
1. General questions regarding Seoul Immigration Office &

residence information
1-1. Please tell me the location (the main office and the annex building) and
business hour of the Seoul Immigration Office.
- Seoul Immigration Office is located on Shinjeong-dong, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul,

(Phone number : 2650-6399)
<The Main office>

o Address : 319-2, Shinjeong-6-dong, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul
- You will find a 7-floor-building of immigration next to a cluster of public
offices such as Yangcheon-gu Office, Yangcheon Police Station, Yangcheon
Tax Office, Mokdong middle school, and Yangcheon Park
o How to get to the main building of the Seoul Immigration Office (by public
transportation)
- Bus : 5012, 6619, 6624, 6640, 6620, 571.
- Subway : Omokkyo-station on Line #5 (Exit number 7, walk straight about 10
minutes)
- Car : Please refer to the map on our web site
(http://seoul.immigration.go.kr)
<Annex building>
o Address : Yangcheon building, 330-11, Shinjeong-dong, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul
o How to get to the annex building
- Bus : 571, 5012, 5630, 6613, 6640, get off at the stop at the back gate of
Galsan Elementary School
< Sejongno branch >

o Address
- 2nd floor, SK hub building, 89-4, Gyeongun-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul
o How to get to the branch
- Subway : Anguk-station on Line # 3 (Exit number 6, next to Jongno police
station)
o Jurisdiction
- Residents of Jongno, Jung, Dongdaemun, Jungrang, Noweon, Gangbuk,
Seongbuk, Eunpyeong, Dobong-gu
- Beginning January,1, 2007. the Sejongno branch exclusively covers the
above-mentioned 9 regions. Therefore, those who resides in the region
should visit the Sejongno branch, instead of the main building in Mokdong
< Business Hour >

From 9 am to 6 pm (including lunch time), from Monday to Friday
Detention room : morning (09:30~11:30), afternoon(13:30~16:30)

Tip : The civil application departments are open during lunch time, but other
departments are closed from 12:00~13:00
1-2. Would a foreigner who gets caught by immigration officers due to illegal
stay be subject to a deportation order ?
○ After a fact-finding investigation, if there is just cause for the deportation

order in violation of the article 46 of the Korean Immigration law, the person
is subject to a deportation order
○ In special cases, however, such as foreign spouses married to Koreans, they
may obtain permission of stay after paying a fine. For further and personal
questions regarding foreigners under the custody of the immigration detention
room, please call the competent immigration office
1-3. When a foreigner married to a Korean national applies for an alien

registration card or extension of stay, should the person visit the
immigration office accompanied by the Korean spouse ?
○ If the couple have a child born during their marriage or is living together with
the parents of the Korean spouse, they may not be required to accompany
the Korean spouse to the immigration office.
○ Only, in the case that there is anything questionable about their marriage, like
the report of runaway or needs of confirmations of place of stay, may an
immigration officer require accompanying the Korean spouse for the
application or conduct fact-finding investigation before deciding residence
permit
1-4 . If a foreign spouse leaves home due to the violence of the Korean spouse
and the Korean national reports runaway of the foreign spouse, would it
lead the foreign spouse to become an illegal stayer ?
○ No. If a Korean spouse reports a runaway, we receive the application of

incident report and input the reported contents into our computer file as a
reference. However, it does not directly lead the foreign spouses to become
illegal stayers. When the foreign spouses are violated by home violence :
there is concern for their protection
○ In the case of living separately due to domestic violence, etc., please submit
the document which proves violence occured. After confirming the document
and actual fact, the foreign spouse is able to obtain permission for stay. It
is important is to prove the reasons of separate living with proper evidence
1-5. In case of death/divorce/separation, it is required to submit a letter of

guarantee. Can anyone else except for the relatives of the Korean spouse
write the guarantee letter ?
○ In the past, when a Korean spouse has died or divorced or separated, only
relative of the Korean spouse could write the guarantee letter. .
○ However, considering reality, now the 3rd person who is eligible to write
guarantee can write a guarantee letter.
○ If a women's organization with public trust or the 3rd person submits
documentary evidence which proves capability of guarantee, they are able to
write a guarantee letter. The documentation may include certificate of
employment, certificate of tax payment, property tax certificate, etc.
1-6. If the court judges irrevocable divorce, the foreign spouse is obliged to
leave Korea ?
○ Divorce does not lead to immediate measures such as deportation. The

residence permit depends on who brought the marriage to an end or who
would raise the children
○ In the case that the Korean spouse caused the divorce, the foreign spouse
may obtain a permit for keeping F-2-1 status. Even if both parties are
responsible for the divorce or the foreign spouse is, if the foreign spouse
raises their children in Korea, he/she can obtain permit for extension of F-2-1
status
○ Regardless of the imputation of divorce, even if the couple has children and
the foreign spouse does not raise the children, immigration office could permit
F-2-1 after its fact-finding procedure when the foreign spouse intends to stay
in Korea and to exercise the right to meet the children
○ Despite a divorce by mutual agreement or for cause on the foreign spouse's
account, if the foreigner has an inevitable reason to stay in Korea, he/she
may obtain a change of status to F-1 and stay a maximum period of 2 years
1-7. I'd like to visit my friend who's detained in Seoul Immigration Office due to
illegal stay, when and where should I visit him/her ?
○ Please come to the 5th Floor of Seoul Immigration Office during the following
hours ;
Weekdays 9:30 ~11:30, 13:30~16:30, Saturdays 9:30 ~ 11:30,
Sundays and Holidays : visitors are not permitted
○ If Seoul Immigration detention room is overcrowded, they may be transferred
to the 'Hwasung Detention Center' in Hwasung-si, Gyeonggi-do
1-8. I live in Seonnam city. It takes too much time and energy for me to visit
the Seoul Immigration Office. Please tell me if I can visit any other nearer
immigration office
○ From 10:00~16:00 on Thursdays of 2nd and 4th week of a month in the

general civil application room on the 1st floor of Seongnam City Hall, we are
running a moving immigration office. It is convenient for the residents of
Seongnam, Hanam and Kwacheon
○ However, Chinese people are not able to file an application at Seongnam
City Hall and will be required to come to the Seoul Immigration Office main
building at Shinjeong-dong, around Omokkyo station
1-9. Since there are too many visitors coming to the Seoul Immigration office, I
usually wait for more than 1 hour. How can I save time?
○ Please use our on-line reservation service. Please visit

http://www.immigration.go.kr/indeximmeng.html and click on-line reservation
service. You can make a reservation for the department and the hour you
plan to visit. It will save you time
○ Please be advised that we have far more clients on Mondays and Tuesdays.
We recommend you to visit our office on Thursdays or Fridays. Afternoons,
rather than mornings, are better. ※ Busiest time : Monday morning, Tuesday
morning and Wednesday morning
○ Also noteworthy is the No-rush hour informing service provided on our
homepage. If you visit the website in advance, you could gain infomation
about which time is comfortable for visit
○ In addition, Korean immigration authorities run e-portal on web site. The portal
is the G4F(http://www.g4f.go.kr, abbreviation for government for foreigner)
where you can apply for 5 types of E-application such as Re-entry permit,
Extension of short-term stay, Extension of stay for preparing departure by
registered foreigner, etc. If you use E-application, you don't need to visit an
immigration office personally
2. Inquiries for various types of residence in Korea
2-1. A Chinese national who married a Korean in Korea and has their marriage
registered at government offices of both nations. The Chinese wishes to
change his/her visa status to Spouse of a Korean national visa. Please
inform me of the necessary documentation and process
○ The foreign spouse married to a Korean national and completed the marriage
registration process may apply for a change of visa status
○ If a foreign spouse is in E-9 status or has the possibility of a false marriage,
the petitioner may go through a thorough inspection and fact-finding
investigation, if needed.
2-2. A foreigner arrived in Korea with F-2 visa (90 days) obtained for marriage
with a Korean national. How can a person process an alien registration
and extend his/her visa?
○ The person is required to apply for the alien registration and extension of the
status within 90 days from the entry into Korea to the immigration office
having jurisdiction over the foreigner's place of residence

○ You may obtain a 1 year extension of the status with the initial application.
After that, you may be able to obtain 2 years extension after going through
fact-finding investigation
2-3. If my period of status expires while in the process of a divorce lawsuit, can
I extend my period of status ?
○ If a period of status expires while in the process of a divorce lawsuit, you

may provide the documentation that can prove you are under the process of
a divorce lawsuit and apply for the extension of status
○ The person may be allowed to obtain extension of a F-2-1 status until the
divorce case is decided. After divorce, the kind of status and period of stay
may vary according to the fact of who is responsible for the divorce
2-4. If a Korean spouse of a foreigner dies while still married or the couple
divorces or separates, would it be still possible to extend my period of stay
in Korea ?
○ After registering marriage to both nations, if the Korean spouse of a foreigner

dies due to a disease or accidents, etc. and the foreign spouse wishes to
stay in Korea, he/she may obtain an extension
○ However, if a foreigner divorces or separates from his Korean spouse,
permission for the residence depends on who is accountable for the divorce
○ If a Korean spouse is responsible for the divorce or separation and the
foreign spouse intends to raise a child in Korea who was born through the
marriage, the person may obtain permission for residence
○ If both parties are responsible for the divorce or separation or even if the
divorce is on the foreign spouse's account, in the cases that the foreign
spouse raises the child in Korea given birth between the Korean spouse and
himself/herself or supports parents or family of the Korean spouse, he/she
may obtain permit for a residence

○ Except for the aforementioned reasons, if the foreign spouse has other
inevitable reasons for staying in Korea such as division of properties,
preparing a divorce lawsuit, arranging household affairs, etc., he/she may get
a permit for the extension of period of stay until problems are resolved
○ In the case of death of the Korean spouse or divorce, a 3rd person may
write a letter of identity guarantee for the foreign spouse, other than kith and
kin of the Korean spouse
2-5. If a foreign spouse is living apart from a Korean, How can the person
obtain a permit for the extension of period of stay?
○ A foreigner in F-2-1 status is living apart from the Korean due to a runaway,
violence or troubles of the Korean spouse, he/she may maintain the F-2-1
status
○ Only, a permit for the period of stay may vary according to the cause of
divorce on who's account as well as the fact who is raising the child, etc.
For instance, if both parties are responsible for the divorce or the foreign
spouse is accountable for the divorce while bringing up a child or supporting
parents or family of the Korean spouse, he/she may obtain a permit for the
extension of period within the limit of 1 year if the couple has married and
lived for less than 2 years. If their marriage lasted more than 2 years, they
may obtain a permit for residence within the limit of 2 years
○ In the cases of preparing a divorce lawsuit or in the process of a lawsuit and
other inevitable reasons for staying in Korea, a foreign spouse may get an
extension of F-2-1 status at a maximum period of 3 months each time
2-6. When a foreign spouse is married to a Korean national in G-1 Status, can
the person stay in Korea, even after finalizing a divorce suit?
○ It depends on who is responsible for the divorce

○ If the Korean spouse brought the marriage to an end or the foreign spouse
intends to raise the child in Korea regardless of the responsibility of the
divorce, he/she may get a permit for the change of status to F-2-1
○ In a case that both parties are responsible for the divorce or in a case that
foreign spouse doesn't raise child while the cause of divorce is on the foreign
spouse's account, the foreigner is regarded as having no ground to stay in
Korea. Therefore, he/she can't get visa extension and should leave Korea
voluntarily
2-7. In the case that a Korean spouse dies or is missing, can the foreign
spouse get a permit for the extension of period?
○ While living in Korea, after alien registration to the local office, in the case
that the Korean spouse dies due to a disease or accidents, etc. or is
missing, the foreign spouse may obtain an extension of period
2-8. How can I report a change of residence ?
○ Registered foreigners are required to report a change of residence within 14

days from the date of their residence move, carrying passport and alien
registration card, to City/Gun/Gu or to the Immigration Office having
jurisdiction over the place of the foreigner's current residence
- Even if a new residence is located on the same province as the previous
one, a foreigner is required to report a change of residence
○ Failing to the report within 14 days from transference, the foreigner may be
fined (up to ￦1,000,000) for the violation of the article 98 of the Korean
Immigration Law
2-9. I have been living in Korea in F-2 status for more than 2 years, married to
a Korean national. Can I obtain a permanent residence status instead of
naturalization?
○ As a foreign spouse married to a Korean national, if the person is holding a

F-2 status and staying in Korea for more than 2 years, a person falling in
one of the following cases may apply for a permanent residence ;
- Maintaining a marriage to a Korean national in real life
- The Korean spouse died or the court gave a verdict of missing
- In the case of a divorce or separation from the Korean spouse, if it can be
proved that the cause of divorce was on the Korean spouse's account
- Even in the case of discontinuance of marriage, if the foreign spouse raises
a minor-aged child who was born to a Korean national and the foreign
spouse, he/she may apply for a permanent residence
<Inquiries about an employment of a Foreign spouse married to a

Korean national>
2-10. I'm in F-2-1 status. Do I need to get a work permit to work in Korea ?
○ According to the Amendment to the Korean Immigration Law on 25th

September 2005, foreign spouses of Korean nationals do not need to obtain
a permit to work in Korea, once they adjust to a F-2-1 status
○ Still, if a foreign spouse, without a relevant license, takes up an employment
in the business that requires a specific license such as a doctor, lawyer or
pharmacist, etc., you will be punished for the violation of relevant laws such
as the medical law
2-11. I'm holding a F-2-1 status. If my Korean spouse dies or lives separately
from me, can I still work in Korea ?
○ If a Korean spouse dies while keeping F-2-1 status, the foreigner may go on
with extensions of period (F-2-1). In the case of separation, he/she may
keep F-2-1 status until the divorce is finalized
○ If both parties are responsible for the divorce or if the cause of divorce is on
the foreign spouse's account and the status has been changed to F-1, the
foreigner is not allowed to take up employment
2-12. I'm holding F-2-1 status but divorced my Korean spouse. Can I still work
in Korea?
○ It depends on who brought the marriage to an end or who would raise a

child
○ If a Korean spouse is responsible for the divorce, or regardless of imputation
of the divorce, the foreign spouse intends to raise a child in Korea, he/she
may keep a F-2-1 status and thus take up employment without additional
permit for work
○ If both parties are responsible for the divorce or the foreign spouse is and
does not bring up a child, the foreign spouse may have to adjust to F-1
status to stay in Korea. F-1 status does not cover the right to work. Thus, to
work in F-1 status, you may apply for the permit for ' the activities not
covered by the current status of sojourn'. However, it is applied to the
professional business in limited fields such as teaching a foreign language. In
F-1 status, you are not able to take up employment in the simple labor field
2-13. I'm holding F-2-1 status. If I raise a divorce suit against the Korean
spouse, can I still continue to work?
○ Even in the process of a divorce suit, you are able to keep a F-2-1 status
until the court judges an irrevocable divorce. While in F-2-1 status, you may
work
○ However, in the case of staying in Korea for the purpose of division of
properties or organizing households, etc., the foreign spouse is not allowed to
take up employment
2-14. I'm in the process of a divorce suit, injured (home violence) by my Korean
husband. I'm holding G -1 status. Can I work?
○ G-1 status does not cover the right to work

O Only, if the court judges the cause of divorce on the Korean spouse's
account, you may apply for a permit for change of status to Residence
(F-2-1) to the immigration office having jurisdiction over your place of
residence. After obtaining F-2-1 status, you have a right to stay and work
in Korea
2-15. I'm living in Daejeon City with Residence (F-2-1) status. Can I take up
an employment in Seoul?
○ Yes. Persons in F-2-1 status are able to work anywhere inside Korea, without
the restrictions on the categories of "Status permitting employments"
○ Still, if a registered foreigner changes a place of residence, according to the
article 36 of the Korean Immigration Law, the person should report the
alteration of residence within 14 days from the date of changing residence,
carrying passport and alien registration card, to City/Gun/Gu of the residence
or the Immigration Office having jurisdiction over the place of the foreigner's
new residence. In case of the violation of this article, the foreigner will be
fined according to the Korean Immigration Law
O Therefore, if you are moving from Daejeon to Seoul in line with taking up
employment in Seoul, you need to report the alteration of residence to
competent Gu Office or Seoul Immigration Office
2-16. I departed from Korea after obtaining a permit for re-entry but I'll not be
able to come back to Korea within the period of re-entry. What shall I do ?
○ In the case that you are not able to return to Korea within the period of
re-entry due to inevitable reasons, you may visit Korean Embassy or
Consulate in the country you're staying and apply for the extension of
re-entry deadline, providing a document proving the reason of not being able
to return to Korea in due time
○ The head of Embassies or Consulates abroad may extend the period of
re-entry within the limit of 15 days. In the extraordinary case that a special
approval is granted from the Minister of Justice, you may extend the re-entry
to a maximum period of 3 months
○ When you want to extend re-entry deadline in a foreign country, you may
apply the extension during 3 months prior to expiration date of original
re-entry permit as long as the extension not exceed the expiration date of
your Korean visa
2-17. I'm a Chinese departed from Korea after obtaining a re-entry permit, but
lost my passport while I'm staying in China and got my passport newly
reissued. Do I need to apply for a new visa to re-enter Korea?
○ In the case of obtaining a newly reissued passport while traveling outside

Korea, you may obtain a confirmation for the re-entry permit from a Korean
Embassies or consulates abroad, instead of obtaining a whole new visa. For
a confirmation of re-entry, you need to provide your newly reissued passport
O In the case that you overstayed a period of re-entry, you need to obtain a
new visa abroad in order to re-enter Korea. In this case, you lose your
previous visa status. For further information on an issuance of a new visa,
please contact Korean Embassy or Consulates abroad
2-18. I'm a Chinese married to a Korean national and holding a Residence (F-2)
Status. Since I travel China a lot, can I obtain a multiple re-entry permit?
○ Chinese may not be able to obtain a multiple re-entry permit according to the
reciprocality, but in the case of a Chinese married to a Korean national,
he/she may obtain a multiple re-entry permit exceptionally.
○ However, in the case of a person who is prohibited an entry into Korea or a
visa issuance or regulated by the Minster of Justice needs to obtain a
special permit for an re-entry from the Minister of Justice as an exceptional
case
○ You may apply for a re-entry permit to an immigration office having
jurisdiction over the place of your residence or immigration offices at the
airport or harbor. You need to take the following document with you :
application form, passport, alien registration card, revenue stamp (fee for a
multiple re-entry : ￦50,000)
3. INQUIRIES ON NATURALIZATION
3-1. I'm a Korean married to a Chinese woman. She arrived in Korea with
F-2-1 status on 20th January 2005 and we are living together now. When
can my wife apply for a naturalization?
○ According to the article 6 of the Korean Nationality Act, to acquire a Korean

nationality, a foreign spouse of a Korean national must have a residence in
Korea for a minimum period of 2 years continuously. "To have a residence in
Korea for a minimum period of 2 years continuously" implies the period that
he/she stays in Korea without departing, so it does not include a period

staying outside Korea. Therefore, your wife may apply for naturalization after
2007.1.20. and it will take 6 months to 2 years before the whole process of
naturalization complete
○ For documentation requirements and procedures for a naturalization, please
contact the Division of Nationality & Refugee (Tel: 031-478-5027~8)
3-2 . I got married to a Chinese on 2004.1.10. and she arrived in Korea on

2004.5.10. with F-2-1 visa to live with me. I got the dispatch order from my
company to work at the branch Office in China from 2005.7.1. to
2005.12.31. My wife is leaving for China to stay with me. In this case,
when is my wife able to acquire a Korean nationality and dose she need
to obtain a new visa when she re-enters Korea ?
○ For the foreign spouses married to a Korean to acquire a Korean nationality,

the following conditions are essential ; ① to have a residence in Korea for
more than 2 years continuously while still married, ② a lapse of 3 years
since married and have a residence in Korea more than 1 year while still
married (the clause 2 of the article 6 of the Korean Nationality Act)
① "To have a residence in Korea for more than 2 years continuously" implies
the period that he/she stays in Korea without departing, so it does not
include a period staying outside Korea.
- Hence, the 6 months that your wife is staying in China will not be included
in the period staying in Korea and your wife is eligible to apply for a
naturalization only after 2006.11.10.
- In addition, please be advised that if your wife obtains a re-entry permit at a
competent immigration office or immigration offices at ports or airports before
departing from Korea, she may re-enter Korea without obtaining a new visa
abroad. Re-entry permit is given only within the period of a stay, so if your
wife's visa will be expired during the stay in China, please apply for a permit
for the extension of period while in Korea in advance, together with a permit
for a re-entry
3-3. If a F-2-1 holder, a foreign spouse married to a Korea, departs from Korea
temporarily while living in Korea, does it annul a 2-year period of stay in
Korea, which is essential for the application of naturalization ?
○ In principle, in the case of departing from Korea, the period of residing in

Korea (counted from the date of entry) is discontinued and one should count
2 years from the date of recent re-entry all over again
○ Only, if there are continuity in the domestic residence and routine
maintenance before and after leaving Korea, such as a temporary travel
after obtaining a re-entry permit and re-entering Korea, it can be regarded
as living continuously. The travel period, however, will not be counted in the
period of stay in Korea
3-4. I acquired a Korean nationality but mistakenly, did not give up my the other
nationality within 6 months from the date I acquired a Korean nationality,
which led to lose my Korean nationality. In that case, can I re-acquire a
Korean nationality?
○ When you give up your original nationality within 1 year from the date you
lost the Korean nationality, you may re-acquire a Korean nationality, if you
submit a report form for a Nationality Acquisition to the Minister of Justice
3-5. In the case of a divorce by mutual agreement, can the foreign spouse
apply for a naturalization?
○ In the case of a divorce by mutual agreement, the person may not be able
to apply for a "Naturalization by Marriage". As per conditions of the "General
Naturalization", if he/she has been residing in Korea lawfully for more than 5
years, the person may apply for a "General Naturalization", instead of
"Naturalization by Marriage"
3-6. In the case of a divorce by arbitration, can I acquire a Korean nationality?
○ If the written conclusion of arbitration says "a Korean spouse is required to

pay money to his/her foreign spouse as a consolation money", it is regarded
as the testimony of a Korean spouse's responsibility for the divorce and thus,
the foreign spouse is eligible for an application of naturalization
3-7. Can a Korean spouse start a divorce suit against a runaway foreign spouse ?
○ A Korean spouse may bring a divorce suit against a foreign spouse for the
reason of runaway or other problems
○ In principle, a divorce suit must be notified to a foreign spouse, but if the
foreign spouse's place of residence is unknown due to runaway, etc., it
should be notified to him/her in the way of "conveyance by public
announcement". After that, all the contents that the Korean spouse claimed
could be accepte and the ruling of a divorce could be given
○ A foreign spouse may raise an appeal within 2 weeks from the date he/she
learns about the divorce ruling of the court proceeded in the way of
conveyance by public announcement, providing documentation reversing the
verdict or proving reasons to receive a consolation money from a Korean
spouse
3-8. In the case of discontinuance of marriage due to death of a Korean spouse,

can the foreign spouse apply for a naturalization?
○ Residence period necessary : If a foreign spouse has a residence in Korea

for more than 2 years continuously while still married ,or it has passed 3
years since married and a foreign spouse has been residing in Korea more
than 1 year continuously while still married,
○ Conditions to be met : While still married to a Korean spouse and have a

residence in Korea, the Korean spouse dies or is missing ,OR the foreign
spouse is not able to maintain a marriage life with no responsibility for
his/her side, OR the foreign spouse is raising a minor-aged child given birth
to the Korean spouse and himself/herself by marriage or intends to raise a
minor-aged child, after fulling the rest of period,
3-9 . In the case of an adopted foreign child under the age of 18, what does he
do if he wishes to acquire a Korean nationality?
○ If he/she was under 18 when adopted, he/she may acquire a Korean

nationality by naturalization procedures (Special Naturalization). He/she is
eligible to apply for a naturalization right after entry into Korea.
○ If he/she was an adult when adopted, after residing in Korea fore more than
3 years lawfully, the person is eligible for the application of naturalization
4. INVITATION OF RELATIVES AND THEIR RESIDENCE IN

KOREA
4-1. I invited my mother in law and father in law from Vietnam and they arrived
in Korea with C-3 visa. Can they extend a visa and take up employment?
○ If parents of a foreign spouse needs to stay in Korea for more than 90 days
from the entry, for the reasons such as to take care of their child who gave
birth or got sick or to look after their grandchild or they got sick and need to
get medical treatments in a Korean hospital, they may apply for a permit to
change a status to F-1. But in F-1 status, the person cannot take up an
employment.
○ Documentation requirements for a change of status to F-1 are as follows;
- document proving the inevitableness to stay in Korea such as a medical
certificate, a statement, family register, birth certificate to prove family

relations, etc.
4-2. My wife is a Filipino. I invited my mother in law and father in law from
Filipine and they arrived in Korea with C3 status (short-term visa). Can they
stay in Korea for a long time?
○ If parents of a foreign spouse married to a Korean national needs to stay in

Korea for more than 90 days from the entry, to take care of their child who
gave birth or is sick or to look after their grandchild or they got sick and
need to get medical treatments, they may apply for a permit to change a
status to F-1. But in F-1 status, the person cannot take up an employment
○ Documentation requirements for a change of status to F-1 are as follows ;
- document proving the inevitableness to stay in Korea such as a medical
certificate, a statement explaining reasons to stay in Korea in detail, family
register, birth certificate to prove family relation, etc
○ Please be advised that your mother in law and father in law are not allowed
to take up an employment in Korea in F-1 status
4-3. I filed the application for a naturalization on 2005.05.10. but there's no result
come out till now. How much time should I wait?
○ After completing several procedures including investigation on qualifications

(Reviewing documents submitted and conducting a fact-finding investigation
by an immigration office) and qualification interview to decide whether to
grant a naturalization, a naturalization of a petitioner is decided. Since the
number of applicants, mostly Korean-Chinese, are dramatically increasing
recently, it takes approximately 1 year and a half to complete those essential
procedures for granting a naturalization
○ In the case of marriage naturalization, fact-finding investigation is one of the
essential procedures to judge the qualification for a naturalization, which
possibly takes considerable time

○ There is no time limit fixed for processing a naturalization and the process
period may vary depending on situations to carry on essential procedures
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※ The below message is from the General-representative of marriage immigrants,

Patricia, from the Philippines, who was elected in the first time rally of
international marriage families, I with U. 2006.
I am very happy to know that there are lots of people and welfares
surround international families who are concern, willing and ready to give their
hands and support for us to live successfully in this land.
I, Patricia Amaranto, soon will change a name into Korean which is Han
Eugene (HAN YU-JIN) was elected as President of foreigners married to
Koreans, in which it was hosted and organized by the Seoul Immigration Office,
entitled "I With U" (Immigration with You).
I entered here eleven years ago, it was October in 1995. Iam married to
Kim Cheon Jung (KIM CHEON-JUNG). We are blessed of having two children, a
ten years old cute sweet girl and a smart six years old little boy. After a
couple of years of staying here I renounced my citizenship without any doubt.
This is because I know clearly the purpose of establishing a family here. I'm a
liar if I will say that I didn't ever experience any difficulties during my early
years of stay in this land. Specially, on that times crisis arouse terribly in
Korean Economy and it gave so much impact on my husband's job. I accept that
trials positively and I can say that I'm living here with satisfaction and without
any regrets.
I would like to once again take this opportunity in behalf of the
represntatives from different nations to extend our heartfelt gratitude to the
Seoul Immigration Office for pioneering a campaign of "networking foreign
spouses of Koreans to make open-society with foreigners". I hope that this
campaign could become a mainstream and an eye-opener on how mixed blood
children and their foreign parent could live naturally and successfully in the
Korean society.
Thank you very much!
In front of national flags (Korea, Vietnam), children of

marrige-immigrats are playing with joy, in Sopa people's hall on 31.
Aug. 2006
Legal support counselling organizations for woman-immigrants (NGO)
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Women emergency counsel

press only "1366" www.1366.or.kr
(any where, any time)
Women migrants' humanrights center

(counselling, education and Shelter for 02) 3672-7559 www.wmigrant.org
women migrants)
Korea women's hot line
(counselling for domestic violence& 02) 2269-2962 www.hotline.or.kr
sexual abuse and a shelter furnished)
Korea legal aid center for family
relations
02) 780-5688 www.lawhome.or.kr
(legal advice for woman and family
relations)
Women priest's community : Freinds (Seoul Immigration's

032-345-6734
without borders run by Catholic sisters honorary consultant)
Women migrants' home in

02)2699-9943
Gangseo-Yangcheon
MIRIAM consultation center for women
02)747-2442
migrants
Korea legal aid corporation (run by government)
○ Headquarters : Jibangbeobwon-Gil 13, Seocho-Gu, Seoul (telephone: press

only 132)
○ Southern branch of Seoul : inside Seoul southern branch of Prosecution,
Sinwol-Ro 11, Yangcheon-Gu, Seoul.
Local government's programs for marriage-immigrants
1. Teaching Korean language

2. Teaching Computer
3. Teaching for foreigners' children after school
4. Teaching Korean culture, food, etiquette, etc.
○ The Seoul Support Center for Marriage immigrants & Family (= The
Support Center for Healthy Family of Dongdaemun-Gu)
Project Division of charge How to join Introduction Contact

Support project for 02-975-0760
Support team for marriage Application
marriage-immigrants & Refer to below stmfc@khu.ac.kr
immigrants family by telephone
family
project program contents for whom

Wanna know Korean -Korean beginner middle class marriage-
Korean
& life in Korea -family life education immigrants
-making kimchi
-making side dish
from now, marriage-immigra
-making Korean traditional holyday
culture Korean food! nts and
food
I gotta point their family
-ancestor-memorial
services arrangement
e duc a t i on -introduction couple and address

project -comprehension and
marriage-immigra
family healthy couple -acceptance difference each couple
nt's couple
-couple strategic meeting
-renewal as a couple
computer, over the marriage-immigra

I T basic computer education
top nts
marriage-immigra
avocational aptitude
jobs what's my job? nts and
test and job matching orrgans concerned
their family
- telephone counselling
Counselling counselling - interview counselling the same above
- cyber counselling
- MBTI
psycological test - intelligence test the same above
- creativity test
health consultation health consultation the same above
consultation in connection with marriage

legal consultation the same above
migrants
children
- baby-sitter
whose parent
children protection amazing playground - Korean training &
joing Korean
edu-entertainment
learning
family volunteer
- mentor matching groups, marriage
self-help group family family
- making self-help group immigrants &
family
- Korean traditional dance

cultural emotional Korean melody, performance and pungmulnori
the same above
support project bravo - eating Korean popular foods
Seoul City and Seoul local provinces' contact points for marriage-immigrants
Plese call the phone number below for detailed information about support programs for
marriage-immigrants, such as Korean language classes
o Seoul local governments in charge and contact address etc.
Local province Division Phone Fax Remark
Seoul City Hall Family & Nurturance 3707-9855~6
Gangnam-gu Home welfare 2104-1650 2104-2423
Gangdong-gu Home welfare 480-1357 472-3987
Gangbuk-gu Home welfare 901-2258 901-6112
Gangseo-gu Home welfare 2600-6763 2600-6332
Gwanak-gu Social welfare 880-3642 880-3776
Gwangjin-gu Social welfare 450-1355 450-1691
Guro-gu Home welfare 860-2838 860-2655
Geumcheon-gu Home welfare 890-2260 890-2283
Nowon-gu Home welfare 950-3492 950-3494
Dobong-gu Home welfare 2289-1366 2289-1732
Dongdaemun-gu Social welfare 2127-4245 2127-5109
Dongjak-gu Home welfare 820-9724 820-9988
Mapo-gu Home welfare 330-2656 330-2650
Seodaemun-gu Home welfare 330-1689 330-1624
Seocho-gu Home welfare 570-6490 570-6148
Seongdong-gu Home welfare 2286-5435 2286-5924
Seongbuk-gu Home welfare 920-3290 920-2936
Songpa-gu Home welfare 410-3490 410-3835
Yangcheon-gu women welfare 2650-3325 2650-3462
Yeongdeungpo-gu Home welfare 2670-3349 2670-3647
Yongsan-gu Social welfare 2670-3349 2670-3647
Eunpyeong-gu Home welfare 350-1617 350-1704
Jongro-gu Homewelfare 731-1325 731-0616
Jung-gu Social welfare 2260-1733 2260-1159
Jungrang-gu Home welfare 490-3492 490-3779
Seongnam city Female policy 031-729-4110~3 031-729-4199 Gyeonggi
Anyang city Family & Women 031-389-5590 031-389-5128 Gyeonggi
NGO for supporting marriage-immigrants
Support organization Tel. Remark

Seoul support center for marriage-migrants 957-0760
Women migrants' human rights center 3672-7559
Seoul(02) Friend's house 929-5366
MIRIAM consultation center for women migrants 747-2442
Women migrants' home in Gangseo-Yangcheon 2699-9943
We home of Jeon Jin-sang House 466-2876
Gyeonggi(031)
Ansan consultation center for migrant women 492-8785
Friends without borders, run by Catholic priests 345-6734
Incheon(032)
Incheon parish of Catholic church 881-1094
Hospitals
Red Cross hospital ( )

Region Tel. Region Tel.
Seoul 02-2002-8852~4 Incheon 032-280-2103~6
Local hospitals ( )
Region Tel. Region Tel.
Seoul 02-3430-0201 Incheon 032--580-6000
Uijeongbu 031-828-5000 Anseong 031-674-7520
Suweon 031-257-4141 Icheon 031-635-2641
Geumchon 031-941-5811 Pocheon 031-539-9114
Korea legal aid corporation(run by government)
Region Tel Region Tel

Seoul central chapter press just 132 Counselling team 02-536-5577
East Seoul 02-453-5888 South Seoul 02-2648-5966
North Seoul 02-972-1765 West Seoul 02-713-6009
Uijeongbu 031-874-0100 Goyang 031-902-5132
Incheon 032-874-3370 Bucheon 032-325-4500
Suweon 031-213-1331 Seongnam 031-748-3509
Yeoju 031-883-7630 Pyeongtaek 031-656-9144
Ansan 031-482-2767
5&-&1)0/&/00''03&*(/&.#"44*&4*/,03&"
주한외국대사관 전화번호
NATIONALITY TELEPHONE NO.
NIGERIA 797-2370 / 797-3280
( ) TAIWAN 399-2767 70
RUSSIA 752-0630
MEXICO 798-1694 5 / 790-0939
MONGOLIA 794-1350 / 798-3464
MYANMAR 792-3341 / 796-9858 9
USA 397-4114 / 397-4339
BANGLADESH 796-4056 7
VIETNAM 738-2318 9
BRAZIL 738-4974
SAUDI ARABIA 739-0631 5
SRI LANKA 735-2966 7
INDIA 798-4257
UKRAINE 578-6910
UZBEKISTAN 574-6554
INDONESIA 783-5675 7
IRAN 793-7751 2
CHINA 738-1194 6
KAZAKSTAN 744-9714 5
THAILAND 795-3253
PAKISTAN 796-8252 3
PERU 793-5810 / 790-5758
PHILIPPINES 572-3654 5
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Guide Book For Foreign Spouses of Korean Nationals

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I with U, Immigraion with You ! Thank you.

Nov. 30. 2006

I wish to congratulate the Seoul Immigration Office for

The Republic of the Philippines

. Q & A on foreign spouses

. Counselling organizations for foreign spouses ·················· 131

. Support programs by public entities ········································ 132

Ⅰ. Guide to immigration service

1. What is Immigration service

1. Residence procedure overview

Classification Time to report Documents Fee

Apply for registration at a local application form (integrated form)

application form (integrated form)

According to the Immigration

When you move to a new

Classification Time to report, Documents Fee

1. General standard of sojourn permission

2. Visa extension in case of death or missing of Korean spouse

3. Visa extension in case of divorcing with Korean spouse

- Documents proving divorce( divorce judgement letter, family tree register,

4. Visa extension in case of being separated from Korean spouse

Documentation of financial capacity : letter of employ- ment, certificate of tax

- Evidence documents which verify reasons of separation

5. In case foreign spouse in G-1 status completed divorce lawsuit

- Evidence documents of divorce (divorce judgement letter, family tree register,

The I with U convention session 1 jointly organized by the

2. The cases in which the Certificate for recognition of visa

4. In the cases below you should apply for visa in Korean

- application form for visa issuance

B. Vietnamese relatives' visit

C. Filipino relatives' visit

D. Above-mentioned documents should be submitted to Korean Embassy

3. Documents required are as follows (except when additional

O Required on a case by case basis

4. How to calculate period of domestic residence

5. Those not qualified are as belows :

6. Privileges for permanent resident

7. The flow of permanent residency application and follow-ups

2. The Precess of naturalization by marriage

Screening N&R division

Decision of permit or reject N&R division

Informing to applicants, announce through

Family registration Applicant local go'vt(district office)

Abandonment of original nationality Applicant Embassy in Korea applicant

Confirmation of abandonment of original

Korean resident registration card issuance Applicant town office applicant

Hand in alien registration card Applicant immigration

3. Acquisition of nationality by foreign spouse

"Simple naturalization" requisite, stipulated in the article 6 of Naturalization act

4. Required documents (simple naturalization by marriage)

6. The subsequent procedure

7. After acquiring permission of naturalization

A. Report of family registration

C. Confirmation of renunciation of foreign nationality

Ⅱ. QA on foreign spouse

1. General questions regarding Seoul Immigration Office &

- Seoul Immigration Office is located on Shinjeong-dong, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul,

<The Main office>

< Sejongno branch >

< Business Hour >

Detention room : morning (09:30~11:30), afternoon(13:30~16:30)

Ⅱ. QA on foreign spouse

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