How to Legally Reside in Korea as a Spouse of a Korean National (F-2-1 visa)

I posted this in my other blog before. I’m posting it again for those who may need the info. As always, it is best to call the Immigration Office for updates. This is about how to legally reside in Korea when you are married to a Korean national.
Here’s the information from a brochure I got at the Women’s Center:
Accompanied by your Korean spouse, register as an alien within 90 days from the date of your entry at your local immigration office.
After arrival in Korea, apply for extension of sojourn period and alien registration at a local immigration office having jurisdiction over the place of your stay. (E.g. if you live in Jongro-gu apply at the Immigration Office in Anguk-dong)
Required Documents for Alien Registration:
– Application available at immigration offices
– Passport and 2 color photos
– Copies of spouse’s family registration (including fact of marriage) and resident registration
– Letter of guarantee (authentication unnecessary)
– Fees (30,000 won)
You must extend your stay during the period commencing two months prior to the sojourn period expiration date. Your Korean spouse should accompany you while you register at your local immigration office having jurisdiction over the place of your stay.
Required documents for Extension of Sojourn Period
– Application available at immigration offices
– passport and alien registration card
– copy of spouse’s family registration (including fact of marriage)
– copy of spouse’s resident registration or resident registration card
– letter of guarantee (authentication unnecessary)
– fee of 20,000 won
Here’s the updated (March 22, 2010) information on F-2 visa from HiKorea Portal:
Application Eligibility:
– The spouse of Korea national
– The spouse of the one with permanent residence status (F-5 visa)
How to apply:
Applicant : the person himself/herself
Where to apply: The embassy or the consulate of the Republic of Korea
Required Documents: refer to the required documents listed below
– If applicants already have a certificate of visa issuance or certification No. of visa issuance, they only need to submit the passport, application of visa issuance, and a certificate of visa issuance or certification No. of visa issuance.
The process to apply for a certificate of recognition of visa issuance
The Applicant: the person himself/herself or the inviting party
Inviting parties staying in Korea can apply for the certificate of recognition of visa issuance for the invited foreigner only if they apply to the following:
– Those that got married during the time they had stayed in Korea
– Those that are older or younger than their spouse by 10 years or more
– If the husband or the wife have divorced within the past year and is seeking to get remarried
– Those that got married by paperwork while the Korean spouse was still in Korea
Where to apply: local immigration office or branch office
Required Documents: refer to the required documents listed below
– Application for the visa can be made to the embassy or the consulate of the Republic of Korea after the applicants get a certificate of recognition of visa issuance or certification No. of visa issuance.
※ Items subject to change depending on individual circumstances
-Passport(A photocopy of passport if applying a certificate of recognition of Visa Issuance)
– Application for Visa Issuance or Application for Recognition of Visa Issuance
– Documents that prove the family relations (marriage certificate, a copy of family register, documents verifying the marital relations)
– Documents that prove the financial capability
– Reference of a spouse with Korean nationality (신원보증서)
– Fee (single-entry visa: $50 (USD), multiple-entry visa: $80 (USD))
※ Charges not applicable if applying a certificate of recognition of visa issuance.
– 1 color photos of the applicant are needed when applying for the certificate of recognition of visa issuance size : 3.5㎝ x 4.5㎝
– Photos must have been taken within the past 6 months.
– Printed photographs are not accepted
– Bright background is preferred over a dark one.