What is F-2 visa? Who is eligible?

In my case, I changed my visa from an E-7 to an F-2, but there are many other ways you can switch to an F-2 visa in Korea. 1️⃣ What is an F-2 visa? I'll explain it by comparing it with the E-7 visa. The F-2 visa is also called the Residency Visa, which means that just by obtaining it, you are allowed to reside in Korea. The E-7 visa, on the other hand, is known as the Employment Visa. The biggest difference is: - With an E-7 visa, you must be verified as a full-time employee at a company to stay in Korea. You also need to renew your visa every year. - With an F-2 visa, you can stay in Korea for a longer period (up to 5 years), and you don’t have to be a full-time employee to maintain your visa status. - Additionally, with an E-7 visa, you are not allowed to work outside of your company job, but with an F-2 visa, there are no such restrictions on work opportunities. In terms of work flexibility, the F-2 visa is quite similar to the F-5 (permanent residency) visa—although the F-5 comes with many more benefits. 2️⃣ Who is eligible to apply for an F-2 visa? You may be eligible if you meet one of the following conditions: ① You have stayed in Korea for over a year while holding an E-1 to E-7 visa. ② You have stayed in Korea for over a year while holding a D-5 to D-9 visa. ③ You have stayed in Korea for over a year while holding a D-2 or D-10 visa, have at least a Master’s degree, and have been confirmed as employed at a Korean company. 3️⃣ What is the F-2-7 Visa? In my case, I received the F-2-7 visa, which is a Points-Based Residency Visa. I assume many of you visiting KLiK would also be interested in getting this visa. However, even if you have an E-7 visa, there are additional requirements: 📌 Basic Requirements: 1️⃣ Stay in Korea for at least 3 years 2️⃣ Have a yearly income of over 40 million KRW 3️⃣ Have no criminal record 📌 Point-Based System: To apply, you need to earn enough "points" in various categories such as: - Age - Education - Basic qualifications - Annual salary 📌 Bonus & Minus Points: You can receive bonus points if you: ✔️ Are from a country that participated in the Korean War ✔️ Receive government recommendations ✔️ Complete KIIP Level 5 training ✔️ Have relevant degrees ✔️ Participate in volunteer activities However, you may lose points due to criminal records or other violations. I know this is a lot of information, but I hope it was helpful! It was quite challenging for me to figure out all of this on my own, so I hope this guide makes your journey a little easier. Let me know in the comments below if you have any questions. In my next post, I'll talk about the required documents and how I prepared them.