From D-2 to F-2-7 visa

(And I Only Paid for My ARC) Disclaimer: This is my experience and may not be the same for everyone. Please double-check your eligibility. But if you're a GKS scholar or from a country that supported Korea during the war, you might find this helpful! After finishing grad school in Korea, I wanted to stay longer—and like most D-2 visa holders, I had a few options. Some go for the E-7 visa (usually job-sponsored), while others apply for the D-10 visa to job hunt. But me? I went straight for the F-2-7 visa—and here’s the wild part: I got approved in just six working days, didn’t submit income documents, and only paid ₩30,000 for the ARC! Yes, I did not pay for the processing fee. What’s the F-2-7 Visa Anyway? If E is for Employed, F is for Free – I just made this up just to easily remember things. The F-2-7 is a long-term residency visa based on a points system. You’re not tied to any one job, which means you can switch careers, freelance, or take side gigs legally. It’s usually the next step after E-7 visa, but you can apply for it straight from a D-2 student visa—especially if: • You hold a Master’s from a Korean university • You have decent Korean language skills You need 80 points, and they’re based on several categories: • Age – The younger (and more professionally active), the better. • Korean Skills (TOPIK/KIIP) – Language shows you're serious about staying. • Income • Education & Experience – Big plus if you studied or worked in areas Korea prioritizes. • Other Factors – Like volunteer work or special skills. Documents I Submitted: 1. Application Form (통합신청서) – Downloaded from HiKorea, with a recent photo attached 2. Passport – Original + photocopy 3. Alien Registration Card – Original + photocopy 4. Points Table (점수표) – Provided by my GKS coordinator 5. Proof of Education – Diploma and graduation certificate TIP: If your school is in the Top 500 (QS or THE rankings), bring proof for extra points! 6. TOPIK Certificate – (Even though I completed KIIP Level 5, I used TOPIK since they’re in the same category for points) 7. Proof of Residence – Got this from my landlady 8. Graduation Certificate – Since I am a fresh grad, they asked for my diploma, but I left the original copy at home so the Immigration officer asked me to print a Graduation Certificate instead 9. Apostilled Criminal Record – I hadn’t gone home since arriving in Korea, so I applied this online, sent an authorization letter to my brother back home, and he processed everything on my behalf and send it to me. (Each country has different processes, so check with your Embassy!) 💡 Note: I didn’t submit any income or employment certificates since I wasn’t employed full-time when I applied. Final Thoughts I applied after Chuseok, got approved in 6 working days, and received my ARC 2 weeks later. The immigration office can get busy, so be prepared to wait a little. But overall, it was a smooth process for me—and I hope it can be for you too!