Yesterday was a day in which I seriously felt the need to bellow the following lines from Braveheart. That’s right ladies and gentlemen, you are looking at a free man…or reading the words of a free man…whatever. Apparently after nearly two months of intense investigation, the good people at Suwon immigration came to the conclusion that I was not a mail-order bride from Vietnam, a Chinese factory worker attempting to stay here beyond my tourist visa, or even an American who plans on staying in Korea longer than a year and found it in their hearts the good will to issue me an F-2-1 visa.
Basically now I am free. No longer do hagwon owners have control over my fate (now my wife does). If I don’t like a job, from here on in I can quit as I see fit. If I want to sit around the house in my underwear studying Korean…well, I’ve pretty much done that since January, so I’m a little bored of that…but I could continue doing so if I so desired. Basically I can do whatever I want (within the limits of the law), but it is so nice to taste freedom again.
So I would like to take this moment to personally thank all the fine people at the Suwon immigration office, in particular 조근휘. Their dedication and easy-going personalities made this process one that was quite easy and dare I say enjoyable. Wait a second…that’s not what I wanted to say. Please if you are easily offended by any words in the English language please turn back now…come back tomorrow, do not scroll beyond this point…..
Ok all those sensitive souls have departed?
FUCK YOU SUWON! You cold hearted motherfuckers! Why the shit would you assholes, upon being handed our application forms declare right away, “If you don’t get the visa after the investigation you can sue?” Why the fuck are those the first words out of your mouth? No, “You got married, congrats!” Nothing like that! Secondly, why in the name of all that is good did you make us come in a second time to fill out more paper work…paper work that could have very easily been filled out the first time we went in? What the fuck dudes?! Third of all, why didn’t you call us after bestowing me with a visa. We called you, and when I got the visa, it said it was issued the day after the second (completely pointless “interview”) trip to your dumbass building. And finally (and if this is the case with ever F-2-1 visa I apologize, but I’m on a rant here so…) why the bitchhole is my visa only good for 11 months? Is that due to your inability to complete paperwork in a timely fashion? Is that because I paid for this thing at the start of February? Or is it some other nonsense?!
Anyhow it’s a good thing that I’ve already paid a visit to 화성, so now I have no reason to ever return to your miserable, dirty little shit-hole of a city. Fuck you Mr. Cho! Fuck you Immigration Office! And fuck you Suwon! In the words of my hero, rap superstar Vanilla Ice, “You can kiss my white butt!” We’re outta here!
Whoa! That was some pent-up angst! It’s passed now, and let me say that never in my life have I been so stoked to have gotten some stamp…perhaps save for the time I got a stamp proclaiming I could count to 100 when I was in kindergarten. That was pretty bad-ass as well. Anyhow I’m living large now, and if any of you other F-2-1 visa holders have 11 month visas let me know…I’m just curious what’s up with that.
First, congrats! And some fun reading here!
now…
직원에 따라 다릅니다…or at least that has been my experience. I had very little trouble getting it transferred the first time - same day I think. We did a little research and had it all there and ready and, most importantly, we got lucky. We had a decent immigration officer (?). The duration was somewhere between 11 months and a year as well I think. The renewal (fairly recently…Feb I think) was not quite as smooth, but got done quite easily. It is also for a year - but in hindsight that may have been our mistake.
Having the freedom is amazing if you ever want to change jobs - the pressure to get it done, and possible make a hasty decision, is gone.
Your wife has all the power now…..
Comment by The Goat — March 22, 2006 @ 19:16 pm
Damn dude.. that was classic. Congrats on finding your quasi-freedom… (I guess being controlled by the woman you love is better than being controlled by the hagwon you hate)…
But.. that rant takes the cake was one of the best blog rants I’ve read… ever.
Comment by Shaun — March 22, 2006 @ 22:26 pm
It was a rant 2 months in the making…that’s why it was so extra special. I guess rants, like wine and kimchi, get better with age.
Comment by Wyatt — March 23, 2006 @ 11:20 am
“No longer do hagwon owners have control over my fate (now my wife does).”
In my experience- Hagwon owners are more merciful than women.
Comment by peemil — March 25, 2006 @ 5:03 am
Less demanding too.
Comment by peemil — March 25, 2006 @ 5:06 am
i just want to know what is the difference of f-2 between f-2-1
Comment by nuriza ballaho — June 19, 2007 @ 7:31 am