IF YOU'RE KOREAN, DON'T DO WHAT I DID
MIX nominated me for my university. I did all the modules. I renewed my passport. I was well on my way to submitting my application to the host university. Things were looking good. Right?
Wrong.
My mom had asked me a question about the visa process, so I looked through the handy MIX module to find the answer. While scrolling through the visa section, my eyes read a section that made my mouth drop in horror.
I forgot to check if I was a Korean citizen.
MIX warns students of Korean descent who are aiming to study in Korea to check their citizenship status with the Korean Embassy. There is a high chance that such students cannot obtain the normal D-2 student visa that most exchange students get because they are considered Korean citizens under South Korean law, and thus they must enter through other means.
I saw this warning when I first applied for the MIX program in the previous year, and again in the MIX module, which was sent out in February. I made a mental note to ask my parents about this, but I never ended up doing so. Fast forward to May, when I made the horrifying realization that it might be too late.
I panicked and called my parents in a hurry to come with me to the Korean Embassy. There, after hearing our backgrounds and checking our documents, the worker confirmed my fear that I was indeed a Korean national. He explained the following Korean law:
So what does this mean in regards to my studying abroad? The worker explained that I could not apply for the D-2 student visa. Instead, I must go through a process of renouncing my Korean citizenship, which takes up to a year to finalize, and apply for a Korean passport, which is how I would enter Korea and be allowed to study there.
The only thing on my mind while the worker was giving his explanation was, is there enough time? The worker gave us a rough timeline of the process:
Fast forward to now, in July--I'm set to receive my Korean passport in about 2 weeks, which is much sooner than what I had initially estimated. I am incredibly lucky and grateful that this all worked out.
To speak truthfully, I was hesitant to share this whole experience because I was embarrassed about how I failed to take action on a timely basis. I never remember when I make "mental notes," even when they're regarding something as important as potential Korean citizenship. I should've went to the Korean Embassy to deal with this as soon as I saw the warning from MIX last year.
However, I'm willing to embarrass myself and share my personal experience because (1) I want to raise awareness about Korean citizenship laws and (2) I really want to make sure that no one makes the same mistake that I made! If I had went to the Korean Embassy even just a bit later, I risked getting my Korean passport too late and being unable to study abroad. If you are of Korean descent and reading this as someone interested in studying abroad in Korea, please do not do what I did. Check your citizenship status as soon as possible.
With all of that being said, I'm thankful to the workers at the Korean Embassy who kindly and patiently explained everything to me and my parents and helped us to navigate the confusing process. Thank you!
Wrong.
My mom had asked me a question about the visa process, so I looked through the handy MIX module to find the answer. While scrolling through the visa section, my eyes read a section that made my mouth drop in horror.
I forgot to check if I was a Korean citizen.
MIX warns students of Korean descent who are aiming to study in Korea to check their citizenship status with the Korean Embassy. There is a high chance that such students cannot obtain the normal D-2 student visa that most exchange students get because they are considered Korean citizens under South Korean law, and thus they must enter through other means.
I saw this warning when I first applied for the MIX program in the previous year, and again in the MIX module, which was sent out in February. I made a mental note to ask my parents about this, but I never ended up doing so. Fast forward to May, when I made the horrifying realization that it might be too late.
I panicked and called my parents in a hurry to come with me to the Korean Embassy. There, after hearing our backgrounds and checking our documents, the worker confirmed my fear that I was indeed a Korean national. He explained the following Korean law:
- A child born overseas up to June 13, 1998, automatically follows their father’s country of citizenship. If the father became naturalized before the child’s birth, the child DOES NOT have dual citizenship. If the father was a Korean national at the time of the child’s birth, the child IS A DUAL CITIZEN and the birth must be registered in Korea.
- A child born overseas beginning June 14, 1998, to a father and mother who became naturalized (or never had Korean heritage) before the child’s birth, the child DOES NOT have dual citizenship. If either the father or mother was a Korean national at the time of the child’s birth, the child IS A DUAL CITIZEN and the birth must be registered in Korea.
So what does this mean in regards to my studying abroad? The worker explained that I could not apply for the D-2 student visa. Instead, I must go through a process of renouncing my Korean citizenship, which takes up to a year to finalize, and apply for a Korean passport, which is how I would enter Korea and be allowed to study there.
The only thing on my mind while the worker was giving his explanation was, is there enough time? The worker gave us a rough timeline of the process:
- My father obtains documentation of the apostille confirmation of his name change when he moved to the U.S from Korea - 1 week
- My parents finalize giving up their Korean citizenship - 3-6 weeks
- After fulfilling these requirements, I file to give up Korean citizenship (1 year) and obtain my Korean passport - 3-4 weeks
Fast forward to now, in July--I'm set to receive my Korean passport in about 2 weeks, which is much sooner than what I had initially estimated. I am incredibly lucky and grateful that this all worked out.
To speak truthfully, I was hesitant to share this whole experience because I was embarrassed about how I failed to take action on a timely basis. I never remember when I make "mental notes," even when they're regarding something as important as potential Korean citizenship. I should've went to the Korean Embassy to deal with this as soon as I saw the warning from MIX last year.
However, I'm willing to embarrass myself and share my personal experience because (1) I want to raise awareness about Korean citizenship laws and (2) I really want to make sure that no one makes the same mistake that I made! If I had went to the Korean Embassy even just a bit later, I risked getting my Korean passport too late and being unable to study abroad. If you are of Korean descent and reading this as someone interested in studying abroad in Korea, please do not do what I did. Check your citizenship status as soon as possible.
With all of that being said, I'm thankful to the workers at the Korean Embassy who kindly and patiently explained everything to me and my parents and helped us to navigate the confusing process. Thank you!