DISCLAIMER: Most of the things you're going to read are purely based on my experience and according to the Korean Embassy. I had a different case in the sponsorship requirements and this tour was made possible by our school and of course the program I'm in. In addition, I posted this because I love my friends. Haha
So you've already booked your flight, accommodation and planned your itinerary in Korea. But were you given a Korean Visa?
It's not that hard to be granted a Korean Visa, unlike if you're applying for a Chinese Visa, or even Japanese. That's according to my Chinese friend, which I have proven to be true. Korean tourism is on full promotion here in the Philippines (which means they are attracting tourists) so as long as you submit the correct and authenticated general, specific and additional requirements in the Korean Embassy, and if you did not violate their laws, you do not have to worry.
I made a checklist so I will not forget anything, although the travel agency that assisted us gave us a list of requirements. What I added onto the requirements is my passport. General rule is that a passport should be renewed 6 months before its expiry, whether you're going to another country or not. Subordinate to it is that a passport should be renewed 6 months before departure, especially if you're travelling to a country which requires a visa before entry. My previous passport was supposed to expire on April 2015 and my date of departure to Korea was on November 3. Starting the count on the month of November up to April, my passport is soon to expire, with only 5 months of validity remaining. Obviously, I immediately applied for a passport renewal because it's quite hard to file an appointment in the DFA. Thank God I woke up at 4 am to book an appointment earlier than the previous one I selected.
Tip: Wake up at dawn and file again another appointment online if you feel that the date and time you previously chose for passport application is a hectic day for you.
Next: General Requirements
- Korean Visa Application Form
You can download this at the Korean Embassy's website at: embassy_philippines.mofa.go,kr under the Consular/Visa Service section
-Original Passport (Valid for more than six months)
- 1 pc Passport-sized picture
I suggest that you go to photo studios such as Fujifilm, Kodak, Mitsubishi, etc. Do not go to somewhere which uses photoshop to enhance your picture. Wear a corporate attire or you can borrow a blazer or any corporate wear provided by the studio.
- Photocopy of the 2nd page of your passport (Bio-page; the one with your picture and personal information on it)
- If you traveled to OECD-member countries for the past 5 years, provide an original and photocopied visa(s)/arrival stamps. Korean Visas are not applicable. You can find the list at: www.oecd.org. This is required for those who have been to OECD-member countries because it will shorten the number of visa processing days- from the regular 5 days to only 3 days of waiting.
- Original Bank Cetificate
Bank certificate and bank statement are different. It has been emphasized by the embassy that one should not submit a bank statement. Do not attempt to scan or even photocopy your bank certificate. Do not submit a payslip either. If the applicant (like me) is a student, his/her sponsor should be the one to provide the document.
How much should be on your bank account? I don't know. Please take note that no matter how much money you have deposited on your account, it does not guarantee visa approval, although it is a big factor since South Korea is a developed country. There are still other documents needed to be assessed so, yeah.
For the specific requirements:
You can go visit the embassy's website at embassy_philippines.mofa.go.kr, for a long list of visa requirements according to your occupation/situation. If your Korean trip is under the name of the school (this is a group travel, by the way), the institution will be responsible for the collection of the generally required and additional documents.
Lastly, for the additional requirements:
Note: I can only provide information about sponsor requirements
The additional requirements can be asked to anyone who submitted documents which are deemed doubtful. In addition, these requirements are requested to fully prove visa applicant/tourist-sponsor relationship.
Since I am a student, of course, I have to have a sponsor. My supporter is a relative so what happened is that the embassy asked for 3 birth certificates- parent's sponsor's and mine to prove our relation. The passport alone cannot prove family relation because according to the embassy, it's untraceable.
Another document asked from my sponsor was the Employment Certificate/Contract. If your sponsor is working overseas, his/her contract should have an English translation/version.
The sponsor should also have his/her passport photocopied/scanned.
We were also asked for a notarized affidavit of support and consent but I will not further elaborate that because that's only applicable for a tour organized by the school.
So after submitting a lot of documents, I have to wait for 5 days. In agony. And another 5 days because the embassy asked for a bank certificate. I first submitted a payslip but they did not accept it and since my sponsor's working overseas, I had no choice but ask for an original copy of the bank certificate. Since the shipping will take a few days (Express shipping, by the way) before the document arrives at our doorstep, I sent a letter to the embassy stating that my sponsor cannot provide a bank certificate ahead of time.
After about 2 weeks of waiting...
VOILA! My very first visa, and it's a Korean Visa :)
Credits to the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Philippines for the visa facts. :)
Hope this post helped.
Okay, back to some editing.
Stay tuned for the next part: KOREA 2014: KOREA, FINALLY!
P.S. The stamps indicate my departure and arrival dates soooo yeah this visa was captured after I came back. :)
UPDATE: The Korean Embassy now requires applicants to provide a BANK STATEMENT, aside from the bank certificate.
Always Keep the Faith.
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