Travel while you are Young! Explore while there is Time! :)
Annyeong haseyo! ๐ค
That famous greeting most of us have heard nowadays even from not Koreans. K Dramas and K Pop are getting popular here in the country. As they have said.. Kinain na ng K Drama. From teenagers to young adults and even to the oldies, they know about Lee Min Ho and Gong Yoo. Thanks to ABS-CBN and GMA for showing Korean Dramas.
I was able to watch few Korean Dramas like Endless Love, Full House, Boys over Flowers, etc. But my sister is really the fanatic. She watched a lot of K Dramas, listen to Korean songs and even self studied Korean language.๐
And so when Cebu Pacific Air has a promo fare to Incheon, Korea, we then grabbed the chance. Our fare was just Php 5000 plus and that is already roundtrip and direct to/fro Cebu. Great deal, right? ๐
Months before the trip, we were already getting the requirements for the Korean Visa. Read blog posts about Korea and the processing of the visa. We also started making itineraries for the trip. That is how excited we were.โบ๏ธ
We agreed to process our visa after we get our 13th month pay so that we can add it up for our show money. I did not know getting a visa is nerve-breaking. hahaha
Below are the requirements that we found online. This is for those going to South Korea as a tourist like us and are employed.
You can check the blogs online for the requirements for other type of traveler like businessman.
We were able to provide 9 out of 10 (except #10 because we do not have a PRC or IBP card).
Since we are from Cebu City, we processed our visa at the South Korean Consulate General inย 12th Floor Chinabank Corporate Centerย Lot 2, Samar Loop Cor. Road 5 Cebu Bussines Park, Mabolo,ย Cebu City. Just near Lexmark and Keppel Bldgs. The processing of visa is from 8:30AM to 10:30AM while the releasing is at 2PM to 4PM. They are very strict with the schedule so better be early.
The visa for tourist going to South Korea for less than 59 days is free.
Our travel date is on June 9-14, 2017. We were able to complete the requirements May 26, 2017 because my Certificate of Employment was delivered on that day. So, the three of us agreed that I will process the visa on Monday, May 28, 2017. This is just so right because the releasing will be 5 days as per on the blogs. Yes, anyone of you can process the visa for all even if you are just friends. No authorization needed.
So, when I went there on May 28, there were few people processing the visa. When it was my turn, the in-charge (Korean lady) scanned all our requirements. Then she returned all the requirements with an attachment to our ITR. She said that we lacked ITR or FORM 2316 BIR Authentication (any of the following):
In addition, the processing of visa starting April 2017 will take 7 business days. So we really need to process it on or before May 29, 2017. But we still have to secure the additional requirements.
As I informed my sister (Ate Jane) and her friend (Ate Tzhe), we were all confused on how to get it. And so I told them that they ask their HR and I will go to BIR Office to ask how to secure this.
As I was in the BIR Office, the in-charge told me that processing of the BIR Stamp takes 7 business days because they need to route an approval. Plus, me and Ate Tzhe need to secure it from Manila since our ITR is coming from our Manila office.
Later that day, Ate Tzhe was able to secure the Copy of Notarized Sworn Declaration, Transmittal Form with BIR stamp. Then Ate Jane was able to get a copy of the Alphalist with BIR stamp. I told them that they just process their requirements first because our HR is absent, unfortunately. So Ate Tzhe said that she will process the next day.
That next day (May 29), she was waiting for my requirement to be available so that she can process. However, the HR still did not send it. So, she just processed her requirements. Me and Ate Jane should be processed together because we declared that we are traveling as a family. So Ate Tzhe did process her requirements and was given a claim form with date of June 8. Then she requested if she can follow our requirements and the in-charge give her 30-minute extension.
Unfortunately, our HR was able to send the requirements at almost 11AM and Ate Tzhe still needs to print it and ran to the consulate office. When she was able to print and ran to the consulate office, the door has been closed because it was already 11:10AM.
And so, the three of us that Ate Jane will process our requirements the next day (May 30). It was so thrilling and nerve-breaking. We were really played by the universe. hahaha..
The next day, Ate Jane was able to process the requirements and was given a claim slip with date of June 9. It would be totally difficult if the passport will be released on that day because the releasing is at 2-4PM while our flight is at 3PM. We really need to do some ninja moves if this will be released on the same day. Fortunately, the in-charge let my sister signed a request for early release and instructed us to call in the morning of June 8.
Wow! I do not know if what is more nerve-breaking. Processing the visa, waiting for the release of the passport or both.๐
We cannot do anything but pray that God will grant us an approved visa.๐๐ผ
June 6, Tuesday, I called the consulate office to check the status or if there are requirements that we need to submit. But as per the one who answered, no status as of the moment.
June 8, Thursday, is the moment of truth! I called at 8:30AM asking about our passport if it can be released but the lady told me to call at 11:30AM. However, I have a meeting from 11AM to 12NN which I cannot skip. So, I told Ate Jane but they cannot outside call. Ate Tzhe does not have an own phone in the office. And so I asked a favor from my colleague, Clavel.๐ฑ
At 11:30AM, she called and the staff told her that we can claim it at 2PM. Wow! It feels good but still I was totally nervous. The release of the passport does not guarantee if we can travel.
2PM here we come! I went to the consulate office and me & Ate Tzhe will meet there. When I arrived, the office is closed yet and Ate Tzhe is still far. So when the office opened, I claimed ahead of her. My priority number is 2 so when the first person was done, I immediately approached the counter when the in-charge called my number. I handed her the claim slip and she checked it and gave me a paper and have it signed. Then she handed mine and Ate Jane’s passports. Then I asked her if it was approved and she said yes. Wow! Thanks God! Super thank you! I cannot even believe it did happen! But God really has his own way. He let us experienced all those thrilling moments because we need to work for the things we want.๐๐๐
That’s it! Our journey in processing the visa. ๐
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
HERE’S MY TIP
Never get so confident that things will be okay. Never take it for granted. Take it seriously. Because we do not know what will happen during the processing period.
The important tip is to go to the consulate office and ask for the requirements. Because what was posted online might not be updated. From time to time, they can add any requirements they need. So better double check. If getting there is difficult, then you may call the office.
So, what you are waiting for? Check for promo fare, prepare for the requirements and process the visa! And maybe you will wake up one day in South Korea surrounded by the friendly Koreans.๐๐๐
Next post is Day 0: Journey to South Korea! ๐
Did you have any OECD visas prior to your application?
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Hi Justine. No, I haven’t any OECD visas. Actually, this is my first visa application.
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Hi. I have plans to travel in Korea this October. I just wanna ask if you guys got your BIR Sworn Declaration and Alphalist from your HR? I plan to get this by August so I won’t be pressed for time.
Also, if you don’t mind me asking, how much was it in your bank when you applied. I don’t have much so I’m quire worried but I also read some blogs that they have very minimal yet approved because the Korean Embassy is looking mostly at the job security you have here (Employer related documents).
Thanks in advance!
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Hello Pam. ๐ค Yes, we got our BIR Sworn Declaration and Alphalist from our HR. Itโs better to process the Visa with ample time so that you can provide all the requirements needed and if there will be additional.
We just have Php 50K in our bank account.
I hope this helps. ๐
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Hi. I am planning to travel in Korea this October. I just wanna ask if you got your BIR documents (sworn declaration and Alphalist) from your HR or from the BIR office itself?
Thanks for answering in advance!
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Hi Pam. ๐ค You can get it from your HR.
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Hello!~ I saw in part of your blog that your friend was able to send them an early release of your passport. I am quite worried about my passport being released on the day of my flight too and I was thinking of writing them the same thing. Nadelay kasi yung documents ko kasi I’m from Davao and I have to send it to Cebu pa… If possible, can you tell us the process on how your friend sent the early release and what was stated there? Hoping for your respond T_T
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Hi. She was able to claim her visa as sched which is a day before our flight. Me and my sister should claim our visa on the day of the flight. But when we submitted the documents, we asked the in-charge if it is possible to claim it earlier that (maybe a day before) because we have a flight and their releasing is in the afternoon. Just an hour before our flight. They told us to call on the day before that to check if the visa is available. I think you can do the same thing. ๐
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