Korea (Thread 8)

[theflygirl]

hello,  question we already booked our ticket on Nov8 to 12, ask ko i if i applied for a visa by august 14 3 months validity ng visa so it will expire by Nov14 right? hindi ako maeepirean? TIA

It depends on the issue date of the visa. For example, if you submit it by Aug14, and it is issued between the dates Aug.15 - 18, your final entry date (it is indicated on the visa) will be within Nov. 15-18 on a 3month valid visa.

As another example, if you are flying out of MNL on Nov.8, even if that is the final entry date indicated on your visa, it is still ok to use it. The number of days allowed is also indicated on the visa...read as PERIOD OF SOJOURN. Counting of the days starts upon arrival there.

I am travelling to Seoul almost the same dates as you are. Mine is Nov. 9-13, and I am planning to apply for our visas around August 9 (Friday) or August 12 (Monday).

[sdee]

^thanks sis theflygirl wow! 1 day earlier lang kami, san kayo mag stay sis? my bf wants to apply by aug12 sis baka mag kasabay pa tayo

[theflygirl]

^Nothing final yet but I'm planning to get a hotel in Myeongdong. Maybe Ninetree or Ibis. Meeting up with airline colleagues in Seoul, aside from touring my folks n aunt. They're not first timers anyway so magsidetrip ako on my own.

[sleepy_grfld]

^sis, you'll be applying for the 60-90 days stay in Korea? the one with a fee? gusto ko lang i-confirm sis kasi kami oct. 11-16 ang byahe e iniisip ko na hindi pa kami pwede kumuha before august 19. yung 59 days lang kasi ang plano kong i-apply. salamat.

[theflygirl]

^Hi.  Nope.  I'm getting the regular 3month C32 visa only. It'll be my 11th na.  Had some unused ones kasi.  Aiming for the visa exemption of 4trips within 2yrs or total 10trips. Lapit na.  I don't need the long stay visa anyway so I don't wanna waste money on it.  Easy lang naman to apply.

If you're leaving oct11, you can apply for the visa noong July 11 onwards (they usually issue the day or two days after you submit your application)  pwede na.  The visa is valid for 3months. The period of sojourn na 59days,  counting starts the day you arrive in Korea pa. Yung validity date is the final entry date lang.

[beachpatrol]

I miss Seoul! Sana makabalik ako para sa cherry blossoms. Natutuwa ako sa mga tao dun at sa food. Miss ko lalo ang Lotteriaaa

[u8mypinkcookies]

nasubukan nyo na ba air asia going there? ok ba? cebu pac kasi kami lagi eh.

[theflygirl]

^Not yet.  Always Korean Air before for my older trips,  but Philippine Airlines on my trip last Nov. Taking PR again this coming Nov.

[sleepy_grfld]

sis theflygirl, thank you. nalito ako sa validity ng visa at sa allowable stay. magkaiba pala yun. sana nag-apply na kami two weeks ago. thanks again.

[huit]

^Hi.  Nope.  I'm getting the regular 3month C32 visa only. It'll be my 11th na.  Had some unused ones kasi.  Aiming for the visa exemption of 4trips within 2yrs or total 10trips. Lapit na.  I don't need the long stay visa anyway so I don't wanna waste money on it.  Easy lang naman to apply.

If you're leaving oct11, you can apply for the visa noong July 11 onwards (they usually issue the day or two days after you submit your application)  pwede na.  The visa is valid for 3months. The period of sojourn na 59days,  counting starts the day you arrive in Korea pa. Yung validity date is the final entry date lang.

Hello, sa Sept 6 na flight namin, late na ba kami if sa Friday, August 2, apply? Also, mahigpit ba sila sa photo
sa application? dapat korean visa size talaga yung ID picture at hindi nakangiti at kita tenga dapat?

[u8mypinkcookies]

Booked na naman kami! Yey next year pa, sana may cherry blossoms na that time. Malamig pa ba mga second week ng April? excited na ulit ako.

[Halee]

yup, malamig pa 

[katniss]

^^yup sobrang lamig pa nung nagvisit kami. as in ngatog to the bones. ilang layers din suot ko.

[theflygirl]

@Huit-Just follow na lang the Korean visa photo requirements para sure.  I haven't deviated from what is listed ever since eh. Ang naiiba ko lang before was the background, minsan white, minsan blue (excess passport sized photos used for diff purposes) and never had a problem, but hey, don't copy me. Baka fluke lang sa kin. Who knows.

Also, apply na asap para di ka magahol sa oras in case ma-extend processing ng docs mo. Never happened to me yet but I've read some unfortunate stories in some groups about processing times. Or that the visa officer requests for more docs.

However, normal processing times for first time travellers to korea are 5 working days and for frequent travellers and holders or oecd visas, 3 working days. Good luck!

[huit]

okay...papapicture na lang ako ng korean visa ID mamaya. pero bawal naka smile? hehe. Ano nga pala ulit
yung arrangement ng docs pag mag-aaply? di ba may pagkakasunod-sunod dapat yun? =)

[bagaholic_chewy]

It's pretty standard naman for visa photos (not just Korea) yung labas tenga, and no teeth showing (si husband naka-smile konti, pero walang teeth, hehe). When we applied for SK visa, ginamit namin same photos we used for US and Japan visas, ginupitan lang namin para sumakto ang sukat, hehe.. buti within six months naman lahat nung visa applications namin. Sulit ang pa-picture, hehe..

[huit]

hehe...yung ID ko parang visa size kaso may tamang proportion daw yung ID sa mukha dapat. hahaha

[theflygirl]

^Yup. Generally speaking, ears are needed to be shown in visa photos. Without elaborating much on this, it's part of security. Neutral expression. 3.5cm x 4.5cm photo size so tulad lang nung passport size photo natin nung dati na requirement pa ng DFA magdala..now kasi not needed na. If you have your photo taken at the photo stores, just specify for Korean visa. Alam na nila yun requirements for it. Yun nga lang since you only need 1pc, marami talaga left over pictures sa photo packages.

Visa application form, photocopies of passport and OECD visas from other countries then supporting documents ang arrangement ng papers.

REMINDER: For those holding e-passports, DO NOT follow the reminder of the Korean Embassy (on its powerpoint presentation found on the website) to staple the old and new passports together. Our e-passport contains a microchip inside the cover so hindi dapat ma-bend, perforate or mabasa.

[u8mypinkcookies]

@katniss, @halee: yey thanks. Excited na ko, haha kahit next year pa! Sana may cherry blossoms.

Iniisip na namin where to go, mga di namin napuntahan sa past 2 visits namin

[theflygirl]

For those who have stayed at Ninetree, I saw the photos of the bathroom. Tama ba na frosted glass lang yung walls ng bathroom? I am trying to choose between Ninetree sana or Hotel PJ (kaso hindi ito mismo sa main Myeongdong area). Any info?