Hello, it's me again. Edward the Challenger!
Yes!
It's a challenge to go to Korea!
We have been talking about the student visa for so long that we fail to acknowledge that there are actually other options when getting a VISA to Korea. There are, of course, various types of South Korea visas out there that you can apply for: a visa for studying, a visa for business, a visa for joining family, etc.
For me, personally, if getting a student visa is hard, I can do tourist visa first, and then go decide for myself on what's next afterwards.
What is a tourist visa? A tourist visa is a document that allows a limited period of leisure travel within a country, but no business activity. It means having this means you cannot work or study but only go as a tourist.
Here are the requirements for Filipino employees when getting a tourist visa in Korea.
Visa Requirements for Employees
1. Application Form 2. 1 piece of Passport size colored picture 3. Original Passport (should be valid for more than 6months) 4. Photocopy of Passport Bio-page (page 2) 5. Original & Photocopy of valid visa/s and arrival stamps to OECD member countries for the past 5 years (If applicable only) 6. Original Certificate of Employment (must include applicant's position, date hired, compensation, office address, HR landline number(cell-phone number is not allowed), HR e-mail address) 7. Original Personal Bank Certificate (must include account type, current balance, account opening date, ADB) 8. Bank Statement (original or certified true copy of bank statements/passbook for the last 3 months) 9. Photocopy of ITR (Income Tax Return) or Form 2316 10. Copy of PRC Card or IBP Card (If applicable only) ■ Visa Fee: 59 days (or less) stay in Korea -- GRATIS 60 to 90 days stay in Korea -- PHP2,000.00
* If personally invited by Korean . Invitation Letter . Photocopy of inviter's Passport or Identification Card (authentication not required)
* If invited by Company in Korea . Invitation Letter . Photocopy of Korean Company Business Permit (authentication not required)
* Frequent travellers who have travelled as tourist to OECD member countries (excluding Japan) within 5 years are exempted from submitting ITR.
What is a short term employment visa? There is another visa especially for some specified jobs in Korea. These are teachers, entertainers, and athletes. I am a teacher by profession but I do not have a license. I only do ESL teaching. So, I am not sure if these actually applies though. But here are the requirements.
VISA REQUIREMENTS FOR C4 (SHORT TERM EMPLOYMENT FOR ENTERTAINERS, TEACHERS, AND ATHLETES)
1. Application Form 2. 1 piece of Passport size colored picture (should be attached on the application form 3. Original Passport (should be valid for more than 6months) 4. Photocopy of Passport Bio-page (page 2) 5. Original & Photocopy of valid visa/s and arrival stamps to OECD member countries for the past 5 years (If applicable) 6. Invitation Letter from Korean Organization 7. Guarantee Letter from Korean Organization 8. Photocopy of Korean Organization's Business Permit 9. Additional Documents - for Entertainers: Employment Contract, Recommendation from Korea Media Rating Board - for Athletes: Condition of the Game, Recommendation from Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism ■ Processing Time: 5 working days ■ Visa Fee: PHP2,000.00
Starting from March 1, 2018, all applicants of C4 visa with the below nationalities will be required to submit medical exam on tuberculosis issued from hospitals designated by the embassy.
① Nepal ② East Timor ③ Russia ④ Malaysia ⑤ Mongol ⑥ Myanmar
⑦Bangladesh ⑧ Vietnam ⑨ Sri Lanka ⑩ Uzbekistan ⑪ India ⑫ Indonesia
⑬ China ⑭ Cambodia ⑮ Kyrgyzstan ⑯ Thailand ⑰ Pakistan ⑱Philippines
*Picture of the applicant should be attached at the medical exam form. The picture should bear the dry seal of the hospital or the signature of the doctor in-charge. The laboratory test result should be submitted together with the medical exam form.
If result of examination is positive the visa application is automatically denied.
Attachment 1. List of Designated Hospitals
Attachment 2. Sample Format of Medical Exam
What is a religious worker visa? Religious workers include persons authorized by a recognized entity to conduct religious worship and undertake other duties usually performed by authorized members of the clergy of that religion, and workers engaging in a religious vocation or occupation.
Visa Requirements for Religious Workers
1. Application Form
2. 1 piece of Passport size colored picture
3. Original Passport (should be valid for more than 6months)
4. Photocopy of Passport Bio-page (page 2)
5. Original & Photocopy of valid visa/s and arrival stamps to OECD member countries for the past 5 years (If applicable only)
6. Copy of Church SEC in the Philippines
7. Certification from Church Original
- If Employed: Employment Certificate Original [must include applicant's position, date hired, compensation, office address, HR landline number(cell-phone number is not allowed), HR e-mail address], Photocopy of ITR(Income Tax Return) or Form 2316 Copy
- If Businessmen: Business Registration from SEC or DTI (Copy), Business Permit or Mayor's Permit(Copy), Photocopy of ITR (Income Tax Return) or Form 2316
8. Personal Bank Certificate Original [must include account type, current balance, account opening date, 6 months average balance (ADB)]
9. Personal Bank Statement (original or certified true copy of bank statements/passbook for the last 3 months)
10. Invitation from Korea
- Copy of business permit of Korean church
- Invitation Letter
- Copy of inviter's ID
■ Visa Fee: 59 days (or less) stay in Korea -- GRATIS 60 to 90 days stay in Korea -- PHP2,000.00
* Frequent travellers who have travelled as tourist to OECD member countries (excluding Japan) within 5 years are exempted from submitting ITR.
Korean visa applicants are advised to submit their requirements to any of their 35 designated travel agencies, unless they are a family member of a Korean, a government employee who will go on an official trip, or a holder of a Visa Issuance Confirmation Number.
Here are the agencies you can visit in the Philippines:
Aboex Travel and Tours
Adventure International Tours, Inc.
Ark Travel Express Inc
Blue Horizons Travel and Tours Inc.
Budget Travel and Tours Inc.
Casto Travel Philippines Inc.
City Travel and Tours Corporation
Come on Phils. Golf & Travel Agency Inc.
Constellation Travels, Inc.
First United Travel Inc.
Getaway Tours International Inc.
Grand Hope Travel and Tours
H.I.S. (Philippines) Travel Corp.
Hanatour Manila Inc.
Hankookceb Corp.
Horizon Travel and Tours, Inc.
International Journeys Inc.
JOINENJOY (Island Resort Club Tour Services, Inc.)
JTB Asia Pacific Phil. Corp.
KP Joeun Consultancy Inc.
Las Palmas Tours and Travel Agency, Inc.
Marsman Drsydale Travel Inc.
MNK Travel and Tours Corp.
North Star International Travel, Inc.
Pan Pacific Travel Corporation
Party-on Travel and Tour Community Inc.
Rajah Travel Corporation
Rakso Air Travel and Tours Inc.
Reli Tours and Travel Company
Sharp Travel Service (Phils.) Inc.
Swire Travel Philippines Inc.
The Baron Travel Corporation
Travel Pros
TravelServices Inc.
Uni-Orient Travel Inc.
If you are near Ortigas here are the options for you:
Aboex Travel and Tours
Travel Pros
Reli Tours and Travel Company
KP Joeun Consultancy Inc.
MNK Travel and Tours Corp.
Party-on Travel and Tour Community Inc.
Uni-Orient Travel Inc.
Have I made a decision? No not yet. But at least I know what my options are!
Let's do it! Aja!
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