First Time to South Korea: Day 1

At Nami Island

We safely arrived to Seoul Airport around 4:00 KST. Thanks to Jeju Air. We had to walk for 5 minutes to the Immigration after riding a subway/train(had to walk for few minutes to go here). Seoul Airport is really big. Stamping passport is one by one. It is different in Philippines because it could be by group. Then, we went to get our luggage. I'm so strong that I can carry my heavy luggage. Of course, I helped my mom to get hers. Thanks to my extra weight that I become stronger. After that, we went to exit. While going out, I said in my mind that "Wow! This is the exit where Korean actors go out. I watched it in some Korean Dramas. I'm so happy." We had to wait for other travelers of "Hallyu Korea", our tour package. I quite wondered why it is called Hallyu Korea. I realized it later on. The reason is that we would go to MBC Dramia, a shooting location of historical dramas in South Korea, and Star World on the 2nd day and 3rd day, respectively.

Jeju Air with Bigbang

my boarding pass from South Korea to Philippines

My first time to board Jeju Air was last November 1. I just noticed that delays are inevitable when your departure is from Manila. I didn't understand the cause of delay. My first flight with Korean Air was also delayed last March 2012. There was also one-hour and 30 minutes delay when we went back here in Manila via Jeju Air. The reason for this was the heavy rain in Seoul. It's good thing that it rained after our tour in Seoul.

Korean Visa for Filipinos

Short-term Visa

My mother, my sister and I are very happy when we learned that our Visa Application for Korea were approved. Thanks to Jeju Air for assisting us. We submitted our applications with the necessary requirements to Jeju Air on a Tuesday; Jeju Air forwarded our requirements on the next day, and we knew the result after a week. It is our first time on applying the visa.

Here is the Korean Visa requirements summary I got from Jeju Air.

Basic Requirements

·         Original passport (6 months valid from the date of travel)

o    Submit Old passport if used within the last five years

·         Photocopy of passport’s first page (ID page) and visa or arrival stamps to any OECD countries within the last 5 years

·         1 Passport sized picture with white background

·         Completely filled-out visa application form

Short-term Visas(C-3) for Tourists: Single Entry (Requirements as per qualification):

Employee

·         Original Employment Certificate (include Tenure, Position, and Salary)

·         Photocopy of Company Identification Card

·         Original Personal Bank Certificate with receipt

·         Photocopy of Individual Income Tax Return (ITR) or Form 2316 (the previous year)

Businessman

·         Photocopy of Business registration SEC or DTI

·         Photocopy of Mayor’s or Business permit

·         Original Personal Bank Certificate with receipt

·         Photocopy of Latest Income Tax Return (ITR) or Form 2316 (the previous year)

Student / Child

·         Original School Certificate for Students

·         Photocopy of School Identification card for Students

·         Photocopy of NSO Birth Certificate

·         Photocopy of all Documents of parents

ü  if NOT travelling with both parents, Original Affidavit of support and consent by the parents or guardian (Notarized) is required

Retiree/Senior Citizen (55 years old and above)

·         Original Certificate of retirement or  Photocopy of Senior Citizen Identification Card

·         Original Bank Certificate include the receipt from the bank

·         Other proof of funds such as land titles, Vehicle registration, Pension Certificate, Country Club or Golf Club, Stocks

Note:

1.        Applicants may submit other proof of funds such as land titles, Vehicle registration, Pension Certificate, Country Club or Golf Club, Stocks Certificate as supporting documents in case they cannot submit one of the requirements of their qualifications.

2.        Applicants could be asked to submit additional documents as per consul’s evaluation.

3.        All visa applications are subject for approval, processing normally takes 7 working days.

4.        3-4 working days processing (subject to consul’s discretion) if applicant travelled to any countries listed below within the last 5 years:

List of OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development) Countries

§ Australia

§ Denmark

§  Iceland

§ Mexico

§ Slovenia

§ Austria

§ Estonia

§  Ireland

§ Netherlands

§ Spain

§ Belgium

§ Finland

§  Israel

§ New Zealand

§ Sweden

§ Canada

§ France

§  Italy

§ Norway

§ Switzerland

§ Chile

§ Germany

§  Japan

§ Poland

§ Turkey

§ Czech Republic

§ Greece

§ Portugal

§ United Kingdom

§ Hungary

§  Luxembourg

§ Slovak Republic

§ United States 
 

I'm still a student that's why Jeju Air submitted my requirements with my mother's who is an employee. All of us submitted the requirements. However, I and my sister did not submit our old passports. I forgot to bring mine while my sister did not give hers because the staff of Jeju Air said it's fine even without the old passport. My sister has stamp of arrival at China in her old passport while I have stamp of arrival at United States of America. I also have American Visa in my old passport. However, both of us submitted all the photocopy of our stamps on arrival, and departure and my photocopy American Visa to Jeju Air. My sister is quite nervous because she might get denied while I and my mom would be approved. She only visited Beijing, China, Hongkong and Shenzen, China in the last five years.