Learn how to Get a South Korean Visa Appointment Slot
Safe that elusive slot!
by Meryl Medel | December 05, 2022
For a number of weeks, Filipinos lined up for hours beginning the day earlier than and all through the evening simply to succeed in the cutoff for walk-in candidates for a South Korean visa. This led to the Korean Embassy in Manila limiting the variety of purposes allowed per day, and ultimately establishing an internet appointment system each for people and journey businesses. Regardless of this new system, reserving an appointment stays tough, with some candidates even describing it as “starvation video games” (I get that; I personally tried reserving and it was actually aggressive with slots going quick). So for these planning to use for a South Korean visa, we now have some ideas that may get you began on securing that elusive appointment slot:
Select between two methods to use
If you happen to’re making use of for a South Korean visa, there are two methods you’ll be able to apply: (1) through particular person appointment or (2) through an accredited journey company.
There are 36 journey businesses accredited by the Embassy, and you’ll contact any of them to verify if they will accommodate your visa software. Every company prices a processing service charge that ranges between PHP 700 to 1,200.
Nonetheless, when you don’t need to pay an extra charge, you’ll be able to decide to attempt reserving a person appointment and battle it out when the Embassy opens new slots. Once I was making preparations for my very own visa software, I initially submitted my paperwork to a journey company. Nonetheless, as a result of company’s backlog and the Embassy’s limitations, my software wasn’t lodged instantly. My goal date of departure is quick approaching, so I figured I ought to attempt securing a person appointment. These are the guidelines that labored for me then.
Learn the nice print
Manner earlier than the day when the Embassy will open new appointment slots, it’s best to already familiarize your self with the rules. Know the do’s and don’ts. The Embassy has already launched notices containing tips and steadily requested questions on its web site and Fb web page. So ensure that to learn and perceive all the pieces.
Familiarize your self with the web site
You must do a run-through of all of the steps from begin to end. And once more, it’s best to do that earlier than the day slots open. This fashion, you’ll be able to familiarize your self with the web site’s interface and also you’ll know your means round on the day of. I personally did a run-through, which ensured there was no fumbling round whereas I used to be securing my appointment.
Regulate the Embassy’s bulletins
When the appointment system was first launched, the Embassy solely opened slots for the subsequent two weeks. This later modified to a few weeks’ value of slots, then the present 4 weeks. Moreover, the primary batch of slots was opened at 2 PM, whereas the more moderen batch of slots is scheduled at 9 AM. Such modifications could proceed to happen, so it’s finest to maintain abreast of any new updates from the Embassy. You may observe them on their Fb web page or go to their web site’s discover board.
Put together an inventory of dates
A day earlier than the opening of slots, verify which dates are being opened. Record down your most well-liked date, and ensure to have backup dates simply in case you aren’t in a position to safe your most well-liked schedule. You also needs to put together all the small print required by the web site, equivalent to your full identify and passport quantity.
Get into the positioning early
Even earlier than the hour when the slots will probably be opened, you’ll be able to already enter your particulars for non-membership login and request a one-time PIN. However don’t be too early! Some individuals who entered the positioning and logged in hours earlier typically received logged out of the positioning, so that they needed to log in once more and request one other OTP, which takes for much longer now that the server is receiving many requests.
Screenshot from consul.mofa.go.kr
A tip that comes up steadily amongst those that succeeded is that it’s best to maintain interacting with the positioning, so that you received’t get kicked out. As soon as the scheduled time comes, that’s when you choose the diplomatic mission (i.e. “Embassy of the Republic of Korea to the Republic of the Philippines”) and observe the remainder of the steps as outlined by the Embassy.
Screenshot from consul.mofa.go.kr
Prepared your paperwork
If you happen to efficiently booked your appointment, congratulations! Now all it’s good to do is put together your paperwork, submit them in your scheduled appointment, and hope for the perfect.
With how tough reserving an appointment has been lately, we advise ready till you’ve secured a slot earlier than you collect all dated paperwork, equivalent to your financial institution certificates and statements. If you find yourself not securing an appointment, you’ll want to attend till the subsequent time slots open, which can be weeks away and in case your financial institution certificates could also be thought of “outdated.” Some visa candidates reported that in such circumstances, the Embassy requested them to submit a brand new and up-to-date financial institution certificates and assertion, which could imply a brand new expense altogether.
Unable to safe a slot?
Within the worst-case state of affairs that you simply did not ebook an appointment, it’s possible you’ll want to begin transforming your plans and reschedule your journey. You may wait to attempt reserving once more when slots are opened or till the inflow of candidates dies down.
Another can be to repeatedly verify if an accredited journey company has instantly opened a slot for submission. Such circumstances could occur if considered one of their candidates was in a position to safe a private appointment and selected to drag out their paperwork. The Embassy additionally repeatedly gives updates on the present standing of their accredited journey businesses, full with an estimated variety of pending purposes and the subsequent out there date for submission on the Embassy.
Screenshot from abroad.mofa.go.kr/ph-en
Don’t lose hope. Preventing!
This text was republished with permission from 8List.ph.
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