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How I Got My Japan & South Korea Tourist Visa in Cebu

Updated note: this was in 2017, so things could be different now!

I get a lot of questions from close friends about visa application experiences so I decided to finally write about one, especially in Cebu. I love how it’s fairly easy to get visas in Cebu now without having to fly out to Manila anymore. Why not take advantage, right?

I will try my best to be as detailed as possible with this entry. I know many probably won’t read and just skim through so I will also make the requirements concise as well. The reason why I consolidated this post for both countries is that I applied to both in a span of a couple of weeks therefore it made obtaining my requirements a lot more time efficient.

Introduction

There are a lot of other blogs that provide more detailed process for different kinds of applicants. This post is about my own personal experience that’s why I can confidently write about it. I could say that I owe my knowledge to blogs for making me close to sure that my requirements were sufficient to support my application.

Caugh mid-laugh among Shinjuku lights

This post will be based on my background; which is—

  • I’m single and unmarried at the time of application,
  • with no guarantor from each country and personally paying for travels,
  • a regular employee in a reputable institution,
  • have several OECD issued visas in my passport (not a guarantee for visa approval, but it helps).

Part 1: Requirements

I made a written checklist in my journal so I could monitor my progress. Here’s a short list before I delve deeper into each requirement.

Japan Tourist Visa Requirements
Passport
Visa Application Form
4.5 x 4.5cm photo (white background)
NSO Birth Certificate
Marriage Certificate (if the applicant is married)
Daily Schedule in Japan aka TAIZAI YOTEIHYO
Bank Certificate
Proof of Income (COE)

South Korea Tourist Visa Requirements
Passport
Application Form
3.5 x 4.5cm photo (white background)
Photocopy – passport bio page
Original + photocopy of visa and arrival stamps for OECD countries
COE – position, date hired, compensation, address, HR email
Original personal bank certificate
Bank statement/passbook for 3 months
ITR 2316

Passport

If you don’t have a passport, secure one right away from the Department of Foreign Affairs via passport.gov.ph. DFA in Cebu is at Pacific Mall in Mandaue. As of Oct 2017, I heard that the earliest you can get a slot is by November and December 2017. If you’re strapped for time, I suggest you go to the nearest DFAs in Dumaguete and Tacloban to get your passports. This isn’t a post about passport processing, so I’m going to leave it here.

NSO Birth Certificate and/or Marriage Certificate

NSO documents can be retrieved from the NSO Office in Gaisano South, downtown Colon. This blog post about getting your NSO document is very helpful and provides a lot of photos and step by step information.

Japan Embassy requires that these certificates must be issued at the very least one year prior to application date. So if you have an old NSO birth certificate lying around from 3 years ago and you planned to use that, forget it. Please make sure your birth certificate is readable otherwise you may have to submit other supporting documents.

Bank Certificate

In my case it wasn’t difficult to get a bank certificate from my bank, BPI. I went to my branch of account and requested for a certification of all my accounts stated in one document. The bank usually asks you for your purpose of request so they can state it in the certificate.

Korean Embassy requires your bank certificates to have the following details aside from your total savings such as: date of account opened and average daily balance (v impt!).

Honestly, I do not know how much you need to have in your bank account to be approved for a visa. The contents of my accounts are not huge. I’ve read a blog post where a guy was approved for a visa and only had Php 7,000+ in his account. Frankly, that’s a bit of a gamble but that’s just me. I calculate the amount based on my projected spendings in a day during my travel. So for example if I spend 5 days in Seoul and plan to spend at most USD 100 a day, that’s USD 100 x 5 = USD 500 = Php 25,000 minimum amount in my bank account.

As for the maximum, that’s up to you. If you only have Php 7,000 in your account and plan to apply for a visa and asked someone to wire you Php 500,000 for it to look good on your bank certificate, then it’s still not going to count because it will affect your average daily balance. Someone with 500k with an average daily balance of 5k? That’s suspicious and may be grounds for questioning.

Photo for Application Forms

This is possibly the easiest one out of the bunch. Just go to a Picture City branch, I think there’s one in both Ayala Center Cebu or SM City and tell them you need your photo taken for a Japan and/or Korea visa. More often than not they already know the dimensions and post-processing so all you have to do is pay the fee, sit down and pose for the camera.

Certificate of Employment

This one is subjective. You either have a very accommodating workplace that churns out COEs at your disposal, or a bureaucratic one that needs about 10 approvals before it’s in your hands. Point here is, ask your immediate head or HR representative to provide you an employment certificate that details

1) your tenure or start date,
2) monthly salary,
3) any other monetary benefits,
4) and the purpose for issuing the employment certificate.

Make sure your Certificate of Employment also includes the address and landline phone number of the company, as there may be instances where they call your workplace to verify your employment. I’m sure this isn’t the case for every application, but it’s always good to be sure in order to avoid any issues.

Part II: Japan Tourist Visa Application Process

Rainy nights in Shinjuku

The links below are the key pages you want to check when applying for a tourist visa in Japan. It is PRETTY straightforward and shows that the Japanese government really welcomes you to be a tourist in their country, given the right circumstances. These 2 links will help you with your application:

http://www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp/itpr_en/00_000035.html
http://www.ph.emb-japan.go.jp/files/000232573.pdf

Instead of going directly to the Japanese embassy or a consulate and line up to get a visa, they instead require you to apply at a partner agency that handles the processing. As for us, we chose Friendship Tours as it was closest to home. Show up with your requirements and submit everything during office hours.

Friendship Tours & Resorts Corp.
Unit 101 Bldg. 1, Oakridge Business Park, 880 A.S. Fortuna St., Mandaue City
3453459 / 3444825 / 09177243373

My mom sent in the application for us to Friendship Tours (herself, my sister, and I) with all the requirements. Applicants are required to pay a fee of Php 1,200, and Php 1,800 if you get granted multiple entry.

Getting out of Shibuya station, to the infamous Shibuya crossing

She was told that the processing would take up to 7 days. Exactly a week after application, I received this text from Friendship Tours:

My mother is a recent housewife and she has worked up until 2015, while my sister is a student. My mom has been to Japan before therefore she was granted a multiple 5 year tourist visa and added Php 600 on top of her initial Php 1,200 payment, while I was granted single entry and so was my sister.

Entering Senso-ji Temple in Asakusa

I checked our visa issue date and even though we received it after a week, I found that we were approved just 2 days after we submitted our requirements. Yay.

Part III: Korea Tourist Visa Application Process

Myeongdong, Seoul’s no. 1 shopping district

This will be the 2nd time I’ve gotten a tourist visa for South Korea. My first one from 2013 doesn’t really warrant a post because I didn’t do much of the legwork and just submitted all the requirements and paid a fee of Php 2,500 to a local travel agent. Times have changed now because getting a tourist visa for Korea now is free, provided that you will stay for less than 59 days.

Seoul city view from our lovely Airbnb

Since my trip to Korea is with friends, this was a single application. Before going to the consulate, make sure there are no Korean holidays and non-working days being observed otherwise you may go there and it’s closed. As for me, I went on Chuseok week (Korean Thanksgiving) so I double checked closures. Always refer to the Visa Announcement page on the consulate website for any announcements and changes on visa processing.

Nami Island is absolutely beautiful in the fall. It is a MUST visit when you’re there.

Old process: Visa processing is 5 working days for applicants without OECD visas and stamps and only 3 days for applicants with OECD visas and stamps.

New process: Visa processing is now SEVEN (7) working days for all types of applicants.

South Korea Consulate – Cebu
12th Floor Chinabank Corporate Center
Lot 2, Samar Loop Cor. Road 5
Cebu Bussiness Park, Mabolo, Cebu City
+63-32-231-1516(-9)
E-mail: phi_cebu2015@mofa.go.kr
Open Monday-Friday from 08:30-17:00

This is a quick (really quick and easy!!) step-by-step process on how to apply for a South Korean Tourist Visa.

1. Get a queue number from the guard for visa processing. You do not need to surrender any belongings but the guards cover your camera lens with a sticker because picture taking is not allowed inside the consulate office.
2. Proceed to the waiting area and wait for your queue number to be called. There’s a big screen TV where they show Korean movies, and an area where you’re able to fill out forms depending on your need.
3. Once your number is called, proceed to the window to pass your requirements. I was only asked one question and that is what was my reason to visit South Korea in 2013. They also returned my ITR and BIR documents because apparently you do not need to submit if you’ve already been issued a visa before.
4. Nothing else!

Make sure you experience going around in their traditional costume, a hanbok! Entrance is free to all the palaces when you wear the national costume.

As long as your requirements are complete, you can be in and out of the consulate in less than 30 minutes depending on your number. I arrived early at 9am and I was Application No. 11, and No. 4 was being served so it was really quick for me. I didn’t reach up to an hour.

When I was there, a girl was sent home and asked to come back because she had incomplete requirements. Make sure that doesn’t happen to you because it is such a hassle to go back and forth.

Nami Island in the fall is unforgettable

I received a claim stub stating that my passport would be available within 7 days with a pickup date. Pick-up time is from 2pm to 4pm on weekdays and a week later, I received my passport with my single entry visa! I’m working towards a multiple entry visa but it’s mostly applicable for when you visit Korea 2-3 times a year. I would really like to go yearly especially during the fall. My recent visit got me in awe and so in love of the weather.

EWHA Womans University is a beautiful campus downtown that’s a must visit for its design and architecture

Epilogue

It’s good to remember that everyone starts from an empty passport, so the only way to remedy that is to travel as little or as much as you can, even if it’s just once a year or every few years. When it comes to traveling abroad, it’s the destination that matters for me in the end so I’m an advocate of promo flights, miles redemption, and getting the most cost effective option to get from point A to point B. I am fortunate that my family values the benefits of travel as much as I do.

The Sunday Currently, v28

Hello and happy first day of October! It’s been a while since I’ve done one of these. Time flies by pretty fast that I just realized the last one was a good 5 months ago.

FEELING
Pretty okay! The weekend wasn’t exactly topnotch because I had to work yesterday and didn’t get to have any Saturday plans but it wasn’t the worst. I spent the night at a friend’s place and today was all about lazing around and watching movies with my sister.

WATCHING/LISTENING

This semi-stripped down version of Too Good At Goodbyes by Sam Smith. It’s a solid new single.

I’m also looking at my last TSC and I just wanted to give an update: ever since Weightlifting Fairy and Strong Woman Do Bong Soon, I’ve seen quite a number of K-dramas after that. Love in the Moonlight, Fight My Way, My Secret Romance, and She Was Pretty. Pretty crazy, to be honest. I’ve always capped myself at 1 K-drama per year and I was just on a roll.

FEELING
I’m having a bit of a stiff neck that’s annoying me. Otherwise everything’s been okay. Job ok. Friendships ok. Family ok. Love life, hmmm idk. Mental state will always be in discussion.

EATING
Nothing currently but there’s a “just-finished” bag of Lay’s beside me here from this afternoon.

HOPING
Honestly? Hoping for a lot of things. I have a few trips lined up in the weeks to come and I just hope everything’s great. As usual, anticipatory anxiety and its ugly head continuous to rear down on me and the only way I can let it go or at least keep from persisting is to ride it out.

THINKING
About a blossoming friendship that I hope won’t fade away as time passes. The last few years of your 20s are always the times where you keep friends instead of finding them but once in a while there’s always that one gem that shows up.

Terrace House: Aloha State – A Subjective Ranking

Just like what I did with the Boys & Girls in the City, here’s a completely subjective ranking on the Aloha State members. While Boys & Girls in the City was difficult because it was hard to choose which one I liked best, my challenge for this one was nominating the ones I hated less. Aloha State was such a season full of polarizing parts and I don’t know if my watching habits contributed to a lot of the decision making but whatever, I’m gonna do it the way I did with the previous one.

Another note, this was also a little bit more difficult to write than the Boys & Girls In the City version because I feel like I’m not really doing as much justice? Unlike B&GITC which was a whole marathon, Aloha State was released in parts. I was lucky to score a VPN subscription where I got to watch Part 4 almost 2 months before the worldwide Netflix release. Let’s do this!

WARNING: SPOILERS if you haven’t completed Part 4.

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Q&A Sunday, Vol. 1

Starting a new series! Won’t promise to do it every weekend, but if I come across questions I want to answer, it will end up here.

1. What was the last food you ate?
Pork Schnitzel, cold cuts, tomato soup at Tinderbox. #KetoLife

2. Where was your profile photo taken?
Monterrazas Clubhouse

3. Worst physical pain you’ve ever felt?
Post-op tonsillectomy and Bartholin’s cyst

4. Favorite place you’ve visited?
Washington, DC

5. How late did you stay up last night?
I got home around 1am from dinner at The Weekend and drinks at that new sports bar in Bonifacio District. I forgot the name.

6. If you could move somewhere else, where would it be?
Australia or Norway

8. Who from your Facebook friends lives closest to you?
Hazel, duh!

10. When was the last time you cried?
Thursday night when I watched Love You to the Stars and Back in the cinema.

11. Who took your profile photo?
I think Ate Jo!

12. Who was/were the last person/people you took a picture with?
Ian, Matt, Juna, Hazel, Lymboy

13. What’s your favorite season?
I’ll answer this question when I’ve experienced all four seasons. 3 down, 1 more to go.

14. If you could have any career, what would it be?
Software engineer

15. Are your relationships ever worth it?
It’s worth it when the person is worth it

16. If you could talk to ANYONE right now, who would it be?
Mark 🙁

17. Are you a good influence?
I would say I’m a pretty good influence

18. Does pineapple belong on pizza?
It’s not something that affects me

19. You have the remote control, what channel are you watching?
E!

20. Whom do you think will play along?
Anyone who wants to indulge in some late night self-love

How to NOT succumb to Bad Vibes

This week has been particularly weird, in an emotional sense. I don’t know if it’s the mix of quitting rice for the 2nd week and going towards a low-carb high-fat diet that’s messing with my system, happenings that either piss me off, or make me want to cry. These are the usual highs and lows of everyday and worklife and (the lack of) adulting that’s always messing with me. So how do I deal?

I compiled a list of things that I usually do or indulge in so that I don’t fall into the deep well of emotional negativity, a.k.a the O.A. life, or as how our close-minded relatives refer to bouts of unwarranted sadness.

  1. Playing SimCity Buildit. Secret’s out, I’ve been playing this game since late 2014 and have not stopped since. There’s something about mindlessly building a city, fulfilling city needs, and playing a virtual God that really made me commit to this one. With the introduction of groups and social trading (of goods) I’ve also become part of a small community of players that I talk to each day.
  2. The good old K-drama. In addition to being a feast on the eyes, it just takes you to a good place. It’s another realm of first world goodness mixed with familiar values that just draws you in. This year alone I’ve gone through 4 of them. It’s all in my life log.
  3. Window shopping online, clicking “add to cart” on all my wants with the satisfaction of the act of being a consumeristic hoe, then closing the whole window and never looking back. Sometimes I do succumb to the Buy Now button but still call it a victory because I could have done worse (I KNOW THIS IS THE WORST LOGIC OK). Thanks but no thanks, Glossier.
  4. My dog Koko contributes to a huge part of a stress-free life. I don’t know what I’d do without her quirks and smarts that I still find so amusing a year into her arrival to our household.
  5. Filling up my bullet journal in the attempts to make my life seem so adult and organized.
  6. Buying things spontaneously when I’m at the mall. I hate this, but it’s in this list.
  7. Mango Cheese Snow in Snow Shack never fails to lift up my spirits.
  8. Terrace House that made me buy a VPN subscription ffs so I could keep up with episodes in Japan. Also I’ve been hanging out a lot in the Terrace House subreddit it might be a little unhealthy.
  9. Dreaming about upcoming travels that have been planned, and the euphoria I feel when my money goes to something that’s totally millenial—travel.
  10. Reading astrology-related things, the best entertainment value there is.

As much as I’d love to just write and write about things that make me happy, I’ve decided to keeping it to a minimum of a recent 10 so that next time I find more weird things that satisfy my vibes channel. I didn’t even mention cliche ones like, going to the beach, hanging out with [insert name here], etc etc. What’s the point of me writing this when it’s just things the entire population likes to do?