Three Little Things I Learned from our Korea Visa Application
HAPPY NEW YEAR! This post is my first blog entry for 2019. I have so much to share about my recent trip to South Korea but I'd like to start with the first step which is applying for a visa. Unfortunately, Filipinos have to apply for a visa if we want to visit South Korea. The thought of applying for one is quite intimidating and nerve-wracking. I remember the first time I applied for a visa, I immediately searched for reasons why people get denied. HAHA! I was terrified but luckily I was granted a single entry. Even if I've been to South Korea once, I was extra anxious this time because I'll be applying with my mom and I will be supporting her in our trip.
To prepare for our application, I googled...
"Applying Korean Visa with mother"
"Applying Korean Visa financially supporting mother"
"Requirements for Korean Visa with sponsor"
"Sponsoring mother for Korean Visa"
and the list goes on. However, I did not find a blog or a post that shares the same situation like ours where the daughter will support/sponsor her mother's trip. Here's our background:
MOM
- 53 years old
- No job; Housewife
- No bank account
- No travel history for the past 25 years
MARIA (me)
- Working in an ad agency for two and a half years
- Traveled to Singapore, Taiwan, and South Korea
Based on the blogs I read, there is no perfect formula for you to get a visa. But your background will make you stand a chance to visit your favorite country. Sharing with you three little things which I think worked for us in getting a Korea visa:
1. FINANCIAL CAPACITY
It is important to prove to the embassy that you can afford to travel to their country. I used my payroll account for my bank statement. I saved and did not touch my salary for the whole month of August and deposited a large sum of money in that same month. We applied for a visa in September so I was really anxious because the embassy might be suspicious of why I deposited a big amount to my account two months before my trip. The good thing about using a payroll account is that there are a lot of transactions to be reflected in your bank statement. Every 15th and 30th day of the month, I get my salary. I also use the same account to pay for my bills like Meralco, PLDT, and credit card. I also have withdrawals and bank transfer transactions which I think was good.
If you are wondering how much money I had in my account, it was around 90,000 PHP. My mom and I stayed in Seoul for 6 days so I assumed that we will spend 5,000 PHP each per day. If you will do the math, we need 30,000 PHP per head. I think it's safe to say that I proved that I can support our trip with the money I have in the bank.
But of course, your financial capacity should be tied to your background which leads me to point number two.
2. STABLE JOB
I read blogs that says this isn't a guarantee but a plus point to your application. I think that you should be able to prove that the money you have in the bank coincide with the salary that you get from work. I've been working in my present job for more that two years and I was able to present documents such as certificate of employment and ITR to prove my ties in the Philippines and money in my bank account.
The first time I applied for a Korea visa, I was just 4 months old in my present job but I presented my ITR from my previous job.
My best friend applied visa with me and she only had around 30,000 PHP in her bank account but she's been working in her present job for six years. She travels a lot as well.
3. PROOF OF RELATIONSHIP
I think this is pretty easy. I just attached a copy of my birth certificate to my application. Take note that my mom and I do not share the same last name but of course her name is on my birth certificate.
In a nutshell, if you will sponsor a family member to a trip, make sure that you have enough money in the bank, you have a stable job and provide document/s that will prove your relationship to that person. I think those three things helped us get a visa.
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| My mom in Seoul Forest - I Seoul U |
I applied our visa thru Rakso Travel. I was very happy with their customer service and I think they found a loyal client in me. More likely, I'll apply again thru them next time. If I remember it right, the Rakso staff attached the copy of my birth certificate and COE to my application only. She did not include it in my mom's anymore but she used my bank certificate and statement to support my mom's application.
Oh by the way, you can check you visa status here. I checked mine and found out we were granted a visa even before the travel agency messaged me.
I hope that my visa application experience will be helpful to you. Good luck in your application!
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