Visa application is one of the most nerve-wrecking admin processes for SEP, partly because I've never done this before.
Googled and found a couple of guides but they are now not 100% applicable and soon this post will be outdated too. My batch of exchange students received urgent emails from our school in June notifying us that there is a change in the list of documents we need to submit that takes effect from Jul 2016 and that we should hurry to apply our visa by the end of June as the additional document will require the partner school to draft it individually over to us which will take a month or so. *read update about this below*
Googled and found a couple of guides but they are now not 100% applicable and soon this post will be outdated too. My batch of exchange students received urgent emails from our school in June notifying us that there is a change in the list of documents we need to submit that takes effect from Jul 2016 and that we should hurry to apply our visa by the end of June as the additional document will require the partner school to draft it individually over to us which will take a month or so. *read update about this below*
Rushed and these are the documents you should prepare for the visa application:
1. Application form, completed with a passport size photo
2. Passport (original and copy)
3. Letter from home university
4. Certificate of admission from partner university (original from admission package)
5. Recent 3 months bank account statement/e-statements/passbook** (original and copy)
6. NRIC (original and copy)
*Visa number (additional separate document issued by partner university, starting from Jul 2016)
** I stated myself as my own sponsor and I don't have bank account statements or e-statements so I just brought my passbook (updated) and a copy of the holder details and last updated page and it worked. Note that the account needs to have minimally the amount stated by your partner university on the COA.
For people using their parents as a sponsor i.e. their bank account statements etc, you will have to bring additional documents (your birth cert original and copy to prove that they are your parents lol and your parent's IC).
For people using their parents as a sponsor i.e. their bank account statements etc, you will have to bring additional documents (your birth cert original and copy to prove that they are your parents lol and your parent's IC).
Just bring all these, along with $86 IN CASH to the Korean embassy located on the 16th floor of Goldbell Towers (exit from Newton MRT Exit A, walk towards the right of the bus stop and it is just next to it with the building's name spelt with a slanted D or sth cuz it probably fell off and had to be stuck on again).
You have to write in the visitor's log at the security counter but you DO NOT have to give them any identification documents i.e. IC.
Remember to get a queue number ticket near the door after entering! There's a printer here so you can actually print documents if you find yourself missing any, but note that you will be sent away from the counter to get a new queue ticket if any documents are found missing .
You have to write in the visitor's log at the security counter but you DO NOT have to give them any identification documents i.e. IC.
Remember to get a queue number ticket near the door after entering! There's a printer here so you can actually print documents if you find yourself missing any, but note that you will be sent away from the counter to get a new queue ticket if any documents are found missing .
The process is actually quite quick as the staff are very efficient. They took about a minute to check that all my required documents are present and the form is filled and they will issue a collection paper which you have to bring with you 4 working days LATER (inclusive of submission day) to collect your passport and hopefully your visa.
The operating hours are 9 to 11.30, and come early to avoid the crowd. I went at 10.40 and found myself queuing behind 20+ people (still fast tho), and went back again at 10 and there was only 4 people in queue.
Link for further references and to dl the application form:
http://sgp.mofa.go.kr/english/as/sgp/visa/Applicants/index.jsp
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*UPDATE:
We have notified you earlier this month that there will be a visa application procedure change on July 1st. As regards to the new policy, the Ministry of Justice have sent out official notification of amendment. Following the amendment, universities with illegal stay rate less than 1% have an option to choose the previous "Certificate of Admission" procedure or "Confirmation of Visa Issuance".This amendment applies to Ewha as we are an accredited institution with illegal stay rate under 1%. Ewha choose to continue with the previous procedure. If you haven’t yet applied for visa, please apply for your visa with "Certificate of Admission" and other documents your embassy requires. You will not be required “Confirmation of Visa Issuance”For those who have already submitted your documents for "Confirmation of Visa Issuance", we will issue your confirmation number soon. But from today's date, we will no longer be requiring additional document for your "Confirmation of Visa Issuance"
