My experience in applying for a UK Tourist Visa in South Korea

I should have posted about this topic immediately after I applied for my UK tourist visa. It has actually been a few years now since I have done so and my memory of it is not as clear anymore. Anyhow, I will still try to recall the process I went through to hopefully help others and to serve as reference the next time I apply for the same visa again.

The very first time I applied for a UK tourist visa was in November 2010 in the Philippines. I was denied a visa that time because the embassy said that I did not provide enough financial documents to prove that I will be able to support my visit to the UK. The purpose of my visit was to meet my then-fiancé’s family (he is now my husband).

Being married at this time for four years, I applied again in 2016. For this application, we made sure to supply all the financial documents needed, both from our side and his family’s side (since I mentioned that part of my travel expenses will be shouldered by his family). My mother-in-law also provided a handwritten letter stating that she was inviting us to stay with her. Since I was already living in Korea, I had to apply at the VFS Global in Seoul.

I first completed the application form online and then paid the visa fee which cost $111 (good for a 6 month stay) in October 2016. Afterwards, I scheduled a visit to VFS Global and went to Seoul on the appointed date. I brought my husband with me for this appointment. We decided to stay overnight since I think I scheduled the appointment time at 8:30 in the morning. I think applicants are only allowed in 15 minutes before the scheduled time. A guard posted near the door checked my belongings. Any electronic items (e.g. phone, tablets, MP3 players) were not allowed to be brought inside. I left those things with my husband and he waited outside while I finish the process. I think I was given a number to wait my turn.

When my number was called, I approached the desk and the lady went through my supporting documents and double-checked it against a checklist (which was provided with your application). I remember including a photocopy of each supporting document just in case. She returned some of them if she only needed the original or if the photocopy will suffice. I cannot recall now if she asked me or if I informed her about the additional services I wanted. I applied for SMS service (for 2,900 won so I can track the status of my application) and the option of having my passport delivered (for 18,400 won) since it was more expensive to go back to Seoul to personally receive it.

After the documents were checked, biometrics information (photograph and fingerprints) were taken. Overall, I think the whole process took around 30-40 minutes. I do not remember it being that long probably because it was early and there was not a lot of people there. I got my passport back through the mail three weeks later.

The second time I applied was in April 2018 with the visa fee costing $138. I think the process was more or less the same as the first time. One difference that I noticed this time around was that the guard was not as strict as before. I was able to bring my electronics in as long as it was turned-off or in silent mode. I was alone this time and so chose an appointment time in the afternoon. I remember arriving quite early for my 1 PM appointment but was allowed to come in at 12:35 or 12:40 PM. This time I received my passport with the visa attached only 10 days after my application.

Applying for a Japan transit visa in South Korea as a Filipino

My husband and I will be flying to the US next year with Japan Airlines. Since we will have a layover of 7 hours at Narita Airport, I thought that it would be a waste of time if we just stayed inside. Hence, I decided to apply for a transit visa. I was not feeling very positive about this process because the first time I went to the Japanese consulate in Busan to apply for a tourist visa, I was not accepted. I was told that since I am on a D-10 visa (at that time), I am not allowed to apply and the lady at the consulate suggested that I go back to the Philippines to do so. I previously wrote about that experience in this post. With only three months left on the validity of my alien card (but I am planning to apply for an extension in January 2019), I was also worried that it might affect my chances of getting approved.

I first searched online for what documents are needed when applying for a Japan transit visa in South Korea but I was only able to get information about the transit visa on the website of Japanese embassies in other countries. In the end, I just decided to follow the requirements for a Japan tourist visa that were outlined in a document I downloaded from the consulate of Japan in Busan (which was thankfully in English).

List of documents needed when applying for a Japanese tourist visa in South Korea

Aside from the basic documents though, I also provided a photocopy of my US visa, a photocopy of my marriage certificate (I gave the original copy too but it was returned to me), a copy of my husband’s alien card (front and back) and a letter explaining the issue with my alien card (where I mentioned that I will be applying for an extension in January 2019). As I am on an F-3 visa now, the bank certificate I provided was under my husband’s name. The bank certificate I gave did not show three months of deposit and withdrawal history (which is the one required for a tourist visa) and just showed the amount in each of my husband’s accounts and the total amount for all. I was thinking that since I was only applying for a transit visa, the consulate might not be so strict in this regard. I am glad that they accepted it.

A copy of the Schedule of Stay I provided during application

On the day I went to Busan to apply for my visa, I arrived at the consulate before 1:30PM so the gate was closed. I asked a guard if I can wait by the gate and he said it was no problem. Before 1:30PM (maybe around 1:28PM), the gate opened and we (including the other applicants) entered the building. Our belongings were x-ray scanned and then we proceeded into the inner room. There are 4 windows and seats in this area with window 1 for the visa application. I approached window 1 once the blinds were lifted and seated behind was the same lady who did not accept my application the first time I applied. She asked for my documents, passport and alien card. She checked the documents and asked a few questions (in English) such as if I have a US visa and if I wanted a double entry instead of a single entry visa. Although we also have a layover in Narita Airport on the way back to Korea, it was less than 2 hours so I said that a single entry would be fine.

Once she was finished checking the documents, she gave me a small green piece of paper and told me to come back tomorrow. I asked if I have to pay any visa fee and she said that Filipinos do not have to pay which surprised me. I think this might be the case only for certain types of visa like a transit and tourist visa. I also asked if I will find out tomorrow whether I got the visa or not but she said that I am most likely to get one.  I inquired as well if there is a passport delivery service but she said no and that I have to personally come back to get it.

This piece of paper will be given after your documents have been accepted

On my way back to Daegu, I was wondering if I really heard right that I will get my passport back the next day because that seems really quick. I did come back to the consulate the next day, handed the small green paper and got my passport with a Japanese transit visa attached.

My Japanese transit visa

When I was checking the website of the consulate of Japan in Busan recently, I noticed that some of the information has changed since my post last year about Japanese visas. Here is the updated info as of November 2018:

• Application time: Mon to Fri, 9:30-12:00 and 13:30-17:00 (excluding holidays)
• Issuance of visa result: Mon to Fri, 9:30-12:00 and 13:30-17:00 (excluding holidays)
• For non-Koreans, a visa issuance fee (31,000 won for a single visa, 61,000 won for a multiple visa, 7,000 won for a transit/pass visa) is required when issuing a visa. Depending on the nationality, visa fee may be exempted. Please check during the time of application.