Tag: Visa application

Tuesday Tips for Filipinos / Philippine Passport Holders: Do-It-Yourself SOUTH KOREAN TOURIST VISA Application [40-Minute Visa Center Application Submission]

Getting a tourist visa can be a paperwork-heavy, task-filled process. It involves completing forms, gathering financial records, taking photos, and printing all required documents. By the end of the application, every traveler hopes for a positive outcome to fulfill their travel goals.

Recently, I applied for a South Korean Tourist Visa and was granted a 5-year multiple-entry visa, valid until October 2029. This visa allows me to enter South Korea multiple times, with stays of up to 30 days per visit. For today’s Tuesday Tips, I will walk you through how I secured this visa easily and outline the steps I followed from preparation to picking up my passport.

If you haven’t seen it yet, I’ve shared my do-it-yourself visa applications for Japan, Australia, the Netherlands, Italy, and the United States of America. I handled all the tourist visa applications on my own and received approval for each one.

Disclaimer: Everything written below is true and correct as of October 2024. Please note that application requirements and processes may change at any time. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to the official websites of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in the Republic of the Philippines and the Korea Visa Application Center in Manila.

South Korean Tourist Visa

Philippine passport holders must obtain a visa to enter the Republic of South Korea for tourism or leisure. Depending on the consul’s evaluation of the applicant’s profile, the visa issued may be either single-entry or multiple-entry.

Like many other countries, the Embassy of the Republic of South Korea in the Philippines has centralized all visa applications through a dedicated visa application center. The Korean Visa Application Center (KVAC), located on the 9th and 10th floors of the Brittany Hotel, Block 2 & 4, Mini Park, McKinley Parkway, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City, handles all visa submissions to the Korean Embassy. If you are applying for a South Korean visa in the Philippines, this is where you or your agency will need to submit your application documents.

 

How to Apply for a South Korean Tourist Visa (c-3) For Employed Individuals

Getting a South Korean tourist visa (C-3) is easy as these steps:

Step 1 – Set A Submission Appointment (Optional)

The first step to getting a tourist visa is booking a submission appointment through the visa application center’s website. Appointment slots are available up to 60 days in advance, with options for both morning and afternoon times.

Be sure to enter the correct applicant and travel details. After submitting, you will receive a confirmation email and text message for your appointment—print and bring this on the day of your visit. Travelers who set an appointment online have a separate queue on submission day.

Note: The Korean Visa Application Center also accepts a limited number of walk-in applicants daily. Applications are received from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on weekdays. The center is closed on weekends, Philippine holidays, and Korean consulate holidays.

Step 2 – Preparation

The next step is to prepare all required documents. Start by downloading the visa application form from the provided website. Once downloaded, fill out the form electronically, as the embassy prefers typed answers (except for the signature). There is no specific requirement for font style or size. For items that do not apply, simply enter “N/A.” If you need extra space for your answers, add them on a separate sheet of A4 paper. Once completed, print the application form on A4 paper and sign where indicated.

Here are also the other required documents for the visa application:

• 1 passport-sized colored photo (with white background) taken in the last 6 months
• Original passport (with a validity of more than 6 months from the intended trip)
• Photocopy of the passport bio page
• Original and photocopy of the valid visas and arrival stamps to OECD countries in the last 5 years
• Copy of PRC or IBP card (if applicable)
• Original certificate of employment (must include the applicant’s position, hiring date, compensation, office address, and HR landline)
• Original personal bank certificate (must include account name, account number, account type, current balance, account opening date, and 6 months average daily balance)
• Bank statement (original or certified true copy of bank / passbook for the last 3 months)
• Photocopy of income tax return (form 2316)
• Visa application center privacy consent form

Eligible credit card holders from local banks like Banco de Oro (BDO), Bank of the Philippine Islands (BPI), Metrobank, and Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) can apply for a visa without needing to submit financial documents (bank certificate and bank statement). Instead, they only need to provide a photocopy of their qualified credit card and the most recent three months of credit card statements. This offer is valid for applications until December 31, 2025.

Additionally, you may include extra documents like a confirmed plane ticket, hotel booking, or travel agency itinerary with your application. While these documents are not required by the embassy, they can be added if desired.

For the full and updated list of all visa application requirements for the C-3 visa, please visit the MOFA website.

Step 3 – Submit Your Documents

On the day of your appointment, arrive at the Korean Visa Application Center at least 15 minutes early. The reception staff will review your appointment and documents before assigning you a submission queue number.

After receiving your queue number, please wait in the designated area. When your number is called, proceed upstairs to the 10th floor, where the visa center staff will be ready to assist with your application. Provide your queue number, passport, and all required documents to the staff for assessment and submission.

Step 4 – Pay The Visa Application Handling Fee

After your documents are accepted, the staff will provide you with a charge slip for the visa handling fee. Take this slip to window 24 or 25 to pay the ₱900 fee. Once payment is completed, return to the staff who received your application.

The staff will inform you of the estimated passport release date (typically 10 to 14 working days, depending on the season) and give you a passport claim slip along with your receipt. They will also remind you to wait for a text notification from KVAC before coming to claim your passport. After this, you are free to leave the visa application center.

Step 5 – Wait For or Check Online Visa Application Result

You will receive text messages from KVAC confirming your visa application registration and submission. Alternatively, you can occasionally check your application status on the Korea Visa Portal website under the “Check Application Status & Print” section.

Simply enter your passport number, application number, full name (in the format: last name, first name in English), and date of birth.

Once the embassy has decided, KVAC will send you a text message notifying you that your passport is ready for pick-up.

Step 6 – Claim Your Passport

Passports are claimed at the same visa application center. As with the visa application, you will need to get a claim queue number from reception. When your number is called, proceed to the 10th floor and go to windows 2 or 3.

To claim your passport, present your passport claim stub, application receipt, and the applicant’s birthdate. You will be asked to sign the release papers before receiving your passport—hopefully with the visa you applied for. After this, you are free to leave the visa application center.

Please note that passport pick-up is available only from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. on weekdays. The center is closed on weekends, Philippine holidays, and Korean consulate holidays.

My Tourist Visa Application Process

5 August 2024 – I booked an application slot for 1 October 2024 at 2:00 p.m.

1 October 2024 – I arrived at the Korean Visa Application Center at 1:20 p.m. I went directly to the 9th floor for my application documents to be checked. I received queue number F007 at 1:28 p.m. and waited about 20 minutes for my number to be called.

At 1:52 p.m., my queue number was announced. I proceeded to the 10th floor and went to Window 11, where I submitted my application form, passport, and supporting documents. After my documents were accepted, I paid the visa handling fee at Window 25. I then returned to Window 11 to collect my passport claim stub.

By 1:58 p.m., I had received my passport claim stub and the receipt for the visa handling fee, completing the application submission process.

18 October 2024 – I received a text message notifying me that my passport was ready for pick-up at the visa application center. I checked the online visa portal and found that I had been granted a 5-year multiple-entry visa valid until October 2029.

25 October 2024 – I arrived at the Korean Visa Application Center at 12:49 p.m. and was assigned queue number E037. My number was called at 1:05 p.m., and I headed to Window 2 on the 10th floor. After presenting my passport claim stub and receipt, I received my passport at 1:06 p.m.

I then lined up for a free T-money card and a tourist map, picking up my freebies by 1:14 p.m. Finally, I left the visa application center and headed back home.

That is how I obtained my South Korean tourist visa last month. If you have any questions about anything I’ve shared, don’t hesitate to leave a comment below! You may also send these questions to me via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for reading this post about getting a South Korean tourist visa! I wish you all the best in your upcoming application. I hope you can also check out the other Tuesday Tip posts I have on this website. Also, before you go, can you visit my social media pages –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? Thank you & see you in the next one!

Tuesday Tips for Filipinos / Philippine Passport Holders: Do-It-Yourself US B1/B2 NON-IMMIGRANT VISITOR VISA Application

Getting a do-it-yourself tourist visa is one of the most tedious things to do when planning a trip. I have been through several do-it-yourself visa applications, and I have spent tons of hours preparing all the needed requirements and supporting documents. All these arduous efforts are paid off every time a tourist visa is approved.

Recently, I applied for a US B1/B2 Non-Immigrant Visitor Visa, and I was granted one with a 10-year validity. Getting a US tourist visa is one of the most difficult visas to get here in the Philippines. I did everything by myself (without an agency’s help), so I am very lucky to have been granted this visa on my first application.

Today, I will share with you the steps I took in getting this US B1/B2 non-immigrant visitor visa. I will also share with you the list of questions the consul asked me and some tips on how to prepare for your visa interview.

In case you missed it, I have previously shared my do-it-yourself visa applications to Japan, Australia, Netherlands, and Italy. I have applied for all tourist visas by myself, and I got approved for all of them.

Disclaimer: Everything that will be discussed below is only applicable to a US B1/B2 non-immigrant visitor visa application as of December 2023. Other visa types may require additional documents or processes. Please check the US Consular Affairs website to learn more about the other requirements.

October 2024 Update – The US Embassy in the Philippines has introduced an additional step for biometrics and photo collection. More details below.

B1/B2 Non-Immigrant Visitor Visa

Philippine passport holders need to obtain a visa to enter the United States of America or any other US territory. One of the most common visa types Filipinos can apply for is the B1/B2 Non-Immigrant Visitor Visa.

This B1/B2 Visitor Visa allows the visa holder to enter the United States of America both for business (B1) and tourism (B2). This visa type does not allow the visa holder to study in the country, seek employment, or have permanent residence in the United States.

How To Apply for a B1/B2 Non-Immigrant Visitor Visa

Step 1 – Preparation

The first step of the application is to create an account on the US Travel Docs Portal website. The following details are required: country of application, email, first name, last name, and nominated password. After creating an account, try to log in and check the earliest available interview schedule.

Next, go to the nearest photo studio and have your photo taken. The DS-160 form requires applicants to submit a digital copy of the applicant’s photo. The photo requirements, dimensions, and specifics are found here. Please note that you may skip this part and submit your photo on the day of the interview.

Step 2 – Pay the Visa Application Fee

The second step of the application process is the settlement of the visa application fee. The current visa application fee for B1/B2 non-immigrant visitor visas is $185. The Embassy of the United States of America in the Philippines specifies an exchange rate for the said visa. You can check the updated exchange rate here. At the time of my application, the exchange rate was 58.00 PHP = 1 USD. I paid 10,730 PHP for my visa application fee.

Applicants can pay the visa application fee in two ways. The first option is through in-person payment at RCBC (Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation) branches nationwide. Visa applicants need to choose B1/B2 under Fee Payment Options, open and print the USA Visa Fee Deposit Slip, and pay the visa fee at any RCBC branch. Please take note of the receipt number because you will need it when setting your interview schedule.

The second payment option is through PesoNet. Applicants need to follow the steps indicated on this page. Like the receipt number above, please take note of the unique reference number because you will need it when scheduling your visa interview.

Please give RCBC and PesoNet enough time to process and transmit the visa application payment to the US Embassy. The usual processing timelines can be found here. Please also take note that all visa application fees are non-refundable.

Step 3 – Fill Out Your DS-160 Application Form

While waiting for the visa application fee to be processed and posted, you can now start filling out your DS-160 application form. Head over to this page and start your DS-160 application.

This form asks for the following details: applicant details, address, travel document information, list of social media accounts, purpose of US trip (including intended date of arrival and place of stay), US visa application history, family information, current and previous employment details, educational attainment, international travel history in the last 5 years, security, and background information.

You can upload your application photo towards the last part of the DS-160 application form. After submitting the application form, you will get a confirmation page or email with your photo, passport details, and confirmation number. Please print this confirmation page only. You do not need to print the whole DS-160 form.

Curious about the specific questions in the DS-160 application form? Here is an example provided by the US Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs.

Step 4 – Schedule Your Interview

After paying for the visa application fee and submitting your DS-160 application, it is now time to schedule your interview. Head over to the US Travel Docs Portal website, log in using your details, and click ‘New Application / Schedule Appointment.’ Choose ‘Non-immigrant visa’ and follow the next steps. You will provide your DS-160 confirmation number and payment reference number, and then you will choose your desired interview date and time.

You also need to choose the method of passport collection, whether by pick-up or premium delivery. You need to nominate a delivery address if you choose the delivery option. You will receive the interview appointment confirmation via email after completing the appointment process.

Please print the appointment confirmation page and bring it on the day of your interview.

Step 5 – Prepare Documents for the Interview

The US Embassy in the Philippines does not have an official list of additional documents that applicants need to bring during the interview. The emails only require the applicant’s valid passport, application photo, DS-160 confirmation, and interview confirmation pages on the day of the interview.

Any other document will solely depend on what the applicant wants to bring for his or her interview. Naturally, you will bring the documents that will show your strong ties here in the Philippines and that will show your capacity to go to the US for leisure. These documents can include the following: previous passport stamps and visas, certificate of employment, income tax documents, business registration (for business owners), bank certificates and statements, invitation letters (if for business, conferences, or events), property titles, and asset documents.

The consul may or may not ask for these documents, depending on how the interview goes. It is always best to have them ready in the event the consul asks for them.

Step 6 – Go To Your Scheduled Interview

Arrive at the US Embassy grounds at least 30 minutes before your scheduled interview. The guards will check your interview schedule and ask you to go inside during your turn. The embassy staff outside will check your passport and interview schedule and put a sticker with a barcode, your passport number, DS-160 confirmation number, and a QR code on the back of your passport. You will then go through two security checkpoints before starting with the interview process.

The interview process starts with pre-screening. The embassy staff will check your details and ask for your full name, birthday, and purpose for your trip. After that, the staff will guide you to the biometrics section, where the embassy staff will get your fingerprints.

After biometrics, you will now fall in line for the consul interview. You will be assigned to a random interview window and consul. The consul will ask for your passport at the start of the interview and ask you questions that are relevant to your trip and profile.

Step 7 – Interview Result

Towards the end of your interview, the consul will advise you if your application is approved or denied. If denied, he or she will give you a blue slip containing the reason for the denial. If approved, he or she will advise you that your application is approved and that you need to wait for 10 working days for your passport delivery or collection. All applicants, regardless of the result, need to vacate the embassy grounds after their interview with the consul.

Visa Interview Experience

Allow me to share with you my visa interview details last December 13, 2023.

I arrived at the US Embassy grounds a few minutes before 8:00 a.m., ahead of my 8:30 a.m. interview schedule. I noticed that those scheduled for 9:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. were already asked to go inside, so I went to the guards, had my passport and appointment papers checked, and was asked to go inside.

Before the entry door, the embassy staff checked my passport and appointment letter. She also placed a sticker with my name, passport number, DS-160 confirmation number, a bar code, and a QR code at the back of my passport. I went through two security checks, then proceeded to the first step.

I underwent pre-screening at Window 9 and had my biometrics collected at Window 14. I was entertained by the nice and accommodating staff on both windows. After that, I fell in line for the interview. While seated, I can hear the consuls asking the other applicants questions about their trips, profiles, and even ask for documents. I can also hear the approvals and denials given by the consuls.

I got randomly assigned to Window 28 for my interview. The Asian-American consul with glasses greeted me and started the interview. Non-verbatim

Me (M): Good morning! How are you? (I handed my passport to him.)
Consul (C): Good morning! I am good. Thank you. How are you?
M: I am good; thank you.

C: What is the purpose of your trip?
M: Purely tourism, sir.

C: Where are you going and for how long?
M: I am going to Los Angeles and San Francisco for 2 weeks.

C: Who are you going with?
M: Alone, sir. Always by myself. (he laughed)

C: Where do you work, and what do you do?
M: I work for (stated company) as a (stated position), and I have been working with them for (stated tenure).

C: Okay. Have you traveled outside the country?
M: Yes, sir. I have been to Singapore, Thailand, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, Japan, Australia, France, Italy, Spain… (he stopped me)

C: Oh, so basically, you have been everywhere?
M: Not yet, sir, but that is the goal.

C: Alright, visa approved. Congratulations! Your passport and visa will be delivered to you within 10 days.

I followed the exit signs and went back to the hotel. I finished the whole process in about 1.5 hours. I got my passport with the 10-year visa after 3 days.

Visa Application Tips

I want to share some helpful tips for those who want to apply or increase their chances of getting approved. These include:

Do not falsify anything in your DS-160 application form or in the interview. State the purpose for which you are applying for a visa. Consuls are trained to assess whether an applicant is telling the truth or not.

Stick to what you indicated in your DS-160 application.

Do not memorize everything you indicated in your DS-160 application. Familiarizing oneself with these details will help.

It is best to prepare all supporting documents and bring them during your interview. The consul did not ask for any additional documents during my interview, but the others asked for some documents or proof of ties here in the Philippines.

Build a solid international travel record or history for at least a few years before applying for a US visa. It is best to have a good mix of visa-free and visa-required countries. These records help a lot in showing that you go back to the Philippines after every trip.

Arrive at the US Embassy at least 30 minutes before your interview schedule.

The US Embassy does not have a specific interview dress code. However, it is best to dress appropriately for your interview. If you can, go for smart casual or business casual attire.

Do not bring your mobile phones during your interview. Electronic devices such as mobile phones and smartwatches are not allowed inside the embassy.

Stay in a nearby hotel if you are coming from a faraway place. I stayed at Red Planet Manila Bay (the lucky hotel, they say) the night before my interview, and I just walked to the embassy on the day of the interview.

🙂

Be confident and keep calm during the interview. The consul officers can be intimidating, but they are just doing their job. You will be fine if you come prepared and have nothing to hide.

For any other questions and clarifications, you may reach out to the US Embassy Information and Appointment Service Center at (+63) 2 8548-8223 or (+63) 2 7792-8988.

This was how I got my B1/B2 visa last month, in December 2023. Please note that interview experiences may vary from one applicant to the other. It will all depend on the profile you submit and on the consul interviewing you. Do you have any questions about anything mentioned above? Feel free to post them in the comments section below. You may also send these questions to me via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com.

Thank you for reading this post about getting a B1/B2 US visa! I wish you all the best in your upcoming application and interview. I hope you can also check out the other Tuesday Tip posts I have on this website. Also, before you go, can you visit my social media pages –Facebook & Instagram – and like or follow them? Thank you & see you in the next one!

Tuesday Tip: Do-It-Yourself CHINESE TOURIST VISA Application with Lesser Than Usual Show Money

Some of you know that before all these Covid-19 happenings around the world, my friend & I had a weekend winter trip to Shanghai, China. We booked our tickets last September 2019 for ₱2,335.63 & 3,050 GetGo points each. Pretty cheap, right? China was never on our list but we gave it a shot considering the affordable tickets & the schedule fell in one of the February EDSA longer weekend. My friend & I applied for & got our own tourist visas. I applied in the Chinese Embassy by myself while she opted for the tourist agency option.

Do you want to know my secret in booking those cheap tickets? I wrote about being a champ in booking low-fare tickets. It comes in 2 posts – this is the first post & here’s the second post. Enjoy!

Then Covid-19 pandemic happened. Our Shanghai trip got cancelled. I don’t know how the current situation will the visa application process. I don’t know how many of you will opt not to visit China in the future. I don’t know how this will change budget travel or travelling in general. To be honest, I was unsure if I should still share my do-it-yourself visa application experience because of what happened but here I am doing it anyway. I still want to show you how I did it before specially for those who still plan to do it in the future. It will take years for travelling to go back to the pre-pandemic demand but it will slowly go back to it anyway.

Let’s take a break from all the Going Solo in Europe posts, flight reports, P’s lists & hostel of the day features & go back to one of the OG sections of this website – Tuesday Tips. Allow me to share with you below how I got my Chinese Tourist Visa with lesser than the usual show money.

In case you missed it, I also wrote about how to get your tourist visas for Japan, The Netherlands (DIY Schengen Visa) & Australia. Check out those posts under the Visa Application category.

1 – Download Tourist Visa Application Form & Get Requirements List

The first step is to go to the website of the Chinese Embassy in the Philippines to download the visa application form & get the list of requirements needed for the visa application.

Here is how the tourist visa application form looks like. It can be downloaded from the website.

2 – Book Plane Tickets & Accommodations

The Embassy of China in the Philippines requires tourist visa applicants to submit confirmed ticket reservations & proof of accommodation. My friend & I booked our tickets before visa application so we didn’t have a problem with this. We also booked a hostel before we applied for the visa.

We paid ₱2,335.63 & 3,050 GetGo points each for return tickets to Shanghai with Cebu Pacific Air.

In case you don’t have a confirmed ticket, you may ‘rent’ a confirmed reservations with your name & details from various travel agencies & online platforms. You may also book accommodation on your own but choose those with free cancellations.

Here’s the accommodation I booked for the trip. It has free cancellation until days before the trip.

3 – Prepare Visa Documents & Requirements

The next step is to prepare all the required documents for the visa. Here are the needed documents for first time tourist visa applicants:

Accomplished Application Form – Applications forms should be filled completely in capital English letters & signed. Make sure to put N/A for those parts not applicable to the applicant.

Passport – Passport must be valid for more than 6 months & has at least 1 or 2 blank pages.

Photocopy of Passport’s Information Page / First Page

Photo – These colored photos should be taken within the last 6 months, has white background & are 48 mm x 33 mm in size.

BIR-stamped Income Tax Return

Bank Certificate & Bank Statement – Please provide 6 months history for the bank statement & include the bank receipt for payment of these documents.

Certificate of Employment (if employed) – It must detail the length of employment & salary.

Photocopy of Company ID / Student ID / Professional ID

Photocopy of Business Registration Certificate (if self-employed / business owner)

Confirmed Ticket Reservations – as detailed in item number 2

Proof of Accommodation – as detailed in item number 2

Detailed Day-to-Day Itinerary – This is not required but worth-adding to add strength to your application.

4 – Visa Application Day

The Embassy of China in the Republic of the Philippines does not need appointments for those who want to apply for tourist visas. In fact, they don’t even need the applicant’s personal appearance. If you are not available, you can ask your relative, colleague or friend apply the visa for you.

The embassy’s consular section office is at 2nd & 3rd floor, The World Center, 330 Sen. Gil Puyat Ave in Makati City. You can arrive any time before 8:00 am, get your entry pass from the guard & line up outside the Gil Puyat Ave entrance. The consular section starts to accept applicants as early as 8:00 am.

When you reach the doors of the consular section, the guards will check your bags. Food & drinks are not allowed inside the visa application center. The staff will then check your application form & documents & give you a number. You can head in, find a seat & wait until your number is called.

Inside the Embassy of the Republic of China in the Philippines Consular Section. Chaotic place, tbh.

The staff in the visa application documents section call batches by 5. Once your batch is called, proceed to the assigned section & submit your documents. Once verified complete, the staff will give you a claim stub with the date of release of your passport. You may go home after that.

Regular visa processing time is 4 working days. If you apply on a Wednesday, you will get back your passport on Monday.

5 – Claim Your Passport & Pay Visa Free

Go back to the embassy consular office on your passport’s scheduled release date. Just like when you applied for your visa, go to the guards & claim your building pass. Queue up outside & wait for turn in the consular office doors. This time, the staff will give you a number & wait for your number to be called. Once called, you will now go to the payment section & pay for the visa fee. Single entry visa fee costs ₱1,4000, double entry visa costs ₱2,100, 6-months multiple entry visa costs ₱2,800 while multiple entry visa over 6 months costs ₱4,200.

After paying for your visa, you can now proceed to the passport claim section where the staff will give your passport back with your tourist visa. Don’t forget to check your visa & make sure all details are correct.

And voilà – you already have your Chinese tourist visa. The embassy usually issues single entry visas for first time applicants. These visas are valid for 3 months from the date of issue & allow for a 14-day stay upon arrival in China.

Important Things To Know

Applying for a Chinese tourist visa is just like applying for other visas. The requirements are pretty the same. However, there are other important things to know when applying for a Chinese tourist visa.

Embassy Consular Section Business Hours – The office is officially open weekdays (excluding holidays) from 9:00 am to 11:00 am only for visa application & passport claims. People arriving after 11:00 am will not be accepted & will be asked to go back the next day. From my experience, they start accepting applications & releasing passports as early as 8:00 am.

Appointments & Personal Appearances Are Not Required – The Chinese embassy does not need appointments for visa applications. In fact, anyone can apply for your visa. You can ask your relative, friend or even an agency to apply for you.

Complete Your Application Documents – Make sure your documents & requirements are complete. The staff do not accept incomplete applications. Those with incomplete documents are advised to go back the following day & queue again. There’s no special lane or fast lane for those returning with now complete documents.

Itinerary That Makes Sense – Create day-to-day itineraries that make sense. The dates must be consistent with the ticket & accommodation reservations. If going to a different city, include domestic tickets in your application.

Show Money – The Chinese Embassy does not specify how much money should one have in his or her account at the time of application. Most, if not all, travel agencies require at least ₱100,000 average daily balance from the visa applicant. That is the safe amount. I applied for my visa with not even ¾ of that amount & I got approved. Just make sure to have enough money in your account that will be enough for your itinerary. I personally believe that one’s travel history is as important as one’s money. If you have a good travel history then you’ll be fine.

Be Early – The consular office opens at 8:00 am – 9:00 am but people queue outside as early as 6:00 am. If you are to submit your documents, you can arrive at least before 8:00 am and finish a little past 9:00 am. Claiming passports is a different story. If you are to claim your passports, be there as early as you can. I arrived before 7:00 am & finished at 9:45 am. Claiming takes longer than the applicant itself, at least during my time.

Limited Services for First Time Applicants – First time tourist visa applicants can only apply for a single-entry tourist visa. The embassy will not accept applications for double or multiple entry visa. Also, first time applicants cannot avail of the rush & express visa services.

Here’s my granted single-entry tourist visa for China. I ended up not using it because of Covid-19.

I was so happy when I got my single-entry tourist visa. I never thought I’ll get it. As mentioned above, China was never my list but the cheap ticket made me give it shot. I was also looking forward to meeting a Shanghai-based friend whom I met in Siem Reap, Cambodia years ago. It was all good until Covid-19 happened. We decided not to push through with our trip. Our visas have lapsed but all good. Health & safety first over anything.

Do you have any questions about the tourist visa application process above? Feel free to post them in the comments section below. You may also send them to me via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com. If you have questions related to other types of visa, you may contact the embassy at +632-8848-23-95 or via e-mail to phchinaembassy@hotmail.com.

Thank you for joining me in today’s Tuesday Tip. Please don’t forget to follow me on my social media pages – Facebook & Instagram. Have a nice day & please stay safe.

PS. Photos were taken using my HTC U11.

Tuesday Tips for Filipinos / Philippine Passport Holders: 6 Steps On How To Apply For An Australian Tourist Visa

A few hours from now, I will be flying to Sydney & Brisbane, Australia for a week long trip with my college friends. It will be my first trip to this country & also my first trip outside Asia. Right before I leave, I want to share with everyone how I applied for my Australian Tourist Visa & also to share some tips regarding the visa application process.

Philippine passport holders are required to secure a visa before flying to Australia. The country’s Department of Home Affairs offers a wide range of visas a visitor can apply for. For this specific post, I will talk about how I applied for the Visitor Visa Subclass 600. Filipinos need this visa to visit Australia as a tourist, to visit relatives living in the country & to engage in business visitor activities. This visa allows visitors to stay up to 3, 6 or even 12 months.

More details about the Visitor Visa Subclass 600 from the AU Gov’t website

If you are unsure of what visa you need for your visit to Australia, head over to this page to see the list of visas one can apply for.

Unlike any other usual visa, Australian visas are applied online via the Department of Home Affairs website. This means that you don’t need to go to a travel agency to submit your requirements or go to the embassy to line up & lodge your documents. Everything is done online. Let me now tell you what I did & what you need to do to get your Australian tourist visa.

Step 1 – Create An Immi Account

The first step is to create an Immi Account. This is your account in the Australian government’s immigration portal. The visa application process will be through this portal. All you need is a working email address & a password (must include an upper case & a lower case letter, a number & a symbol). You will receive an email notifying that you have successfully created your account plus you need to verify it with the link provided in your email.

First step – create an Immi Account

Step 2 – Start The Application & Fill Out The Form

After creating your Immi Account, you should now start your application. The website will ask you to fill out about 20 pages of questions – mainly asking for personal details, travel plans, family & travel background. Not that you can stop & save your details at any time. Please do not submit your application until all questions are answered & all documents are uploaded. Take note of your visa reference number throughout the application process.

Step 3 – Prepare & Gather Documents

Before uploading your documents in the immigration portal. You first need to gather the documents you need to submit. The portal divides the documents into 2 parts – the required documents (passport details, passport photo, travel history & financial documents) & the recommended documents (ticket & hostel bookings, evidence of family composition). You can submit the following ‘usual’ visa application requirements:

⦁ Philippine Passport – Your passport must be valid for more than 6 months during your trip.
⦁  Passport-Size Photo (Front & Back – with Full Name at the back)
⦁  Travel History (Old & Current Passports)
⦁  Personal Bank Certificate
⦁  Personal Bank Statement (3 months recommended)
⦁  Certificate of Employment & Income Tax Return Form
⦁  Payslips & Company ID Details
⦁  NSO Birth Certificate
⦁  Confirmed Airline Ticket
⦁  Itinerary in Australia (Day to day plans when in Australia)

You can add more documents such as evidence of leave from work, marriage certificate (for those who are married), cover letter, title deeds, credit card statements & anything that will prove your financial capabilities & your strong ties here in the Philippines.

The Department of Home Affairs doesn’t specify any requirement (amount balance, average daily balance, etc.) on bank statements & bank certificates. Make sure to have enough money in your accounts before having your papers printed.

Step 4 – Scan & Upload Documents

You always start by logging in to your Immi Account

After gathering all the requirements & documents, you need to scan & upload them in the application portal. As per the Home Affairs website, only files with these extensions are accepted: bmp, dcm, doc, docx, dot, gif, jpg, pdf, png, ppt, pptx, rtf, txt, xls & xlsx. Each file should not exceed 5 MB & should not be compressed & encrypted. Documents which are not in English need to be translated into the English Language. Each applicant can upload up to 60 documents.

You can upload your documents by batch; just don’t forget to save your application before you close the page. An application is stored in the portal for 30 days. All incomplete applications & uploaded documents will be deleted after the prescribed time.

Step 5 – Submit Application & Pay Application Fee

After completing the 20-page application form & uploading the necessary requirements & documents, you can now formally submit your visa application. After submission, you will be directed to the payment page where you need to pay the visa application fee of AUD 140 per person [2024 update – visa application fee has increased to AUD 190 per person]. Only PayPal, credit & debit card form of payments are accepted. These modes of payments also have surcharges. You can refer to this page for the updated surcharges for all types of payments.

After payment, you will receive an acknowledgement email confirming that your visa application has been submitted and that your biometrics need to be collected in the visa collection center.

[2024 Update] Step 5.5 – Biometrics Collection

Since the pandemic, the Department of Home Affairs has required all visa applicants to have their biometrics collected within two weeks of online visa application submission.

The VFS Global Australian Visa Collection Centre in Manila is located at 6th Floor, Tower Two, Makati Circuit Corporate Center, AP Reyes Street and Theater Drive, Circuit Makati, Barangay Carmona, Makati City, Philippines 1630.

Biometrics collection appointments can be scheduled here. Applicants need to bring the documents mentioned in the biometrics email request and the biometrics collection service fee of PHP 557. The center only accepts cash payments as of this writing.

The waiting game begins after biometrics collection.

Step 6 – Wait For Your Visa

Visa application processing times vary per person. As per the Australian government website & as of 30 June 2018, 75% of all the tourist visa applications are processed after 19 days while 90% of tourist visa applications are decided after 24 days. Take note that your visa application can be decided sometime between 48 hours from application to more than 20 days depending on internal factors.

I got my Australian Tourist Visa after 8 calendar days. I can very well remember I was on the boat back to Siargao Island when I got my Visa Grant Notification via email. The Australian government granted me a 1-year multiple entry tourist visa. This visa allows me to stay in Australia for 3 months from the date of each arrival.

Bear in mind that Australian Visas are not glued to your passports. It’s simply a grant letter which you will show upon check-in & in the immigration counter. How does the grant letter look like? Check out my grant letter below:

Have you applied for an Australian Tourist Visa in the past? Are there other tips you can share to your fellow readers? Feel free to post these tips below. If you want to be anonymous, you can send it via email to contact@thewkndtravel.com for suggestions. Feel free to also contact me via Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.

That’s it for now. I need to go & pack my things for my Australia trip. Thank you for reading & until the next Tuesday Tip! 😊

Tuesday Tips for Filipinos / Philippine Passport Holders: 4 Easy Steps On How To Get Your Japan Visa (Tips Included!!)

Getting a Japan tourist visa is probably the most nerve-wrecking part of planning your trip. The fate of your trip will depend on the outcome of your application. Some say applying for a Japan tourist visa is a difficult process. I say it’s not – coming from someone who has already applied for tourist visas twice. It’s just like any other visa application process.

In 2015, I applied for a tourist visa with 2 friends for our 9-day Japan trip. All 3 of us were granted a single entry visa valid for a 15-day stay. Last year, I applied again for another tourist visa for my 13-day solo trip. Few days after, my passport came back with a 5-year multiple entry visa up to 2021. Good stuff, right?

My first ever Japan tourist visa!~ Of course I had to cover the visa details 😏

Let me show you how you can easily get your own Japan tourist visa. It’s simple as downloading & filling in the application form, preparing the necessary documents, applying through an accredited travel agency & getting back your passport after a few days. I will discuss these 4 easy steps in detail below (will also include some tips based on my personal experience). Allow me to also share some snaps I took in my past 2 trips to Japan.

Note: Some details below were obtained from the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines website. The tips below apply to people who are employed in a private company. Business owners can also use the steps below but they might need to submit a few more papers related to their businesses. 

Step 1: Download & fill in the application form

The first step is to visit the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines website & check on the visa application requirements. Kick start your application by downloading the application form from the website. Make sure to print this form in an A4-size paper with proper margins. Alternatively, you can ask for application forms in the embassy entrance or in the accredited travel agencies.

Write down your details neat & clear using a black or blue pen only. The accomplished application form should not have any erasure.

Tokyo DisneySea is a must-see in Tokyo; allot 1 day for this theme park~

Step 2: Gather the necessary documents

The embassy requires certain documents to be presented in order for them to decide on your application. Why is this so? It’s because they need to see that you are a registered Filipino citizen, you are qualified to go out of the country, you are capable of supporting your trip & that you will come back to the Philippines after your trip.

So what are the documents the Embassy of Japan require? Please see the not-so-long list below:

Valid Passport – Your passport must be valid for more than 6 months during your trip. The laminated part should be in perfect condition. It must have your signature & have at least 2 blank pages.

Birth Certificate & (if married) Marriage Contract – Both documents should be obtained from the National Statistics Office & must be issued within the past 12 months. You can check lower left portion of your document (near the bar code) to see the date your document was issued. If you do not have time to go to the NSO to get these documents, you can always request from the E-Census & NSO Helpline websites & they’ll have them delivered to your doorsteps.

Note: If you have a used Japan visa in your old or valid passport, you are exempted from submitting this requirement. The embassy already has a copy of your documents when you submitted them before.

Photo – The embassy website mentions that the photo should be 4.5 cm x 4.5 cm with white background. It’s best to wear something formal when having your photo taken. You only need 1 photo that you will attach in the application form.

Don’t miss the Arashiyama Bamboo Forest in Kyoto! 😍

Income Tax Return / BIR Form 2316 – You need to submit a copy of your latest income tax return. The form needs to have your signature. This will show the amount you earned for the past year as well as the amount of taxes you paid to the Philippine government.

Certificate of Employment – This is not listed in the embassy’s requirements but the agencies require this. You need to ask for this certificate from your HR officer. The certificate should contain your gross annual income, position & date when you started working for your employer. It’s best to get it on the same week of the application.

Bank Certificate – The embassy won’t tell you how much money you need to have in your account when you apply for the visa. However, the agencies require that you need to have at least ₱100,000.00 in your account. I know it’s quite a big amount of money. As of June 2023, the Embassy of Japan in the Phillippine added some requirements. First, the bank certificates should now include the account’s ADB or average daily balance. Second, if the bank certificate has no ADB and the applicant has no BIR Income Tax For, then the applicant should provide the account’s bank statement for the last 3 months.

Daily Schedule in Japan / Taizai Nitteihyo – Japan is one of the very few countries that ask for the detailed itinerary of your stay. The embassy needs to see what days are you arriving & leaving Japan, where will you stay (includes physical address, email address & phone number) & which places / areas are you going to explore. The embassy DOES NOT REQUIRE confirmed airline tickets & hotel / hostel reservations; you can just indicate your intended flights & hotel accommodations in the daily schedule. If you want a sample itinerary, I can send you the one we used 2 years ago. Feel free to send me an email to request for the said copy.

Osaka’s Dōtonbori canal at night + the famous Glico Man

TIP: It is always better to apply for a visa as a tourist rather than a visitor of a friend or a relative. The latter requires additional documents (invitation letter, photo, etc) that need to be submitted together with your application.

TIP 2.0: Some people previously ask me why did I book my airline tickets without having a Japan tourist visa. I told them that I would take a risk & spend less than ₱5,000 (before) for round-trip ticket rather than spend ₱15,000 – ₱20,000 pesos on a round-trip ticket last minute. I’ve saved more which I can add up to my daily expenses in Japan. Of course, you lose ₱5,000 if you get denied. If your documents are complete, I don’t see any reason why your application will rejected.

Step 3: Apply in a Japanese Embassy accredited travel agency

Now that you already have your application form & requirements, it’s time to submit them to the relevant agency. The Embassy of Japan in the Philippines does not directly accept visa applications. The office has authorized a handful of travel agencies that can accept these visa applications with, of course, a handling fee. These applications are compiled daily & are being sent to the embassy for processing.

I personally recommend Reli Tours & Travel Agency. They have one of the cheapest visa handling fees among the agencies (only ₱950) for tourist visa applications with no guarantors. They have different branches here in Metro Manila; my last 2 applications were handled by their Dusit Thani Hotel office.

All documents will be checked before your application will be accepted. After everything has been checked & accepted, they will ask for the visa handling fee. They will give you a receipt + a stub which you will present when claiming your passport. Applications usually take 3-7 working days.

TIP: If you want Reli Tours to submit your documents next day , make sure to hand over your applications before 5:00 pm in the Dusit Thani Hotel office. Any application submitted after 5:00 will still be accepted that same day; but will be submitted 2 days after. Note that other Reli branches have different cut-off times.

USJ’s Wizarding World of Harry Potter should be in everyone’s list!

Step 4: Go back to the agency & claim your passport

The agency will normally send you a text message once your passport is ready for claiming. Note that they will not inform you if you have been granted a visa or not. You will only know if you were granted a visa when you sign the passport release sheet with a check mark in the ‘Yes‘ box.

You can either be granted a single entry visa valid for 3 months from the date of issue & is valid for a 15-day stay in Japan or a multiple entry visa valid for x years (can be 1, 2 or up to 5 years) from the date of issue & is valid for a 30-day stay per entry.

TIP: Passports can only be claimed in the afternoon from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm. Make sure to go there on time.

The list of requirements might be a little intimidating; but I tell you, once you are done gathering all the necessary requirements, the visa application process will be as easy as these 4 steps! So what are you waiting for? Book your plane tickets, gather all the needed documents & apply for your Japan visa as soon as possible. A trip to Japan is something you won’t regret. 😉

My 5-year multiple entry Japan tourist visa issued last year 😏

Have you encountered any problem when you applied for your Japan visa? Did the agency require additional documents from you? Do you have any questions or clarifications with the things mentioned above? Feel free to post them in the comments – it’s always nice to hear from you guys.

Alternatively, you can also send your questions & thoughts to contact@thewkndtravel.com or via Facebook, Instagram & Twitter. Thank you for reading & have a nice day!

PS. All photos above were shot using my HTC Re & HTC One M8.