Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Kenny Kimchee]

I just did my E2 visa run to the Philippines. Information on how to do this is conflicting and hard to find, so I�d like to share my experiences:

Korean Embassy in Manila

Location: In the Makati section of Manila, Pacific Star building, 18th floor, corner of Makati Avenue and Gil Puyat Avenue. Sorry, I don�t have the phone number.

How to get there:

If you�re on a bus coming down EDSA (the main drag in Manila) tell the conductor that you want to get off at Buendia. Flag down a taxi and tell him where you want to go. Make sure that he turns the meter on � a lot of guys won�t and will try to charge you an overpriced flat rate; if he won�t turn the meter on just get out of the taxi and grab another one. Make sure to tip the driver � I generally tip 20 pesos on every 50 pesos of meter fare.

You can also take the LRT light rail that runs down EDSA (and is much faster than the nightmarish traffic); if you take the LRT get off at Buendia and then get a taxi; if you�re taking a taxi all the way from the Ermita/Malate area budget at least an hour for travel time.

Office hours:

Visa application: 9 to 11am.
Visa pickup: 2 to 4pm.
Closed Korean national holidays

It takes 3 business days to process the visa.

Required documents:

Visa application form, one passport photo, visa issuance number, photocopy of passport (they have a copy machine in the office if you don�t have a copy). Philippine pesos (it was either 2100 or 3100 pesos for an E2, but I can�t remember which).

According to the info posted at the Embassy, you do not have to apply in person � you can use a proxy (e.g. Philippino travel agent) to apply for you; however, I�d make sure to apply in person in case anything goes wrong. You can also have a proxy pick up your passport for you; if you can do this do it, as an agent won�t charge you too much and the money spent is well worth the hassle saved.

Please note that application is only in the morning and pickup is only in the afternoon. I found this out the hard way when I turned up at noon, found it closed for lunch, waited until 2pm�and found out that I could only apply in the morning.

The Embassy was much busier than others I�ve been to (e.g. Fukuoka, Osaka), but the whole process was still relatively quick � it took me about 20 minutes to apply and 25 minutes to pick it up. Just make sure to budget plenty of time for traffic if you�re coming from outside the Makati area.

Good luck!

[badfish]

So you have done this I take it.

Were you able to get to the Phills and back to Korea in the same day?

I am the only native teacher at my school and my boss is freaking out about Japan being a 2 day process.

I just wonder about the logisitcs. It's a 5 hour flight right? I work from 3-9 so I guess it could be done with only missing one day of work and be back the next day by 3.

Anyway thanks for the info

[regicide]

[Kenny Kimchee]

Regicide is right; you might be able to get it in two business days, but I doubt anything less than that is possible. I read on another thread where a guy got it in the same day by showing that his plane departed the next day, but I wouldn't bank on it. The Manila Embassy does a huge amount of Philippinos getting their work visas to come here - there were more than 50 people in the waiting room every time I went.

[stvwrd]

Possible to do this dropping off the application friday morning, traveling to somewhere else in the Phillipines (Boracay?), and coming back Monday or tuesday for the pickup?

I need to do a visa run next weekend and I want to see beaches and find peace and quiet. From what I hear, Manilla isn't the place for either, but there are nice beaches if you travel.