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Visa Application Process

  • Writer: Shastia
    Shastia
  • Dec 31, 2023
  • 7 min read

Updated: Jan 1, 2024

This page includes information on the visa process such as consulate links, timelines, passport/visa ID photo tips, and important documents to bring for a smooth application process.


On November 30 we received information on applying for the A-3-99 Visa. The previous week you should have made an appointment with your local consulate so you can attend the appointment immediately the same week you get the update email from KAEC since it’s about a 2-3 week turnaround from email to deadline. Below is the information from that update email, including relevant info from the previous in-processing 1 email. Any notes from me within the quotations will be in blue, italic font.


November 13 email (summarized)


The visa process will start in early December, and it has to be an A-3-99 Visa. Don't start any visa applications processes yet, you will receive an email later this month with more info on the application process, and you have to wait for KAEC to send your name as a Fulbrighter to the consulate anyway. So hang tight. However! Start looking into the visa process for your local consulate.


"Some consulates will require that you mail in your visa application materials. Some will allow you to do walk-ins. And still others will require you to make an appointment with your local consulate before being able to apply for your visa. KAEC is not in charge of Korean Immigration services, so it is important that you check with your local consulate and check their specific processes, not all consulates operate under the same rules/management.

 

Websites for the Republic of Korea Consulates located in the United States can be found below. Please make sure you are selecting the consulate that services your state; you cannot utilize consulates that are not in your respective area.

 

 

If your consulate requires that you make an appointment, please make an appointment for the first week of December. If your consulate has yet to receive the visa list by that date, they may be able to hold onto the application until they are clear to process it. This is important advice to follow! Try to get that visa appointment sooner rather than later, so you can promptly receive your visa (or re-apply if you run into any issues) and have peace of mind leading up to your departure.

 

Additionally, if you do not have a passport photo that is sized for Korean passport sizes, you can get your passport photo done ahead of time. ETAs will usually use a passport photo taken at Walgreens or CVS, but they will have to cut it down to the correct size. Some consulates also have photo booths where you can take a photo that meets their standards. If you are taking your photo at home, please make sure you have read the Korean passport photo requirements.” More information on getting the passport/visa photo can be found farther below.


Nov 30 email (summarized):

All Fulbright ETAs must enter Korea using an A-3-99 Fulbright Agreement Visa.

 

By the time you receive the email, KAEC will have sent your information to Korea’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA), which oversees the Korean consulates in the United States. MOFA will send the list of ETA names to the consulates, and will be ready to process/receive visa applications December 1.

 

“ A few things to note regarding the A-3-99 visa: 

 

  • There are no fees for processing A-3-99 visa applications. (You do not need to pay for the visa.)

  • While the usual visa processing time is 2-3 weeks, depending on your materials, extra questions the consulate has, or general load at your consulate, your visa may take longer to process. This was accurate for me and others applying through the NY consulate; I received my e-visa December 15, having submitted my application in-person December 1

  • If your regional consulate asks for additional documentation that requires KAEC’s involvement (i.e., further grant confirmation), please contact us. 

  • Depending on the consulate, your issued visa may either be represented by a sticker inside your passport, printed visa (‘Confirmation of Visa Issuance’) paper, or a separate e-visa which can be printed. In any case, you will need to share with KAEC a copy of your A-3-99 visa once it has been issued via your ContentSnare portal. 

  • If you are given an e-visa, you can download and print your ‘Confirmation of Visa Issuance’ paper from the visa portal website. The NY Consulate I applied through issued an e-visa, which was quite convenient. Note that they did not send an email when the visa was available to download; instead, I checked the status of the application through the portal (more info about this below) and discovered it was available to download.

  • If you are given a paper visa, please flatly PDF scan your visa. If we cannot see the details or if your fingers are on the scan, then we will request that you either re-scan it or send us downloaded pdf copy. 

  • Your visa issuance date may have an "expiration date" earlier than December 21, 2024 listed. This is okay! After you arrive in Korea and we apply for your Residence Card your visa period will be adjusted for the entire duration of the grant (January 11 to December 21, 2024). 

  • Your visa paper may say that it is "single-entry." If that is the case, don't worry! The A-3-99 visa is a multi-entry entry visa and this will be adjusted after you receive your Residence Card. The visa paper is only "single-entry" because you are only allowed to enter the Republic of Korea one time in order to use the A-3-99 visa you were issued.


Visa Application Steps:

(STEP 1): Locate the Korean consulate for your region here. Please keep in mind that consulates only service individuals within their jurisdiction. 


(STEP 2): Visit the website of your region’s consulate, and carefully read the visa application submission instructions for your consulate. This is very important. Each consulate handles visa application submissions differently. Some allow in-person submissions only; some allow mail-in submissions. Documentation requirements regarding your visa application may vary according to how you submit your documentation. As such, we highly recommend you call your regional consulate in advance to make sure you have compiled all of the necessary documentation before you submit your application.


(STEP 3): Fill out a visa application (these documents can be found in the Shared Google Drive Folder) (which I am not linking to for security reasons, but you will receive a link for your own cohort year’s Shared Google Drive)


(STEP 4): Submit your completed application materials to your regional consulate. A completed application typically must include the following:

  • Completed Visa Application

  • 1 copy of your Signed KAEC Award Authorization document

  • 1 copy of your Signed KAEC Award Letter

  • 1 color passport photo (35mm x 45mm, or 2” x 2”, taken within the last 6 months, attached to the visa application with glue)

  • Passport AND/OR 1 photocopy of your passport biographic data page (check with consulate if you should submit your physical passport or just a copy; the passport should have at least 1-2 blank pages)

  • My NY Consulate only required the five documents listed above. But some consulates are MUCH more specific and require different/additional documents. Some issues ETAs encountered that could have (or did) cause delays in the application process:

  • Middle name included in application but not in Fulbright authorization and award letter 

  • Matching of permanent/current address, application address, award invitation letter

  • Required a drivers license or utility bill as proof of residence

  • Korean Americans including hanja/Chinese character name, especially if on their renunciation application (one ETA reported that they asked their consulate about this and was told it was not needed)

  • Non-US citizens by birth requiring birth certificate and/or naturalization certificate

  • Others mentioned by KAEC below

 

(DEPENDENT ON CONSULATE – STEP 5): Depending on your consulate, an application may also need to include the following:

  • A prepaid, self-addressed envelope (check with consulate if mail-in applications are allowed; use certified mail to track your application) 

  • Itinerary to Korea (Check Google Drive for Itinerary Samples for Visa Purposes; if your consulate does not accept this for some reason, please contact Isabel)

As your local consulate/embassy processes applications differently, please also keep in mind that if you know of another ETA in another region being told to do XYZ, that it may not apply to you. If you have any questions about how to apply for a visa, please check with your direct consulate first! 

 

I also know that some of you may be concerned if your consulate says that the visa will be issued after the In-Processing Group 3 deadline on Dec. 15th. If you do not get your visa by Dec. 15th, please let us know when you applied for it and when your consulate says that you can expect your visa via your Content Snare portal. We will adjust from there."

Visas are important for KAEC being able to apply for your Residence Card, so make sure to upload the visa as soon as you get it!


Back to Shastia's thoughts:


My NY Consulate application took 14 days until I received my visa. ETAs in Atlanta, Georgia took one week. Any other reports from fellow ETAs on visa timelines will be added as I receive them.


To check the status of your visa application:

  1. Go to https://www.visa.go.kr/main/openMain.do

  2. Hover over “Check application status” and click “check application status and print”

  3. Search by diplomatic office (important!)

  4. Enter passport number, name (formatted as LAST FIRST MIDDLE exactly as written in passport) and date of birth (formatted YYYY-MM-DD) and click submit

  5. Hopefully your name will pop up and you can see the status of your application


Regarding Visa and Other ID Photos:

Fulbright ID and Visa can be the same but the ARC (residence card) needs a different passport photo. The headshot for the ‘face book’ for schools is just a nice professional photo, does not have to follow passport/visa photo requirements of a white background, neutral expression, etc. Instead, follow the usual professional headshot tips (blurred or non-distracting background, light smile, etc). You will print a visa photo for the visa application anyway, so print some extra copies because you will need to bring some in-person for your arrival. The photo KAEC wants you to upload through ContentSnare for your Fulbright ID should be different from the photo you bring in person, so for convenience’s sake, take another pic with slightly different clothing, expression, etc for the online Fulbright ID upload so you only have to print hard copies of one photo (for the visa application copy and in-person ARC copy)


  • I printed mine at CVS at $16.99 for two 2x2” (including free headshot editing like smoothing filters and spot removal). Other ETAs reported getting much cheaper prints at Walgreens, Walmart, or FedEx for under $10. UPS was $21 for two photos. You can resize photos per passport regulation here. I also found Canva to be quite helpful in resizing photos/removing backgrounds if I had a great photo I wanted to repurpose for Fulbright professional stuff


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Hanguksu is a personal blog by Shastia Azulay and not an official site of the Fulbright Program or the U.S. Department of State.  The views expressed on this site are entirely Shastia's and do not represent the views of the Fulbright Program, the U.S. Department of State, or any of its partner organizations. Since this blog is based on my personal experiences, I can only guarantee that the information written is accurate for the 2023-2024 grant year, as procedures, timelines, etc may change over the coming years.

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