Anyone out there remember filling in your visa application? I went to the Korean Embassy's website but there weren't any specific instructions or explanations for the form.

#8. Classification (of passport) - The options are "DP, "OF," or "OR". I don't know what those abbreviations stand for.

#31. Guarantor or Reference in Korea - Do I have to fill this out?

Do I sign my children's applications (they are all under 18)?

No fee for an A-3, right?

What paperwork did you have to submit with your application? Did you go in person or do it through the mail? If you did it through the mail, how long did it take? We're about two and a half hours from D.C. so I *could* go down there, but if I didn't have to, it would be a heck of a lot easier.

Thanks!

Kara

Your'e an AF dependent, right? You legal office can connect you with a Korean on or near the base to help with the form, or better yet, your on -base Passport office can assist. Use your Air Force personnel office. They get paid to do that, every day! (They might be talked into taking photos, too.)

As far as the signatures I signed my name and then in parenthesis I put mother. Hubby says it said that on the website.

Grantor I put my hubby even though he was with me at the time.

I can't help you with the initials though, I can't remember that well. I called the Korean consulate with all my questions and after several tries I finally got a helpful person (one lady hung up on me because we weren't understanding each other and she said "you talk like mouse").

Thanks!

I actually have photos left over from when they took them for our passports, so this whole passport/visa thing is going to cost whatever the postage for the visas is. Pretty decent!

Thanks for the idea about asking MPF. Didn't even occur to me.

Kara

What I did, was I printed my childrens' names above the signature area, then signed my name and put (mother) next to it.

A-3 visas are free- just make sure you say specifically that is what you are wanting. I included a letter stating why I was going, when I wanted to go, and what date I was planning on leaving. I stated that the military was aware I was going.

I sent a copy of my flight intinerary, a copy of my military id, marriage certificate, my childrens' birth certificates, copy of my husbands orders, 1 passport photo each, 1 application each, and our passports. I sent a return postage paid envelope.

The passport classification was REgular for me. The options were diplimatic, regular, or some other thing I can't remember. Go to http://www.dynamic-korea.com/consulate_service/visa.php to get the visa application.

I used my husband as the guarantor. I used his address on base and his work phone number as the stuff in korea. I sent it on Friday through express mail, which means they didn't get it until Monday morning. I had it back Wednesday afternoon. So, it really only took 3 days if you don't include the 2 days they weren't working at the consulate. I would think sending it on a Saturday or a Monday would be best. I sent mine to the Seattle consulate, but they process them in about 24 hours everywhere.

DP stands for Diplomat, OF for Official, and OR is for Ordinary. If you have a blue passport that you would use for any travel out of the country you have a n ordinary passport. Official passports are brown, I think, and Diplomatic passports are black.

A copy of your husband's orders is needed, and I'd just put his squadron address as the referance in Korea.

We went to the consulate in person, went in at 9, picked the visa up again in the afternoon at 3. It was free and quite easy.

Thank you, thank you, thank you! I'm sending the applications out tomorrow!

Kara

Hey, Kara!

I'm sorry I missed your post, I was out of town for a couple of days..it may be a little late for answers, given your apps should have been mailed out by now, but basically, *G* "what shortie says"! :) LOL :)

As far as contacting the MPF for information, it may depend a great deal on where you are now, and who you talk to, but from my -personal- experience, when it comes to coming to Korea NCS, and filling out any paperwork that has to do with that...they're clueless...and at since you're not on "official military orders" aren't even willing to spend time talking to you. I called the passport office at our last duty station to ask a question about a passport, and instead of getting an answer was told that a) they'd never even heard of anyone getting a passport or visa to go to Korea, it couldn't be done (Hmm..makes you wonder how all those students, and college professors,teachers,etc. that are here got here, huh? :) *G*) and that b) they'd never heard of an A-3 Visa, and even if they had, I'm not command sponsored, so .. not their problem...call the Korean Embassy.

This forum has become so much more than what it started out, I think...talk about a lifeline for info for those of us who are here..and those of us to come. :)

Dee :)