(published in the March print edition of Groove magazine) “How I spend my time depends a great deal on where I’m living, the opportunities available and what stage of the relocation process I’m in. In the early days of living in a new place, it can take all day to complete simple tasks but as… Read More A Glimpse Into The Lives of Expat Wives
The year 2019 marks as the 70th year of the Philippine-Korea Diplomatic Ties. The Philippines extended and established foreign and diplomatic relations with South Korea on March 19, 1949. Diplomatic cars carry the national flags of the country it represents, but there’s another significant feature in diplomatic cars that highlights the value of the bilateral… Read More Philippine-Korea Diplomatic Relations reflected on Diplomatic Car Plate Number
IMPORTANT UPDATE: The Philippine Embassy in Seoul does not authenticate apostilled documents anymore. This took effect when the Philippines became a party to the Apostille Convention last May 14, 2019. Please refer to this blog post for update: Where and How to Apostille Documents Issued in Korea Early this year, I got the chance to… Read More Authentication of Documents Issued in Korea
As a 외국 가족 (foreign family) living here in Korea, with no roots to pay homage to the way Koreans do their ancestral rites, my family and I, and our friends, walked the streets of Chinatown the day before the Lunar New Year. We knew there was no public celebration to look forward to. Instead,… Read More Walking the Streets of Chinatown
published in Korea.net: Celebrating New Year’s Eve in the Philippines I recently had a fantastic chance to personally learn how to cook Korea’s two Lunar New Year must-eats, the tteokguk and the mandu guk. Four Honorary Reporters were invited to the Hana Go Lunar New Year episode and we delighted at how Professor Sook Ja… Read More A Look at the New Year Celebrations of Korea and the Philippines
All roads led to Pyeongchang in February of 2018. It was the Winter Olympics, after all! But before the world knew of Pyeongchang, the Alpensia Resort was already catering to local and foreign tourists while gearing itself to accommodate the thousands that came from all over to witness last year’s Winter Olympics. Alpensia was created… Read More Experience the Alps of Asia in Alpensia
(published in the December 2018 printed issue of Sulyapinoy – a monthly newsletter published by the Filipino EPS Workers Association in South Korea) On November 18, 2018, the Philippine Women’s Club (PWC) organized and held the “Chemical Safety Training” for Filipino workers at the KEB Hana Bank Building in Myeongdong, Seoul. The training was sponsored by the… Read More Philippine Women’s Club Organized Chemical Safety Training for Filipino Workers
I am an F-3 visa holder (Dependent’s Visa) since I came to Korea in 2006. My F-3 visa is courtesy of my husband’s E-7 visa, being his dependent spouse. My sons also got an F-3 visa until they were granted an F-2 visa after my husband got his F-5 visa (permanent resident visa). What happens… Read More Requirements for Visa Change from Dependent’s Visa to F-2 visa
My sons and I are F-3 visa holders (dependent’s visa courtesy of my husband’s E-7 visa). But what happens to the F-3 visa when the E-7 visa holder becomes an F-5 visa holder? Korean Immigration Law requires that F-3 visa (dependent’s visa) holders must apply for an F-2-3 visa. Application must be done before their… Read More How Do Minors of Permanent Resident Visa Holders Get the F-2 visa?
(published in Korea.net as “Acquiring Permanent Residency Without KOrean Proficiency”) The Permanent Resident Visa or the F5 visa is a most sought-after visa here in Korea. The requirements are rigid, including Korean language proficiency. My husband’s continuous stay here in Korea for more than 10 years on the same E7 visa qualified him to apply… Read More Permanent Resident Visa (F5) in Korea without Korean Language Proficiency
