I THOUGHT I KNOW ALL THE PROCESS (SoKor Visa)

I THOUGHT I KNOW ALL THE PROCESS.

I tried booking for an appointment for me and my mom to get a SoKor visa this morning. But I wasn’t successful.

A little back story.

I was gathering documents for SoKor visa application since November 2022 when travel agencies are still allowed to process for us. I gathered all the bank documents, original copies of birth and marriage certificates, work documents and all that. I was able to collect all by December. So, I submitted all the documents to the travel agency already. As I was waiting for the feedback on when our appointment schedule will be, the Embassy issued a statement that they will abolish agencies to submit visa applications effective January 2, 2023. Our booked schedule by second week of January was forfeited and all our documents were returned.

Appointments can now be booked online but scheduled every last Thursday of the month only. So I set my alarm for January 26 so I will be reminded.

Come January 26, my alarm was unfortunately turned off for some reason and I had an appointment in Makati in the morning, so I totally forgot about it. Not until a friend told me that she was already booked for an appointment. To cut the story short, I wasn’t able to secure a slot.

I cried. Lots of crying. I was so frustrated because my alarm didn’t work, I totally forgot about it, and we were supposed to have our trip by January if only agency was still allowed.

So, okay. I will just try next month.

February 23, 2023. I set my alarm and made sure it is ON. I woke up early and logged in at around 8am. Slots open at exactly 9am. I was one of the few people in waiting room. My queue was at +/- 5k. I was able to get inside the website, but I can’t receive the verification code in my email. I tried numerous email. Still, none. So, I was forced out of the website and into the waiting room again. My queue was at +/- 18k already.

I was reading posts in one of the FB groups and I found out that there was an advice that you can opt to register as member so you can skip the verification code that is not working. I DIDN’T KNOW THAT.

I waited in the waiting room. Not doing anything else so it won’t screw the internet connection or my laptop’s speed whatsoever. I was in 2k queue already WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE ELECTRICITY IN MY CONDO WENT OFF FOR AROUND 30SECONDS. Wifi’s off. Shit. I was back at 30K++ queue. And I read a post that slots are filled up already by just around 10:30am.

I cried. Again.

I could’ve secured a slot if I knew the latest advisory of signing up as a member.

There were changes from the last time I applied in January 26. I thought I know all the process.

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Why did I cry? Why am I frustrated?

Because I’ve been trying since November 2022. I promised my mom we will go to Korea by January 2023. But it kept pushing back. Agency was abolished, the alarm I set went off, I didn’t know about the new process of registering as a member, the electricity went off, and more.

In life, you won’t know everything. There are times we learn from the hindsight. Not all our plans will push through on the time we want it to happen. Our option? Just continue trying. So, I am set to try again on March 30 or maybe in the coming months, the Embassy would bring back the travel agencies.

Just keep trying.

I THOUGHT I KNOW ALL THE PROCESS.

I tried booking for an appointment for me and my mom to get a SoKor visa this morning. But I wasn’t successful.

A little back story.

I was gathering documents for SoKor visa application since November 2022 when travel agencies are still allowed to process for us. I gathered all the bank documents, original copies of birth and marriage certificates, work documents and all that. I was able to collect all by December. So, I submitted all the documents to the travel agency already. As I was waiting for the feedback on when our appointment schedule will be, the Embassy issued a statement that they will abolish agencies to submit visa applications effective January 2, 2023. Our booked schedule by second week of January was forfeited and all our documents were returned.

Appointments can now be booked online but scheduled every last Thursday of the month only. So I set my alarm for January 26 so I will be reminded.

Come January 26, my alarm was unfortunately turned off for some reason and I had an appointment in Makati in the morning, so I totally forgot about it. Not until a friend told me that she was already booked for an appointment. To cut the story short, I wasn’t able to secure a slot.

I cried. Lots of crying. I was so frustrated because my alarm didn’t work, I totally forgot about it, and we were supposed to have our trip by January if only agency was still allowed.

So, okay. I will just try next month.

February 23, 2023. I set my alarm and made sure it is ON. I woke up early and logged in at around 8am. Slots open at exactly 9am. I was one of the few people in waiting room. My queue was at +/- 5k. I was able to get inside the website, but I can’t receive the verification code in my email. I tried numerous email. Still, none. So, I was forced out of the website and into the waiting room again. My queue was at +/- 18k already.

I was reading posts in one of the FB groups and I found out that there was an advice that you can opt to register as member so you can skip the verification code that is not working. I DIDN’T KNOW THAT.

I waited in the waiting room. Not doing anything else so it won’t screw the internet connection or my laptop’s speed whatsoever. I was in 2k queue already WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE ELECTRICITY IN MY CONDO WENT OFF FOR AROUND 30SECONDS. Wifi’s off. Shit. I was back at 30K++ queue. And I read a post that slots are filled up already by just around 10:30am.

I cried. Again.

I could’ve secured a slot if I knew the latest advisory of signing up as a member.

There were changes from the last time I applied in January 26. I thought I know all the process.

---

Why did I cry? Why am I frustrated?

Because I’ve been trying since November 2022. I promised my mom we will go to Korea by January 2023. But it kept pushing back. Agency was abolished, the alarm I set went off, I didn’t know about the new process of registering as a member, the electricity went off, and more.

In life, you won’t know everything. There are times we learn from the hindsight. Not all our plans will push through on the time we want it to happen. Our option? Just continue trying. So, I am set to try again on March 30 or maybe in the coming months, the Embassy would bring back the travel agencies.

Just keep trying.