My Alien Card, Finally!!

I've never realized how important getting this alien card when I got it the first time years ago since I don't really remember needing it that soon at that time. I was basically at home, early into my pregnancy, without much immediate need for it.

This time, however, is different. I have my son that I have to think about, and getting some stuff for him as an immigrant Mom actually needs an alien card for me. My migrant existence here before was very reliant on my husband but with the changes in the immigration rules, I have now found myself needing a card sooner than before.

I now have the current F-6 Visa (Marriage Visa) compared to the previous one I got before which was F-2. This is not anchored to the Korean spouse as the F-2 before. Thus, it can actually be more liberating for the foreign spouse, I suppose.

Let me do a backtrack on our case since it is a bit different.

As I had mentioned, I previously have the F-2 visa more than 6 years ago when we left ROK and went back to PH. My re-entry permit, as well as my visa/card  has long expired before we have decided to go back to ROK. That was the big problem for me as my hubby and son both have Korean passports.  We had to figure out what visa would I need to enter Korea again.

The basic one should be the Spouse Visa but the requirements given to us when we inquired at the Korean Embassy in Ph over the phone is quite complicated and doesn't seem to apply to my case. It needed CFO certificate, among other things like a seminar on the culture and whatnot, which, based from what we've researched online, is generally for first timers or newly married couples.  It was very tricky to get and, as expected, very bureaucratic way to get it done. We sure don't want that hassle plus it doesn't not apply to me very well anyway. So we opted for the Tour Visa. BUT take note that it is not allowed for first timers to go this way anymore. One cannot do Tour Visa as spouse, then convert to Marriage Visa  after landing if it is the first time for the foreign spouse to enter. We actually had this slight fear of me getting deported (^^,) before we applied for the Marriage Visa here.

Luckily, the Korean immigration officer was very logical and deportation didn't came up at all once we explained our situation. We were given a list of documents we had to submit that would convert my Tour Visa (C-3) to the Marriage Visa F-6. Note that they asked for the NSO Marriage Certificate and we also showed the officer my old ACR card at that time that he was evaluating our case.

The List (mostly Korean documents except the last two)

1. application form with passport photo (available online, or at the immigration office)
2. Korean Resident Registration
3. Korean Family Registry 
4. Korean Marriage Certificate
5. Bank Certificate
6. Housing Documents (certificate of ownership or rental contract)
7. Letter of Reference (there's a form for this)
8. copies of our passports (bio page)
9. marriage contract (from NSO)

We were able to submit these a few days later since we had to prepare the other missing documents. The younger officer remembered us from our first visit since the more senior officer had to ask him to check out the Ph Marriage Certificate. 

After checking all the documents we submitted were in order (he really scrutinized every paper), he finally had me register my fingerprints for the ACR card. I had to do the same thing at the airport immigration when we arrived. He even asked if I would prefer to keep my previous ACR number. I said yes, of course, since I think my previous number was pretty cool and easy to remember. 

We were told that the ID will be ready in three weeks. We told him that we have already paid for the delivery and gave him the receipt. We just have to wait for the card to be delivered. 

It took us roughly 140,000 for the visa fees (this includes my son's 2K-won entry and exit certificate needed for our shipped boxes), and 4000W for the delivery. The delivery fee is quite reasonable and convenient compared if we pick it up ourselves because of transportation fee (public) and effort/energy (excluding my all-time requirement, food ^^,). We were a bit surprised with the 6-figure visa fee but I think that it is better than me having to do everything back in my home country. (I remember that it was just around 30 to 60K won years before. Definitely less than 100K) We'll take this. (big sigh of relief :D )

Fast forward to eleven days..(a weekend included) I received my new ACR card finally! (Less than three weeks!) We were quite surprised with the speed. I just remembered now that I also got the Tourist Visa ahead of schedule. I guess they usually give the maximum expected time but actually does the quickest time. That is so far away from where I come from. I've been told a lot of times that it is the pali-pali culture of Koreans.