pre-departure & important tips
Here is everything that I think is useful for a student studying abroad, both pre-departure and during your stay in Korea.
Beginning on 9/1 (until 9/14), SNU had an online group registration for the Alien Registration Cards. There is also an option to make an appointment on your own, but I figured that it would be easier to utilize the group registration. You MUST get an ARC card within your first 90 days of being in Korea, or else you will be fined. On a side note, because of COVID, when you dine in or enter certain stores, you must either scan a QR code on your phone (which you can get once you get your ARC card), or hand write your phone number, district you live in, time entered, and check a box if you meet the temperature screening. I can't wait until I get my ARC card, as it will make dining in so much easier.
Here are the documents needed for the ARC registration: 1. Copy of passport 2. Confirmation of Visa Issuance If you don't have the Visa you received at the consulate, do not worry! You can still obtain a copy of it from the Korea Visa Portal. Go to "Check Application Status > Check Application Status & Print > Search > Type of applications: Diplomatic Office > Select: Passport No. > Type passport no. > Name in English: type in full name as seen on passport (last name then first and middle) > Date of Birth: type in date of birth (year/month/date) > Hit search." You will be able to retrieve a copy of your Visa. 3. ID Photo When I first submitted my application, I got an email back saying that my scanned passport photo quality was not good enough. I took a picture using the BACK camera (selfie camera quality is not good enough too) of my phone with flash following the same criteria for a passport photo. I had my friend photoshop a white background. 4. Certificate of Enrollment This can be obtained from your SNU portal. Go to "Academic Affairs > Get certificates > Get online > Select: The dropdown with your name and college > Hit next > Under the line with Certificate of Enrollment, select the number of copies you would like > Hit next > Hit Apply." This will send your request for the certificate of enrollment. Next, go to "Issuance List > Internet Issuance > Hit Search." You should see a line with Certificate of Enrollment. Under the Status Column, click issue, and download the application it prompts you to get. Once the application is downloaded, refresh your webpage, and click on the issue button under the status column. It would only allow me to print the document, so I screenshotted it instead. 5. Proof of Residence Because I am staying in a goshiwon, I messaged my host to provide me with the necessary documents. There are mainly foreign students living here, so she is probably very familiar with the documents for the ARC registration. She provided me with a receipt from monthly payment, her Business Registration Certificate, and the Confirmation of Residence/Accommodation. 6. Payment The last thing required for the ARC card is payment. They accept regular credit/debit cards through PayPal, and it was around $37. The website said that it will take up to 8 weeks to receive my ARC. My recommendation to you: do the individual registration that SNU mentions if there is still a 2 week quarantine. The school made us come in by 8/9, but did start the group registration until 9/1. I think they kept the timeline the same as pre-COVID semesters and didn't take into account that the 2 weeks in quarantine still count towards the 90 days. Update (10/18): On 9/28, I received an email from HireVisa notifying me that my documents have been submitted to the immigration office on 9/24. The email also stated that it will take 4-8 weeks from then. On 9/29, I received an email from HireVisa regarding the phone plan. In Korea, when you originally buy your SIM card, you must provide the company with your passport number. The max amount of time you can use the SIM card is for 90 days. You can only use that SIM card for more than 90 days by uploading your ARC to the company website. On 10/7, I received another email from HireVisa stating that we need to come to campus on either 10/13 or 10/14 to get our fingerprints scanned. I went for my scheduled fingerprint appointment on 10/13 at 10:45. It says to get there 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment time, but since I had something scheduled after it, I played it safe and got there 30 minutes before my scheduled appointment time. Good thing I did because I was waiting in line for a little over 30 minutes. When I went for my appointment, they said I didn't need to come because they already have my fingerprints scanned. This was really weird because no one else already had their fingerprints scanned. I'm not sure how they would have gotten my fingerprints because I only remember scanning my thumbs at the airport, whereas for the ARC, you need all 10 fingers scanned.
2 Comments
Tran
2/19/2023 09:37:54 pm
Hi, hope you still check the blog often. Your post has been very informative for me and serve as a reassurance as well! I'l be going to SNU for Spring 2023 semester! Just wondering, did you sign up for HireVisa+ SIM card and what are the feature it had? If you did not, which plan did you use and do you recommend it?
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AuthorStudying abroad at Seoul National University! Archives
January 2022
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