Yes, that's right.  It's really Visa x 3.  It took about 6-7 weeks to prepare for requirements, submit application and get the results.

It was the start of January when I was thinking of where to go for the Holy Week (IKR, it's too early to plan).  I was watching Rated K then and they had a feature on Korea.  "Why not?" I thought.  I wanted to experience the cherry blossoms! :)  I asked my mom if she wanted to go with me, and without asking twice, she said yes.  It would be my mom's first time to apply for a visa so we just tried our luck.

While preparing for our requirements, a friend of mine told me that she's going to be assigned in Japan and invited me to visit her during her stay.  Guess what?  She would still be there during Holy Week.  There's this "why not?" thought again.  This would mean free accommodation.  However, the challenge here would be the visa application.  But, it would be worth a try.

Since I would already be preparing for visa applications, I've decided to apply for a US visa.  And so, the preparations began... bank statements, certificate of employment (yes, I've requested for CoE every other week), birth certificates, itinerary.

Below are links on my experiences in applying visas for South Korea, Japan, and United States:

- Applying for a South Korean visa
- Applying for a Japan visa
- Applying for a US visa

Japan visa is next.  I've done some research and the only way to apply for a Japan visa here in the Philippines is via an accredited travel agency.  Since I've already dealt with Reli Tours at SM Megamall before, I decided to go there and inquire.

Tourist visa is gratis, however, there is a handling fee (ours is PhP1200/person but it depends on the type of visa being applied for) that has to be paid to the agency at the time of the submission of requirements.  We've been given the list of requirements and application form.

Here's the list of documents I submitted:
- Filled-up Application form
- 2x2 photo with white background (glued to the application form)
- Passport
- Birth Certificate (from NSO)
- Marriage Contract (from NSO), if applicable
- ITR (Form 2316), original and photocopy
- Bank Certificate
- Certificate of Employment
- Daily itinerary in Japan

Oh yes... the last one is the hard part.  Since this would be my first time in Japan and will not be joining a tour, I had done more research to come up with an itinerary.  To give you an idea on your future Japan travels, here's what I came up with.  

Since we would be going to South Korea, this itinerary is from/to Seoul.  You also need to put in the hotel name and contact number.

Also, if you have more than one person in your group and you're applying for the visa at the same time, you could attach the list of applicants in your itinerary so that you only need to print it once.

We submitted our visa applications to the agency on a Sunday.  Come Tuesday afternoon, I received a message that our passports are ready for pick up.  That was fast!

My mom went to Megamall to pick our passports.  However, I forgot to give her the receipt.  I called the travel agent and told her about it.  Good thing they released it to my mom as she's one of the passport holders and she was with me when we applied for the visa.  Whew!

And the result... we got our Japan visa! Now, we could insert a short trip to Japan on our Holy Week itinerary.

Japan Visa

Please click here for the Consular Section of the Embassy of Japan in the Philippines.