To start with, I have an expired L-1 US visa and had been in the US a number of times.  

The first time I applied for a tourist visa was in 1990 and was denied at that time.  It might be because I haven't been to any other country then, meaning I haven't established a reputation that I would be going back to the Philippines.

Fast forward to today, after having been to different countries, I decided to try my luck in applying for a tourist visa (B1/B2). 

Here is the application process from the Embassy of the United States in the Philippines.
 
Here are the basic requirements:

• Filled up DS-160 form (submit online and print out)
• Passport (at least 6 months valid from the date of intended departure); all prior passports and US visas, if available
• 2x2 photo (photo requirements) 

Payment for the visa can be made via BPI (online or through their branches) or BancNet online.  I paid for it at a BPI branch, and in this case, presentation of passport is required.  The visa fee is valid for one year after the date of actual payment (interview must fall within this period).  You might need to wait for some hours before the payment is posted and for you to proceed with the application.

Next, you would need to schedule your interview.  On the day of your interview, please make sure you are at the embassy at least 15 minutes before the scheduled time.  Do not bring any electronics (i.e. cellphone, iPad, USB thumb drive), unless it's ok with you to leave these things to those persons outside the embassy offering to keep it for you for a fee.  It might also be better to have another government-issued ID to present upon entry.
 
There is no mention of supporting documents but it would be better to have them ready for the interview.  Here's what I prepared:

• Certificate of Employment
• Bank Certificate
• ITR
• Birth Certificate  

These are mostly the same documents I prepared for the other 2 visas (Japan and South Korea) I applied for.

Minutes before the scheduled time, there would be a line outside the embassy depending on the schedule.  Prepare your Appointment confirmation, DS-160, payment receipt and passport.  It would be checked there.  Then, you will go through security check.  After that, you would proceed to a window where you would be given a number.  Once you have a number, you would now have to proceed to the waiting area.  Be alert when your number (or within the number range) is called by a staff.  They'll let you inside the building even before your number is flashed on the screen.  The first time your number is flashed, your documents (DS-160, passport) will be checked by the embassy personnel.  The second time would be for biometrics.  The third (and last) time would be for the interview with the consul.

I've been asked a few questions by the consul and after that he gave me a slip for claiming of my passport.  Woohoo! I passed (parang exam lang).  He hadn't even asked for additional documents.

So now I proceeded to the payment for the delivery of my passport.  Since there might not be anybody to receive it at home, I preferred to just pick it up at 2Go Megamall branch.

The whole process could take hours, depending on the number of persons already in the embassy when you got there.  So, it's better to select an early schedule.  Also, visa approval is not guaranteed, that still depends on the analysis of the consul/embassy.

After 3 or 4 days, I received a message that my passport is already available for pick-up in Megamall.  I'm very thankful they gave me a 10-year multiple entry visa.  Now, it's time to save up for a US vacation. 

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.

Our planned trip for Seoul was Holy Week, so it's better to apply for a visa as early as January (within 3 months of the trip, as visas are normally valid for 3 months).  It'll give me more time to prepare or change plans depending on the result of the visa application.

Below are the requirements (these are actually the basics) I've prepared/submitted when I applied for the visa:
- Filled up Visa Application Form (fill up all spaces)
- Passport size photo (attached to the application form with a glue; do NOT staple)
- ITR (Form 2316) of the previous year; photocopy and original
- Certificate of Employment
- Bank Statements
- Original Passport (6 months valid from the date of entry) and photocopy of the passport's first page (the one with personal information)
- Photocopy of valid visa and/or arrival stamps from OECD member countries within the past 5 years, if you have any

If you're submitting an application for someone else, it might be better to have an authorization letter from that person, in case needed.

The Korean Embassy is located at McKinley Hill (along C5) in Taguig and visa applications are only accepted from 9-11AM, Mondays to Fridays.  Please bring an ID when going there as you have to leave one when entering the premises.  No appointment is needed, it is on a first come-first serve basis.

Address:
Embassy of the Republic of Korea
122 Upper McKinley Road, McKinley Town Center, 
Fort Bonifacio, Taguig city 1634, Philippines
(63-2) 856-9210 
Click here for location and address from the embassy's website

Upon entering the premises, follow a short path to the visa office and some personnel would be checking your documents and give you a number.  Those who have been to Korea before or have been to OECD member countries are assigned to a different window (window 3) than first-time travellers (first time in Korea or does not have valid OECD country visa).  Since this would be my 2nd time in Korea, I've been assigned to window 3.

Here are some reminders from the embassy's website:

As soon as your number is flashed, go to the window and hand in your documents.  The consul will examine your documents.  Since I would be sponsoring my mom, I was asked for a proof of relationship -- my birth certificate.  Good thing I have one and submitted it together with the other documents.  I have my mom's authorization letter but maybe since I would be the one sponsoring the trip, she hadn't asked for it.

I was given a slip that contains the date of the release of passports.  This does not guarantee that we have been granted a visa.  We would be able to know it at the time of release.  I submitted our applications on a Monday and the release schedule given to me was a Thursday.  That's just 3 days processing time.  Please note that processing are from 3-5 days.

Come Thursday, I went back to the embassy to claim our passports.  Releasing is from 2-4PM.  Don't forget to bring your release stub.  Again, you would be given a number, go to the window as soon as your number is flashed.

Upon receiving your passport, make sure you get the correct passports.  Woohoo! We've been granted visa!  And it's a multiple entry visa! :)  Our visa is valid up to January of 2015.  Checked the personal information on the visa just to make sure it's correct.  

Korean Visa

Now, it's time to do some planning (buy plane tickets, reserve a hotel and plan itinerary).

Click here for the latest information on Korean visa applications in the Philippines.