Phone Number: |
Non-emergency inquiries: 82-2-397-4040 DSN: 721-4040
Emergency inquiries: 82-2-397-4114 DSN: 721-4114
Phone inquiries: 09:00-11:15 am, Monday to Friday |
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E-Mail: |
seoulinfoACS@state.gov |
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Address: |
International Mailing Address:
U.S. Embassy Seoul
Consular Section/American Citizen Services (ACS)
188 Sejong-daero, Jongno-gu,
Seoul, Korea 03141
U.S. Consulate in Busan
993, Joongangdae-Ro, Busanjin-gu,
Room 612 (Lotte Gold Rose)
Busan, Korea
U.S. Mailing Address:
IMMIGRANT VISA UNIT / CONSULAR SECTION, U.S. EMBASSY SEOUL
9600 Seoul Place
Washington, DC 20521-9600 |
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Working Hours: |
Interviews: Intake begins at 8 am (from 5 October 2009)
Routine Office Hours: 08:30 –17:00, Monday – Friday
ACS Hours of Operation (appointment only):
8:30 am – 11:00 am, Monday through Friday
12:45 pm – 3:00 pm, Monday through Friday except Wednesdays
Enter through the Embassy’s side entrance. |
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Best Contact Method: |
Phone, if you can get through
Once your I-130 goes through, it's best to contact them by email. You get help a lot faster that way. |
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Approx Waiting Time for Interview After Consulate Recieves
NVC Package: |
As of 04/27/2022:
Visitor Visa 31 Calendar Days;
Student/Exchange Visitor Visas 52 Calendar Days;
All Other Nonimmigrant Visas 29 Calendar Days
Source: https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/wait-times.html |
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Issues Packet 3? |
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Packet 3 Contains: |
Updated 05/16/2022:
https://kr.usembassy.gov/immigrant-visas-checklist-for-immigrant-visas/ |
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Issues Packet 4? |
Yes |
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Packet 4 Contents (if known): |
Issued by email only, contents as follows:
# Appointment letter (Print and bring to embassy for admission on day of interview)
# SEO-13: IMMIGRANT (IV), FIANCE, LIFE ACT VISA APPOINTMENT INFORMATION
# SEO-201: Document Checklist (same as Packet 3) |
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Forms to Consulate? |
# DS-230 Part I: Application for Immigrant Visa and Alien Registration (return by fax)
Updated 04/27/2022:
# Interview Appointment Request
IR, CR, IB, IW, SB1(including DS-117) and K visas:
https://cgifederal.secure.force.com/?language=English&country=Korea
For Family (F) and Employment (E) visas:
"If you are an F/E/SD/SR/SE/C5/I5/T5 visa applicant and want to schedule your visa appointment, please submit a “Visa Appointment Request†through the call center by telephone at 070-4784-4054, (02) 6009-9170 (in South Korea), or at (703) 520-2234 (in the U.S.) or email at support-korea@ustraveldocs.com (both English and Korean are available). When contacting the call center, you must provide your name and immigrant visa case number." Source: https://kr.usembassy.gov/visas/immigrant-visas/vr/ |
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Other Forms (if any)? |
All forms are included in ePacket 3.5 except Courier Label/Receipt (completed at embassy on day of interview) |
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Direct Consular Filing Offered? |
Yes |
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If DCF Allowed: For all or only US citizen lawfully resident in country?
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Residents_Only |
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Can fiance(e)/spouse attend interview? |
Yes |
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Visa fee payment "same day" or "in advance"? |
Advance |
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Did embassy schedule interview or could you walk-in? |
Embassy Scheduled |
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Visa issued same day? |
No |
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If not what's the waiting period? |
Visas returned by courier within 5 working days (20,000 won cash on delivery) |
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Is the Medical exam same day as interview? |
Prior to Interview |
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Cost of Medical Exam? |
Cost (excluding vaccinations) as of 14-Feb-2023:
SNU - 290,000 won (M-F appointments)
Yonsei - 331,000 won (M-F appointments)
Saint Mary's - 334,000 won (M-F and 1st/3rd Saturday)
Gangnam - 400,000 won (M-F and Saturday) |
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List of doctors? |
# Gangnam Severance Hospital (Visa Medical Center): Online Reservation (Korean language only) at gs.iseverance.com,
Phone 02-2019-1209, Dogok-ro 235, Gangnam-gu, Seoul (Visa Medical Center, 1st floor)
(https://gs.severance.healthcare/gs-en/appointment/Visa-Examination-Appointment.do)
# Saint Mary's Hospital: Online Reservation (Korean language only) at cmcsungmo.or.kr, Phone 02-3779-1521, 63 Ro 10,
Youngdeungpo-gu, Seoul
(https://www.cmcsungmo.or.kr/en.ourservices.visa.sp)
# Seoul National University Hospital: Phone 02-2072-4918, Daehak-ro 101, Jongno-gu, Seoul
(http://www.snuh.org/global/en/patients/EN02003007.do)
# Severance Hospital: Online Reservation (Korean language only) at sev.iseverance.com, Phone 1599-1004, Yonsei-ro 50-1,
Seodaemun-gu, Seoul
(https://sev.severance.healthcare/sev-en/ihc/visa.do)
# Haeundae Paik Hospital: Phone 051-797-0369, Haeundae-ro 875, Haeundae-gu, Pusan |
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How many Passport Photo's Required for the medical? |
1 |
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How many Passport Photo's Required at the interview? |
2 |
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Estimated waiting time at the consulate on the day of interview? |
Total time from intake to interview was approximately 2 hours |
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Vaccination requirements? |
I wanted to add the information that Yonsei Severance will do Saturday exams! You must call their Visa Section and make an appointment to do so (no walk ins) but it is possible. My husband was also required to get four vaccinations, even though he had a partial vaccination record, so be prepared for that. The staff is indeed very helpful and were in touch with us before and after the exam to make sure we knew what was happening. Everyone in the Visa section speaks good English. We had to pay 190 for the exam and an additional 50 for the four vaccinations. We were in and out in 90 minutes.
____________
Yes, vaccines are provided during medical examination
Information on Yonsei Severance Hospital: Highly recommend this location, especially if you don't speak Korean. Staff very friendly and helpful. Appointments for the medical are Monday-Friday and are on a first-come-first-serve basis. They start the appointments at 9:30, but if you get there a little before that you can be seen right away.
If you bring the medical check paper issued to you in Packet 3 you can show it to one of the many security guards in the main hospital building (it's at the top of the hill) and they will walk you over to the international wing, it's a VERY big hospital. Takes about 2 hours (if they're busy). Chest x-ray, blood test, general physical, blood pressure, vaccinations are based on your age, country of origin and if you have your shot record with you. *Don't panic if you don't have a shot record, a lot of people don't.* (My husband had no shot record and was only given two vaccinations, the MMR and TDap)
We really liked this hospital because they have people who will actually walk you from station to station to get things done. Staff can also speak Korean and Russian.
They will mail the test results to you (takes about a week) but it's good to have your address written out in Korean to make it easier. They also gave the option of coming to pick the results up in person. They'll call you if there's something amiss with your results.
Nice waiting room, comfy couch which is good because spouses aren't allowed to go with you when you get your x-ray, physical, etc. Good luck, everybody!
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Cheap and good hotels near the Consulate? |
Motel Sarangbang:
http://www.agoda.com/asia/south_korea/seoul/hotel_sarangbang.html
(Booked on Agoda for $50)
It's located in the heart of Insadong, a great place to walk around and buy traditional wares. The walk to the Embassy was about 10-12 mins with a preschooler in tow, probably faster without! It's right around the corner from Anguk station (Seoul Metro Line 3). Plenty of amenities for a budget motel - chargers for electronics, HD TV, a PC in the room, hairdryer, straightening iron. It was small and cozy but totally perfect. |
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Additional Info? |
U.S. VISA INFORMATION SERVICE
Tel: (02) 6009-9170, 070-4784-4054 (Calling in Korea), (703) 520-2234 (Calling in the U.S.)
E-mail: support-korea@ustraveldocs.com (Both English and Korean are available)
Website: www.ustraveldocs.com/kr
See the US Embassy blog for a great version of the Korean National Police Certificate translation:
http://usembassyseoulvisas.wordpress.com/2011/11/16/save-time-bring-the-right-korean-police-certificate/
Translation of Korean National Police Certificate:CRIMINAL AND INVESTIGATION HISTORY
Date:
Document No. (this number should be on your pcc form,mine was 708)
Receiver: (your name)
Subject: Criminal and Investigation History Including Expunged Record
â–¡ Subject of an Inquiry
Name*** Sex **** Date of Birth **** Extent of Requested Inquiry Requested Inquiry in Criminal Career and Investigation History Including Expunged Record Address ****
â–¡ Result of Inquiry
Serial Number
Date of Arrest/
Responsible Agency for Arrest Name of offenseDate of Clearance/
Responsible Agency for ClearanceComment***Applicable Data: none***
※ Pursuant to the law of pertaining to the lapse of Sentence etc - Section 10.2�3, maximum two years of imprisonment or maximum twenty million wons of fine if charged, in case of acquiring or using the results other than purposes specified in the law.
Chief of (write the city you got it from,mine was jongno) Police Department |
