Pretty late.....but updates....WARNING: This will be long.
ACCEPTANCE: About two months ago, I was panicking because I hadn't received my acceptance from Yonsei yet. I remember (g-mail inbox reminded me) that I submitted my application on March 19th, then on May 26th, I received THE EMAIL. So don't worry, it just takes them a while to process everything! After you read the email, you will have another list of items to complete before you're officially admitted. The email also informs you that your acceptance packet was mailed out that day, this piece being vital to obtaining your visa (I'll talk about that soon). A few days later....I picked up my acceptance packet!
VISA: The next step was to apply for a visa which was a super stressful process for me because I am interning full-time which means I am working while they are. They as in the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Honolulu. As for applying, you just have to gather these and bring them to their office:
1) Visa Application Form filled out - http://usa-honolulu.mofa.go.kr/english/am/usa-honolulu/visa/issuance/index.jsp (This link brings you to their site, link to the application form, and everything you need, but I wanted to simplify it and tell you what I turned in so you don't have to go again if you miss anything.)
2) Acceptance Letter (I think she only scanned the first/second page of the acceptance packet that I brought with me just in case.)
3) Passport
4) Bank Statement (proof of ability to cover expenses) OR I brought in my scholarship letter because that amount was enough evidence.
5) Official Transcript (I would suggest getting this right after grades are posted.)
6) 2 x 2 Passport Photo
7) $45
As for the stressful part, it was my fault because I didn't call ahead....but I went to their office during my lunch break around 12 pm to find that they actually take the same break and close the office for lunch (FYI). So, I sat for an hour and it took about five minutes for her to check everything. I found out what the bank statement requirement meant (which isn't explained on the website), luckily she said she would accept my scholarship letter as long as the amount noted was enough. I rushed back to work after that and received an email saying it would take about a week for the visa to process. You can definitely avoid any of this stress by having everything and planning a time to go because they are open weekdays 8:30 am - 4:00 pm with the exception of lunch from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm.
INSURANCE: I wouldn't call this the next step because I did these simultaneously. But your next step would be to purchase international insurance. The MIX website provides you with some references and I think that's how I found mine's. After I bought it, I uploaded the certificate onto the online profile that Yonsei had me set up. Two weeks ago, they sent me an email saying my insurance was cleared (yay!).
HOUSING: THIS IS SO IMPORTANT. Dorms on campus fill up fast, too fast for me because I wasn't able to get in. There are two dormitories: the SK Global House and the International House. You can apply for a single at the SK Global House which was my original plan, but I think I applied two or three days after the opening date and I got denied. Make sure you set alarms on your phone and write it down somewhere/everywhere to apply for dorms the day it opens even up to the hour would be good. (Korea is 19 hours ahead.)
Alternatives.....Keep in mind, stress = desperation. This is also my first time dorming, so I felt pretty lost as to what to do. Fortunate for me, my friend (a fellow Freeman Scholar going to study at Yonsei) did some research just in case we didn't get on-campus housing and found the DMC Ville. We applied together because these were two-bedroom dorms with two people in each room. First, we followed the instructions to fill out the application and to request that we would be assigned the same room. Then you are provided with information needed to wire money to the institution. For the application, there was a fee of about $260 (300,000 KRW) but to wire money to anywhere internationally, there is a $45 fee for anything less than $5,000. After they confirmed our applications and receipts of applications fees, we had to wire the housing payment (2,700,000 KRW + $45 transfer fee). After this, they sent us confirmations and stated that they would notify us of our room assignments on the day of check-in.
*I'm going to save ETC. for later. I know I should be blogging as I complete each step, sorry!
ACCEPTANCE: About two months ago, I was panicking because I hadn't received my acceptance from Yonsei yet. I remember (g-mail inbox reminded me) that I submitted my application on March 19th, then on May 26th, I received THE EMAIL. So don't worry, it just takes them a while to process everything! After you read the email, you will have another list of items to complete before you're officially admitted. The email also informs you that your acceptance packet was mailed out that day, this piece being vital to obtaining your visa (I'll talk about that soon). A few days later....I picked up my acceptance packet!
VISA: The next step was to apply for a visa which was a super stressful process for me because I am interning full-time which means I am working while they are. They as in the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Honolulu. As for applying, you just have to gather these and bring them to their office:
1) Visa Application Form filled out - http://usa-honolulu.mofa.go.kr/english/am/usa-honolulu/visa/issuance/index.jsp (This link brings you to their site, link to the application form, and everything you need, but I wanted to simplify it and tell you what I turned in so you don't have to go again if you miss anything.)
2) Acceptance Letter (I think she only scanned the first/second page of the acceptance packet that I brought with me just in case.)
3) Passport
4) Bank Statement (proof of ability to cover expenses) OR I brought in my scholarship letter because that amount was enough evidence.
5) Official Transcript (I would suggest getting this right after grades are posted.)
6) 2 x 2 Passport Photo
7) $45
As for the stressful part, it was my fault because I didn't call ahead....but I went to their office during my lunch break around 12 pm to find that they actually take the same break and close the office for lunch (FYI). So, I sat for an hour and it took about five minutes for her to check everything. I found out what the bank statement requirement meant (which isn't explained on the website), luckily she said she would accept my scholarship letter as long as the amount noted was enough. I rushed back to work after that and received an email saying it would take about a week for the visa to process. You can definitely avoid any of this stress by having everything and planning a time to go because they are open weekdays 8:30 am - 4:00 pm with the exception of lunch from 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm.
INSURANCE: I wouldn't call this the next step because I did these simultaneously. But your next step would be to purchase international insurance. The MIX website provides you with some references and I think that's how I found mine's. After I bought it, I uploaded the certificate onto the online profile that Yonsei had me set up. Two weeks ago, they sent me an email saying my insurance was cleared (yay!).
HOUSING: THIS IS SO IMPORTANT. Dorms on campus fill up fast, too fast for me because I wasn't able to get in. There are two dormitories: the SK Global House and the International House. You can apply for a single at the SK Global House which was my original plan, but I think I applied two or three days after the opening date and I got denied. Make sure you set alarms on your phone and write it down somewhere/everywhere to apply for dorms the day it opens even up to the hour would be good. (Korea is 19 hours ahead.)
Alternatives.....Keep in mind, stress = desperation. This is also my first time dorming, so I felt pretty lost as to what to do. Fortunate for me, my friend (a fellow Freeman Scholar going to study at Yonsei) did some research just in case we didn't get on-campus housing and found the DMC Ville. We applied together because these were two-bedroom dorms with two people in each room. First, we followed the instructions to fill out the application and to request that we would be assigned the same room. Then you are provided with information needed to wire money to the institution. For the application, there was a fee of about $260 (300,000 KRW) but to wire money to anywhere internationally, there is a $45 fee for anything less than $5,000. After they confirmed our applications and receipts of applications fees, we had to wire the housing payment (2,700,000 KRW + $45 transfer fee). After this, they sent us confirmations and stated that they would notify us of our room assignments on the day of check-in.
*I'm going to save ETC. for later. I know I should be blogging as I complete each step, sorry!