Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Los Angeles

[ N O T E ]

Please note that not following the proper procedure to apply for a visa can automatically result in denial of a visa. Furthermore, any verbal abuse or unlawful behavior and actions are grounds for denial of visa issuance and may prevent future visa applications.

THIS VISA FOR

○ A student who is enrolled in a regular degree program at an overseas university (including students on leave) and wishes to study at their own expense in a regular degree program for one year or less at a university in Korea.

 - A student who plans to enroll in a master’s degree course of study at college or above, or an academic institution established in accordance with the Higher Education Act or regulation of special laws

 *If the student will obtain credit for the overseas university through the Summer or Winter program in Korea, needs to apply for this visa even if stays in Korea for less than 90 days.

○ In general, this visa will be issued with a single entry and applicants will receive the duration of stay for the visa indicated on the Certificate of Admission. (Max 12 Months)
 *Applicants who receive this visa need to make an "Alien Registration Card" at the local immigration office within 90 days of initially entering Korea. With an ARC(Alien Registration Card), it can be used as multiple entries.

VISA PROCESS

○ Consul's Secondary Interviews may be required for some Korean Ancestry who believe assumed to have dual citizenship.

REQUIRED DOCUMENTS (Appointment Required : Click)

The required documents may vary by the consulates and embassies.
Please check it with your local consulate before you apply for the visa.

The head of Korean diplomatic missions abroad may request for additional documents depending on the condition of the country of residence/jurisdiction if it is deemed necessary for visa evaluation.

1. Application Form

   *Attached

2. 1 photo for Visa Application
   : Color, US passport photo size, taken within the last 6 months

   : If the applicants fill out the form by visa portal web form (Click) and print it in color, don't need to prepare this item.

3. Original Passport and a copy

   : The Passport should be valid for more than 6 months

   : (If applicants apply for the visa by mail) Please send the notarized passport copy instead of the originals.
   *Mailed-in apply (Click)

4. (For Non-U.S.Citizen) Original proof documents for the legal U.S. long-term stay

    *One or More from below

   : Valid U.S. Long-Term Visa (B1/B2 visa is not eligible)

   : U.S. Permanent Resident Card (Green card)

    *If it is under renewal processing, needs the valid I-797

   : Valid I-20

   : Valid EAD Card (Work Permit) 

   : (If applicants apply for the visa by mail) Please send the notarized copy instead of the originals.
    *Mailed-in apply (Click)

5. (For Iranian, Syrian, and Sudanese nationals)

   : Required to submit bank statements or US tax reports for more than one year or over the past three months in addition.

6. Visa Fee (Cash / Credit Card / Money Order)

   : It varies depending on the nationality. (U.S. $45)
   : Please refer to this information.( Click )

7. Certificate of Business Registration(사업자등록증)

   : Issued by University in Korea.

8. Certificate of Admission(표준입학허가서)

   : Issued by the dean/president of the university that was certified by the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Education

9. (If necessary) Additional Documents

   * If necessary, our officer will contact the applicants individually during the review process. So please do not submit this item before it is requested.

   : For some applicants, additional documents(e.g. Receipt for the Tuition, Flight Ticket, Bank Statement for 3 months, Verification of Enrollment) may be required depending on the category of universities in Korea that they are willing to study.

10. (For all Korean ancestry) Verification Documents for Dual Citizen (Click)

   ○ We review dual citizenship very strictly. If the applicant has dual citizenship, is not eligible to apply for a visa even if his/her birth isn't registered on the Korean Family System. 
    - If we confirm the applicant has dual citizenship, the applicant should register his/her birth to the Overseas Consulate/Embassy(takes 2 weeks) and apply for a Korean passport instead(takes 10 days to 3 weeks).

    - Even Korean nationals are also eligible for the exchange student. Please discuss this matter with the university in Korea.

   :Birth Certificate (Long-Form Version) of the applicant
     *Abstract version is not acceptable
   : Korean Basic Certificate or Certificate of U.S Naturalization (Both Parents')

    (국적상실이 표기된 부모의 기본증명서 또는 부모 양측의 국적상실접수증과 기본증명서 또는 부모 양측의 미 시민권증서)
     *If the applicant's father or mother was born in a Foreign country including the U.S. Please prepare his/her birth certificate instead.

     **In general, if one of the applicant's parents was a U.S. permanent resident when the applicant was born, the applicant might have dual citizenship.

*Don't forget to Sign before you submit the application 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

○ If any information or documents submitted along with the visa application are verified as false statements or falsified, will cause a denial of visa issuance and may prevent future visa applications.

○ Sticker-type visas are no longer issued. The visa grant notice is the actual visa that must be brought for entry to Korea.