Today, we will explore the points to keep in mind when iToday, we will discuss the points to keep in mind when inviting for a C-3 visa and examine the required documents through a case study
Firstly, the client was a young man living in Chungbuk, South Korea, who had questions regarding an F-6 Marriage Visa for his Moroccan girlfriend. They were already legally married in South Korea and were now looking to register their marriage in Morocco, which required them to marry according to Islamic law. Furthermore, he had converted to Islam in preparation for his marriage to his girlfriend.
※ It's not necessary for the Moroccan spouse to be present in Korea for the marriage registration in Korea. With the passport of spouse with Apostille and translated and notarized birth certificates and single certificates, you can register the marriage at the local district office without the spouse being present.
※ When registering a marriage in Morocco, Muslims are required to marry within the Muslim community, so they need an Islamic conversion certificate.
※ To apply for an F-6 Marriage Visa as a Muslim Moroccan, marriages must be registered in both countries. In the case of Morocco, a strong Islamic country, foreign marriages alone are not recognized. To register the marriage, conversion to Islam is required, and the wedding ceremony is held under the auspices of the local Islamic house of worship (MASJID). In cases where the marriage ceremony is conducted by an Islamic house of worship in Korea, the marriage must be officiated by an Imam recognized by the Moroccan Embassy in Korea, and the certificate issued by this Imam must be submitted to the Moroccan Embassy for the marriage to be recognized in Morocco. Therefore, one of the procedures for marrying a Muslim Moroccan woman is to have the marriage officiated by an Islamic house of worship.
Note that there are two methods for registering a marriage in Morocco after completing the marriage registration in Korea
1. Visit the Moroccan Family Court to submit the documents, obtain the judge's signature, and receive the marriage certificate
2. Use a local lawyer in Morocco to write a letter to the Family Court, requesting the marriage certificate.
※ If the Korean spouse travels to Morocco immediately after registering the marriage in Korea, including the wedding ceremony conducted by a local Islamic house of worship and preparing various documents to register the marriage, it will take at least one month.
Therefore, if it's challenging for the Korean spouse to stay in Morocco for an extended period due to work or personal reasons, you can also have the marriage ceremony performed at a domestic Islamic house of worship.
Currently, there are seven official Islamic houses of worship in Korea, with the Itaewon Islamic Center being the first and largest. The client chose to apply for the marriage through the Jeonju Islamic Center.
※ Please note that even if you choose to have the marriage ceremony in Itaewon, it takes about a month from applying to the ceremony. Therefore, if you plan to have the ceremony in Itaewon, you should prepare in advance. If you need a quicker process, you may consider contacting other Islamic houses of worship.
The client couldn't stay in Morocco for an extended period due to work-related issues. Therefore, I recommended that he invite his girlfriend and her guardian to Korea to have the wedding ceremony at a local Islamic house of worship. We applied for K-ETA first, and if it was denied, we planed to proceed with the C-3 visa. unfortunately K-ETA was denied therefore we proceeded with C-3 visa
One of the questions I often ask my clients is whether it's better to invite (confirmation of visa issuance) at the immigration office in korea or apply (visa issuance) at the Korean embassy in the foreign country.
Based on my experience, applying for the issuance of a visa at the local immigration office in Korea is generally more lenient and requires fewer documents. Korean embassies abroad often have stricter requirements and additional documentation.
Therefore, for short-term visas of 90 days or less, including C-3 visas, they are subject to the discretion of the local embassy. However, for long-term visas of more than 90 days, if it is possible to obtain both the visa issuance and confirmation of visa issuance, I will recommend to proceed with the confirmation of visa issuance in any way possible.
Now, let's look at the points to consider when inviting on a C-3 visa (including short-term visas under 90 days) and the required documents.
Firstly, the issuance of a C-3 visa (short-term visa under 90 days) is at the discretion of the Korean embassy in the respective country. Visa issuance guidelines can vary significantly based on the country. One of the main reasons is the issue of illegal employment and overstaying. Some countries have a high rate of people who enter legally but do not leave within their authorized period.
Due to these reasons, the visa issuance guidelines can't be the same for all countries. Consequently, the required documents for a C-3 visa can also vary depending on the purpose and type of invitation.
Countries in Southeast Asia (especially the 21 countries with high rates of illegal overstays) often have many cases where C-3 visas are not granted.
Below are the documents that I requested from the client for the invitation of his Moroccan girlfriend and her guardian for a C-3 visa. These documents include those required by the local Korean embassy, as well as additional documents that could be helpful during the review process, although they are not mandatory.
In my case, knowing that C-3 visas are often not granted, I do not simply prepare the documents requested by the local Korean embassy for C-3 visa issuance. Instead, I prepare additional documents to strengthen the application and appeal that there is no risk of illegal employment or overstaying.
When preparing the documents, it's essential to think about why these specific documents were requested, rather than just submitting them.
Let's take a closer look
Documents Required for Inviting a Moroccan Girlfriend and Father-in-Law with for C-3 Visa at the Moroccan Embassy
※ Items marked as optional are additional documents I requested from the applicant. They are not mandatory but can help confirm the inviter's status, financial capability, etc. Documents Prepared by the Korean Spouse
1. Marriage Certificate (Detailed, within 3 months) 2. Family Relationship Certificate (Detailed, within 3 months) 3. Certificate of Identity Guarantee
The inviter is usually the one who provides the Certificate of Identity Guarantee.
When submitting this certificate, a copy of the identity card of the guarantor should also be attached.
4. Assurance of Return Letter
5. Invitation Letter
Usually, the Assurance of Return Letter is included in the Invitation Letter.
The Invitation Letter may contain a statement of the guest's commitment not to engage in illegal employment, etc., while in Korea. The Assurance of Return Letter should include the following:
"I hereby assure that I will bear all expenses (round-trip airfare, accommodation, etc.) required for the guest, [Name], for their visit to Korea, and I promise that [Name] will enter Korea, stay, and return to their home country in compliance with Korean laws during their stay. In the event that [Name] does not return to their home country within the agreed period and is subject to departure or deportation by the authorities, I undertake to bear all costs, including repatriation expenses (including the cost of the return flight)."
6. Proof of Accommodation (Optional)
This document is optional. It helps confirm where the guest will reside during their stay in Korea
When submitting the Proof of Accommodation, the lease agreement or, if it's owned, the land register, along with a copy of the host's ID, should also be attached
The name on the lease agreement or land register should match the name on the host's ID
7. Bank Balance Certificate (Optional)
This document is optional and is generally required when applying for various visas, including D-4, D-2 (student visas), and F-3 (accompanying visas)
In other words, it is a document that confirms the financial status of the inviter, who is also the guarantor, and the boyfriend
The required amount may vary depending on the type of visa, purpose, and category.
Particularly for student visas, having a balance above a certain threshold is favorable.
8. Certificate of Employment (Optional)
9. Certificate of Income or Withholding Income Certificate (Optional)
These documents are optional. They help confirm who the inviter is and whether they have the capability to take care of the guest. The required amount and criteria may vary depending on the visa category, purpose, and type.
Documents Prepared by the Moroccan
11. Visa Application Form (with Passport Photo)
12. (Morocco) Certificate of No Criminal Record for the Spouse
13. (Morocco) Original and Copy of the Spouse's Passport (Notarized)
14. (Morocco) Copy of the Spouse's ID (Notarized)
15. (Morocco) Spouse's Birth Certificate (Original)
16. (Morocco) Copy of the Spouse's Family Relationship Certificate (Notarized)
-Items 15 and 16 are required because the spouse's father is also coming. They do not apply if only the spouse is being invited.
※ Even if the documents are duplicates, separate sets of documents should be prepared for each invitee (spouse and father in law) when applying for the visa.