The hope of traveling to Europe disappeared when I was informed in the Philippine embassy that documents from the Philippines must only be notarized/authenticated in the Philippines.  I have to submit a notarized marriage certificate in applying for Schengen visa and if I can’t get it in time I can’t apply for a visa and travel to Europe with my husband. We have already planned that I have to go home to the Philippines to get my documents to be notarized and I have to do it soon,  because our Korean visa will expire in less than 2 months.

I have ranted my sadness in Facebook and some friends sympathized with me, I have asked a friend that migrated to the US few  months ago on where she had her documents notarized.  I was informed she had it done in Itaewon through an attorney,  with this information I have seen a beam light of hope that I can complete the requirements without going home to the Philippines.

I went to Seoul on Monday to look for the place where my friend had her documents notarized, but it seems the guy was not around anymore so I went to the travel agency just beside a restaurant but it was closed, I mean nobody answers when I buzz the doorbell.  So I went to the KC Filipino store to ask for a  place I could get my documents notarized, before asking I bought one bag of Goldilocks polvoron I have been eyeing to buy this snack in Hyehwa long time ago but I always set it aside for other local foods.

Anyway, I was told that there’s an office (HAN BI SA) beside the store that do notarization when I went in the agent was out for lunch. I waited, but decided to go out when I feel hot inside.  To cut the story short, I return and ask for notarization to the woman at the first desk. The initial cost is ₩55, 000 if I want the notarized documents to be mailed to our home, was told that I will receive the documents on Wednesday, but I can’t wait for one more day so I have asked if I can pick it up the next day (Tuesday) so the payment cost was retracted to ₩45, 000.

I was surprised because my friend told me that notarization only cost ₩20, 000 per page, it turns out I have to pay for translation too so the documents will be notarized.  So the breakdown is ₩20, 000 for translation and ₩25, 000 for notarization.

Later in the evening I received a call that my document is not yet available for pickup the next day, so I have to pick it up on Wednesday.