In the past 5 years, I have applied to four visa applications. The first one was the U.S. Visa which I could consider as the strictest application in comparison to the other three. I applied for a U.S. visa by myself because my mother applied earlier than me. I was very surprised by the 10-year validation they gave me. My second one was Schengen visa for my trip to Denmark, Hungary, France, and Austria with my mother. This was only valid for 12 days. The third one was Japan visa which happened to be the quickest and easiest among the four. To my surprise, the visa was valid for 3 years. Of course, the most recent visa application was the Korean visa. I was given 59 days.

Complying with the rules and completing the requirements is a must to be able to be granted a visa. Being able to do those can assure an approval but I believe that a greater purpose always lies beneath it. In this blog, I want to share a few basic tips on how to apply for a visa.

Establish Strong Ties with Your Country

Almost all visas that I have applied for seek this. International embassies want to know if you are going back to the Philippines and when you plan to go back. Aside from the purpose of your trip, the most important thing for them is your intention to come back to your own country. Giving proof of this will strengthen your application. A stable job that you are committed to or an undergraduate or graduate course that you need to finish is a strong proof.

Collect Travel Stamps

Past travel stamps could be a big help. The consular officers will really look at your travel history. If you have travelled to other countries and have come back to the Philippines, then it will show a pattern of returning and not fleeing away to be a TNT (Tago Nang Tago). In my case, I was asked about my past travels when I applied for my U.S. visa. I told the consular officer about my first trip to Japan, Hong Kong, Macau, and Singapore. If you can travel to non-visa countries first in order to gain travel stamps, then do so.

Proof of Income

Having an income to spend on your travels will be easily proven when you are applying with a parent or a sponsor to pay for your travels. But when you are applying on your own, you have to obtain your own Bank Certificate. Borrowing a "show money" can be a big help if you have not saved enough. You only have to make sure that the money stays there until your visa is approved or disapproved. I hope the latter will not happen to you! You must also remember that visa will not be approved or disapproved based on your income alone. All the requirements submitted will be considered.

Certificate of Employment

When requesting for a Certificate of Employment, especially for part-time employees, make sure that your employer indicated the date of your return to work. This will clearly indicate that your employee knows about your travel and that you are committed to come back.

Pray

When the colors of leaves change during autumn or fall, a fire-glow radiates from each tree. Then each leaf falls to the ground as winter approaches. This turning and falling of trees have been given different symbolisms. In classic literature, autumn's symbolism is a natural dichotomy: a time of detoriation, death, and dying and a time of harvest, preparation, and maturity. Both happiness and sadness are carried by autumn which makes it more beautiful to many. Because I have not experienced autumn in full bloom, I have always dreamt of it. Like most writers, I wish to tell my story about it one day.

Whenever I see autumn in movies and pictures, I am reminded by what the Bible says about abandoning the old life and starting anew. As detoriation, death, and dying occur, harvest, preparation, and maturity come.

Detoriation, Death and Dying

Autumn reminds me of being dead to sin and being alive in in Christ Jesus (Romans 6:11). Like the color-changing leaves falling from trees, I see a person like a leaf, being set free from bondage or sin. The old life is buried and a new life begins.

Harvest, Preparation, and Maturity

Autumn is the time to reap the things we sowed and prepare for the harvest ahead. It is a time to learn from hardships in the past and blossom into a better self. As we have been made new again through Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17), we are given an opportunity to live a new life.

The beautiful dichotomy of autumn reminds me of the importance of truly trusting God not only in this season but in every season. We may not know when He will change each season for us but He is always in control. He said in his Word, "It is not for you to know the times or seasons, which the Father has put in his own power (Acts 1:7)." But in every good and bad season, He promised that "you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you, and you shall be witnesses unto me, both in Jerusalem, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth (Acts 1:8)." He not only revives us from the dead and restores us but He gives us a beautiful eternity with Him.

During this autumn season, like the leaves of trees, let us trust God, change foliage, get rid of the past, and welcome the future seasons ahead.

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