📢 Hello, this is MAP Refugee News.
Migrants and refugees who are living in Korea or planning to come to Korea face many difficulties related to visas and residence status. It is often hard to know which visa to apply for, what documents are required, or where to ask for help. Information provided by immigration offices is mostly complex manuals written in Korean, and receiving direct consultation is not easy. To lower this wall of information, the Advocates for Public Interest Law (APIL) have created an AI chatbot called ASKOVISA for migrants and refugees. ASKOVISA has recently been officially released on the App Store and Google Play.
What kind of service is ASKOVISA?
ASKOVISA is a free AI chatbot that allows migrants and refugees to easily ask questions and receive answers about visas, residence status, and financial information. It can be used without entering personal information or signing up for membership.
Key features of ASKOVISA
- Multilingual supportSupports 9 languages, including Korean, English, Chinese, Vietnamese, Thai, Uzbek, Russian, Arabic, and French.
- Visa and residence guidance
Based on official government manuals, ASKOVISA provides step-by-step guidance on visa applications, residence extensions, changes of residence status, and registration procedures. - Financial information
Provides guidance on opening bank accounts in Korea, understanding financial services, and managing finances. - Anonymous and secure use
ASKOVISA can be used freely without providing personal information such as name or phone number. - Fact-based answers
All responses are based on official documents, including the Foreigner Residence – Manual and Visa Manual. ASKOVISA does not provide guesses or legal advice. - Community features
Users can share experiences, ask questions, and connect with others. Anonymous posting and automatic translation are supported. - Regular updates
Immigration-related manuals are updated every two months to ensure information remains current. - Accessible via mobile and web
ASKOVISA can be accessed through both mobile apps and web browsers.
ASKOVISA was developed using the Residence and Visa Manuals of the Korea Immigration Service and the Refugee Case Processing Guidelines disclosed through court rulings. For this reason, it provides information based on official government standards, rather than inaccurate information found online. When ASKOVISA provides an answer, it also shows the specific manual pages used as references, allowing users to directly verify the information themselves.
ASKOVISA does not provide perfect answers for every situation. Required documents and procedures may vary depending on individual circumstances, and government policies may change. However, in situations where people are struggling without any information, ASKOVISA can help users understand what steps to prepare next and find direction. For more detailed and individualized support, users can seek assistance from migrant and refugee support organizations and professionals.
The Public Interest Law Center APIL stated, “We hope that fewer migrants and refugees will hit a wall when their questions go unanswered,” and added, “We expect ASKOVISA to become a tool that lowers barriers to accessing information.”
We hope that the ASKOVISA app can help migrants and refugees who are experiencing difficulties related to visas and residence status.
