Korean Job Discussion Forums

[acornrevolution]

My papers hit Korea on the 6th of this month and are still currently being processed. Once I get my visa issuance #, the embassy near me (6 hours away) will process my info that day if I come in person (which I will). My flight leaves the 21st. It is a one-way ticket. My question is, if I cant get my visa by the 21st, what should I do? Will I still be able to fly to Korea (and then do a visa run)? The lady at the embassy said I can still go to Korea on a one way ticket on a tourist visa, but I don't know if she understood my question. What if I tell them I plan on ferrying to Japan, or China, and flying from there. Or take a train from China to Moscow or England and fly from there, just as an excuse. A fun train adventure?

[Tony_Balony]

Thats pretty tight, you can do a visa run but it'll cost. Try to change your 21st flight day.

[acornrevolution]

I think a ferry from Busan to Fukuoka is $120 roundtrip. To change my flight would be minimum $300 + the new fare balance, which, from what I've heard from the airline, will be a lot since only first class is available. I'm just wondering if I'll even be able to get into Korea.

[Tony_Balony]

If you don't an E2, you will need an onward ticket.

If you need an onward ticket, get a refunable one way ticket to Japan.

Are you leaning on your school to get you visa issuance number? You need to do that. Squeeze their besticles.

[acornrevolution]

hmm...i'll look into getting a refundable ticket...thats a great idea. I can probably even get one from the pusan to the us, and just refund it later.

I've told my school whats going on, and I don't know if they care. I'll ask them to expedite it.

If I wanted to get refundable tickets from Pusan to Japan, where would I get them?

[Tony_Balony]

I had to pull that off one time and I got my ticket from the same airline I was flying on after they told me they could not let me board the flight.

[acornrevolution]

I have a feeling the visa issuance number will come through...its been almost a week. But, if it doesn't, I think we'll just buy a refundable fair, and go that route. Thanks for the help!

[acornrevolution]

Oh, BTW, would it be better to get a separate reservation from Pusan back to the states, or an onward ticket from Pusan to Fukuoka? Either way, i'll be refunding the tickets. On a visa run, i'd rather take the ferry b/c its cheaper than flying.