Korean Job Discussion Forums

Ilsanman · Joined: 15 Aug 2003 Location: Bucheon, Korea

I had an interesting conversation with a friend recently. She's a young and pretty Korean girl in her mid 20's.

She travelled to Vancouver recently and got stopped at immigration. They took her into another room and interrogated her for 3 hours. Despite her having a return ticket and the address of a (white) Canadian where she should be staying, they continued the interrogation. After 3 hours, they let her into the country without further incident.

Now, the point of this post is this: My friend was pretty angry and she vented on me about it. However, I defended the immigration officers. She said it was some kind of violation of human rights. I told her that entering a foreign country is not a right, but a privilege. Then she said they have to treat visitors with respect. I countered by saying that if so many young Korean girls didn't go to my country to work as prostitutes, it probably wouldn't have happened.

A lot of people on this board seem to dislike immigration officers, saying they overstep their boundaries. But they need to be given the right to stop these social problems. It's like we are damned if we do, damned if we don't.

shaunew · Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Location: Calgary

My wife had a problem last year as well. I kind of got verbal and told them she was my wife and what not. They took her into the private room asked her a bunch of questions like how we met, when we got married. Then they asked me all the same questions at the desk. The price you pay for having a hot wife.

Typhoon · Joined: 29 May 2007 Location: Daejeon

My wife had the same problem the 1st time she came to Canada. Now that we have a kid it is not a problem, but it certainly was the first time.

shaunew · Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Location: Calgary

Yes I hope it's the same we have a kid as well. I hope we have no problems. I think we will be going back for a visit in 2 years or so.

Natalia · Joined: 10 Mar 2006

It also happens all the time to people arriving in England and Australia.

I know a fourteen year old girl who was taken off on her own and interrogated for an hour at Heathrow.

I also know more than one (Western) person going to Britain for a legitimate purpose, with plenty of money and all the right documentation, who were put straight on a plane home for no particular reason.

While I think we certainly need tougher immigration in the West, I think the staff - ESPECIALLY the English - certainly overstep their boundaries on a regular basis.

KumaraKitty · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Location: Bucheon

We went for our wedding in January. My husband-to-be at the time(now husband obviously) and I were both questioned seperately. Luckily I had prepared receipts for the wedding, we had wedding bands on us, menus, seating plans, guest list and invitation copies for their perusal. They allowed him 30 days entry and said that if he wanted to come again we had to process all the paperwork necessary as my future husband. Apparently there was some sort of common-law paperwork we could have done but didn't which could have made it easier. A Korean girl next to us was being grilled because she had flown over with barely any money, no real idea of where she was going, but that she was meeting her online BF in Toronto who she had met once in Korea. They were very concerned that she was being taken advantage of. As far as I am concerned they are doing their job as best they can and if we simply prepare our documents/trip correctly things should go smoothly. We were prepared and co-operative so things went well. A good attitude can make the world of difference in dealing with immigration officials. That being said, I am a white female and we rarely have difficulties. Sad but true.

Ilsanman · Joined: 15 Aug 2003 Location: Bucheon, Korea

Why would you have a problem? You are a Canadian, I believe.

Btw, congrats on the baby.

KumaraKitty · Joined: 09 Jan 2006 Location: Bucheon

I am but my husband is not. And just being Canadian isn't enough. If I was a Canadian of a different ethnic background(Asian/Middle Eastern/ East Indian/etc.) I would still bare my fair share of scrutiny in an immigration line. Being white and female means I barely get a glance.
And Cheers for the baby wishes, same to you, I think you must be counting the days!

Mr. Pink · Joined: 21 Oct 2003 Location: China

I remember the first time I went to Canada with my wife. I told the guy flat out she's my wife...he asked if she spoke English. She said yes. Then he's like "Do you have any tobacco or alcohol..." that was the extent to what the guy wanted to know.

If they throw you attitude (and you are Canadian) throw it right back. They cannot deny us entry into our own country Smile

Ilsanman · Joined: 15 Aug 2003 Location: Bucheon, Korea

They can deny your wife if she's not Canadian. They can also hold you up and search all of your bags top to bottom.

The Great Wall of Whiner · Joined: 24 Jan 2003 Location: Middle Land

Patrique · Joined: 04 Oct 2007 Location: Sajik-dong, Busan

At least it's not Homeland Security. When I flew back to Toronto from backpacking in Asia I had a stopover in Washington, where two HS agents (for some reason, sporting Marine haircuts) read my diary, in front of me. And since I'm a tall white male, I probably got off light.

Paddycakes · Joined: 05 May 2003 Location: Seoul

Paddycakes · Joined: 05 May 2003 Location: Seoul

Octavius Hite · Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 8:28 pm Post subject:

I have no sympathy for her, while I detest the treatment I get coming back into Canada, I am Canadian they should leave me alone. As for foreigners, we should treat just as we get treated here. Perhaps she should be forced to prove she's not a criminal???? Or have to carry around a dozen copies of her transcripts.

No sympathy, mostly since I don't get any from Korean immi.