Korean Job Discussion Forums

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

We have many threads about the bad immigration experiences in Korea. Here is one for good experiences.

I don't expect a lot of responses. Yes I am biased, by the way.

buddy bradley · Joined: 24 Aug 2003 Location: The Beyond

Immigration in Korea + good responses is a fallacy.

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

Never had any trouble. Breezed through Canadian, American, Korean and Philippines Immigrations countless times and never had any problems with any of them. A few points to consider. I am a legal teacher and work legally. I am also qualified in my home country. I am unfailingly polite and helpful. I try to look my best, not like a scruffy foreigner just-got-off-the-twelve-hour-flight-and-can't-get-a-job-back-home look.

buddy bradley · Joined: 24 Aug 2003 Location: The Beyond

I'm also a legal teacher and had problems because of my nationality. Don't believe the hype is all I'm saying.

Hyalucent · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: British North America

I had a decent time passing immigration when I first came to Korea and arrived through Kimpo, back in 2000. They just passed me through with very limited hassle.

It's been downhill since then though. Sad

desultude · Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 4:12 am Post subject:

I've never had any problems with either immigration or customs. I think that there are a few real advantages to being an older woman. Also it helps to be polite, neat and clean.

I highly recommend not reacting to questions in a nervous or negative way. Immigration officers have to deal with people all day, they have a boring job, and they have probably had more experiences with arrogant westerners than they care to.

When I got off the plane recently in Chicago, a beefy, bulldog faced immigration officer started barking orders to all of us as we got off the plane- it was really a shocking welcome home. When I returned here, immigration was meticulously pleasant and gracious.

mithridates · Posted: Sat Jan 24, 2004 4:17 am Post subject:

Three weeks after I moved to a new place, I went to immigration to get a re-entry permit as I had to jaunt off to Japan. I wrote down my new address, and when I did that the guy noticed that it was different from the one on the card. He then waved his hand, saying,
"Don't write down your new address! If people at immigration find out, you'll have to pay a fine! Here, I'll just write down the old one here."

If the people at immigration find out? He was an upstanding guy, that one.

SuperHero · Joined: 10 Dec 2003 Location: Superhero Hideout

7 years multiple jobs, multiple entries and exits no hassles.

always shave and dress well when I go there.

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

Sounds like a job interview.

In general I usually am neat and clean, and I shave everyday.

maxxx_power · Joined: 17 Mar 2003 Location: BWAHAHAHAHA! I'M FREE!!!!!!!

Your dress means little from my experience dealing with immigration. I think it has more to do with chance and your demeanor.

Coming in and out of Korea I have had NO problems with immigration. No problems in the Philippines, Japan, or anywhere for that matter and I looked like death warmed over with a scruffy face, reeking of beer, and wearing ratty clothes.

Considering all the shit I've brought back from Mexico maybe I was just playing the odds with those people.

I think it has less to do about your appearance as it does the attitude of that particular immigration officer at that particular time. Whether or not they got laid that morning or won 10 bucks in the lotto means a hell of a lot more than some dufus wearing a tie.

If I was an immigration/customs official I would target those people. They would just look like they're hiding something by dressing up.

Smile, nod your head, and say thank you. It helps to have your shit in hand to to pass to the officer right away, the faster the better.

OiGirl · Joined: 23 Jan 2003 Location: Hoke-y-gun

I have never had any problems with Immigration. Not as a legal teacher or a legal tourist. Not with extensions or re-issuing of a lost alien card. They were great about giving the information about adding additional activities to my visa, although I never persued that issue.

I hear both sides here, but I would definately go to Immigration with a professional, if deferential, look and attitude. But I guess if I went there loking like a scruffy backpacker, I would expect trouble and bring it upon myself...

Now let's talk about Air Canada agents and US Customs agents who think their main job is to enforce immigration policy...

matko · Joined: 16 Jan 2003 Location: in a world of hurt!

I have almost always had problems with immigration in almost every country I've been to. The worst is my home country of Canada.

I dress really well and am clean and have been a teacher for a long time. I am polite and very friendly.

The thing is this:

I LOOK LIKE A MOBSTER!!!

I can't help it. Everybody thinks I'm up to no good.

I could write a book about my experiences at immigration.

The Bobster · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

I often take my vacations in Thailand between hagwon contracts. Last year I was going through check-in at the Thai Orchid desk at Don Muang Airport (BKK) and the lady actually wanted me to open my wallet and show her either a credit card or enough cash to buy an outward bound ticket after I got to Korea. This was not immigration - she was worried about me getting hassled by immigration once I arrived in Korea, although paradoxically I was feeling hassled by her concern. Or maybe she wanted me to buy another ticket right there and then.

When I went through the immigration desk at Incheon, the guy said, Oh, you're a teacher, where are you working and where will you stay? I told him I'm still on vacation, really, and I'll be staying with friends and probably look for another teaching job while on a 30-day tourist visa.

He didn't even ask about an outward bound ticket, and if I had needed to I could have bought one there or maybe just shown him the balance on the ATM from my Korean bank.

But he said, no problem, like it happens all the time - and I'm sure it does.

DHC · Joined: 15 Jan 2003

The only problem I have had in Korea was with the main office in Seoul giving incorrect information about my daughter having to have a visa and Alien Regisration Card even though she was born in Seoul and her mother is Korean. When informed that I knew this was incorrect , no more problem.

I have lived in Korea since 1998 and have had E-2 , F-1 and now F-2 visas. For the past two years I depart and enter Korea about six times a year. I have never had any problems with Immigration at Kimpo or Incheon airports. It usually takes about two minutes to clear Immigration.I have also never had a problem with Customs. I have had hair below my shoulders and a full beard as well as short hair and no beard. I am always polite , almost always wear a suit and usually carry my laptop.

tsgarp · Joined: 01 Dec 2003

There's a lovely lady here in Pusan who saw that I had brought the wrong papers so she sent me oof to get the right ones. When I got to the Dong office, she called to make sure they gave me the right ones then she let me keep my old picture on my new ID because the new photo I brought made me look retarded. She was very professional and pleasant. She showed great interest in doing her job well and in facilitating my needs. A real class act.
Pusan immigration is pretty laid back unless you're doing something illegal. Even then they can be reasonable. A friend of mine was getting deported for a non-immigration related incident. They were supposed to hold him in a quarantine cell for a week while his final affairs were being arranged, I talked them into letting him out to stay with friends and they gave him a month.