Korean Job Discussion Forums

[deusbelli]

My Thai girlfriend wants to visit for a month. What's the best way to go about it? She says that I need to give her some letter for customs. What's this bullshit about?

[mimis]

Yes, it can be particularly hard for Thai people to get into Korea, immigration are very wary of them (they don't want any illegal workers). I know several cases in which Thai people were sent back after arriving at Incheon Airport and being thoroughly checked by immigration. If they're suspicious of even the slightest thing, hop, you go back to Thailand on the next flight. Better make sure you've got everything covered. That means writing letters, providing as much information as you can (if they don't trust her story, they will contact you), etc. etc.

[GoldMember]

The best way to go about it is:
When she is here, pay her on a weekly basis. (She'll probably want US dollars)
Make sure you don't leave cash or valuables around.
Don't pay her if she is on the rags.
Handcuff her to the bed and don't let her out.

[samcheokguy]

[mike123_ca]

My Thai wife comes hee no problem, but she does have a F-3 visa.
Korean immigration law doesn't common-law relations. The best thing to do is to get a Korean national to sign a "letter of invitation".

The problem with Thai people is that they come and work in Korea. The wages are better than back in Thailand. Most of them end up overstaying their visa's. The problem is that its very hard to leave SoKo without going through customs.

[frankly speaking]

Customs doesn't kick people out it is immigration. Customs refers to the organization that limits the transfer of goods and products.

Thais are exempt from Visas. As long as she has a roundtrip ticket and proof of money, she shouldn't have a problem. If this is to be a long stay for months etc, you should get a letter from your school stating that she is invited.

Thais have a much harder time entering Japan than Korea. I wouldn't worry too much. Just have her call the Korean consulate in BKK and they will help her with what she needs. I found them to be very helpful and kind.

Good luck.

Gold Member, you are an ASSSSSS. Perhaps just because your mom is a pro, doesn't mean that all women especially Thai women are.

[gaffe]

Is this letter a new thing? In 2007, my girlfriend came on a tourist visa and stayed for 3 months. She was asked a few questions at customs, but there was no delay.

[GoldMember]

I may be an Assssss, but I'm not the one paying for the girl to come over, nor am I so ignorant as other people here.
Of course all Thai women can afford to pay for a one month holiday in Korea to be with their "boyfriend""
The original post was taking the mickey out of the op NOT Thai women.
Gotta be something wrong if you can't find a woman in Korea.

[orosee]

Okay here's one thing that you should definitely do: Make sure she has your phone number in Korea, so that if she is held up at immigration, they can call you and confirm her story (make sure you're both saying the same; no need to make anything up though).

I had this happen once and must say that the immigration office was polite, spoke very good English and asked a few not too difficult questions. I volunteered to pick her up at immigration but after the call it was all good and she was waiting for me at arrival while I was still on the bus.

I should add that at the time, I was on a simple entry stamp and not a work visa, but I am probably still in the system from last year.

Our Thai general manager once had to answer questions such as "are you here for prostitution?" even though she had official invitations, return ticket, cash and credit cards on her. Needless to say, she never came back to Korea but that was late 1990's.

My Thai girlfriend (hands up who doesn't have at least one) came over last year and went through in a breeze, it probably helped that her passport was full of visas for Europe, USA, Canada, Australia, Hong Kong... arriving on a new and empty passport would have been different.

[orosee]

[deusbelli]

Hey �GoldMember�, you�re talking about my fianc�. F-U-C-K YOU.

[GoldMember]

Not long ago she was just a girlfriend, within a few hours she has become a fiance. At this rate she'll be your wife within the next 24 hours.
Seriously though your original thread title said GIRLFRIEND not FIANCE.
My apologies, and have a great wedding.

I know a Brit engineer who worked in Korea, tried to bring over his Thai wife (not long married in Thailand) and they would not let her in. Now if you were a 60 year old farming adjoshi with a 20 year old Vietnamese wife that the guy just met 2 days earlier then that would be ok.

[Patong Dong]

My Thai wife, two years ago girlfriend, has come to Korea probably 10 times ince 2003. Only twice have they pulled her aside, once they called me (and although the immigration lady was quite condescening towards Thais) she was allowed through shortly. The rest of the time they just check to see her return ticket and they always look at the copy of my ARC. I always include a letter from the school stating they know she is coming and that yes I work for them, but she says they never look at that too closely. She gets 3 months on arrival and has never overstayed, so they can see that as well.

One note, this time around we wanted to change her status to get an F3. I was originally under the jurisdiction of Suwon and they told my director "no problem." When my school in Yangpyeong went under and I tok a PS job in Shitheung, we had to go to Incheon and the *beep* said she had to go back to Bangkok and apply through the Korean Embassy. Last week she went to the BKK Korean embassy and they asked her why she just didn't do it in Korea? She told them what the guy had said and they responded that that was absolutely untrue and they would inquire as to why Incheon was taking that stance.

She didn't mind going back for a bit as it can get pretty isolating when I'm at work and she is just hanging out without any Thais to socialize with, so if your fiance and you are in the Gyeonggi area perhaps we can meet up someplace for some cold Singhas.

[gaffe]

[xingyiman]

My advice is go to Thailand, marry your finace, live with her there for a year while working locally and dealing with the Thai culture in the context of being married to one. If your marriage survives the year, get a job in Korea, go to the embassy and get your visas.