Korean Job Discussion Forums

[pidgin]

Greetings,

How difficult/easy is it for a Thai to get a tourist visa to the ROK? (via the Korean embassy in Bangkok) She just wants to stay for a month or so.

Thanks in advance.

[deadman]

I've looked into it for a Cambodian, and while answers vary, a letter of invitation from your employer and a letter of guarantee from the same seems to be sufficient.

Technically Thais don't need anything, I've heard, but experience problems without documents.

[ttompatz]

[Drew345]

Thai don't need a visa to visit ROK. But Korea immigration has turned back some Thai people, if they think they are coming to work illegally. When the Thai tour groups come to Korea, the tour leader tells all group members not to say they are with the group. In the past, a couple of people have been rejected and then the whole tour had to go home.
A letter of invitation, sponsorship from you to her on your company letterhead and with your business card will probably make her feel better. There will probably be no problem.

[conan]

yo dirty bastard haha bring back your thai rental for a month haha doe sit still cost 1000 baht a day if she goes overseas haha

[Peter Jackson]

My Thai friend had a hell of a time coming here. Even after I checked with immigration and heard that a Visa wasn't needed, blah, blah.

Quite simply, Korean immigration doesn't always trust Thai people...assuming they will stay and work illegally or whatever. After two unsuccessful attempts, here is how I got my friend here.

I sent, via EMS with intructions that it would NOT be opened by anyone but Korean immigration, the following:

1 A detailed letter explaining that my friend would be staying with me and would not be engaged in any form of employment. I included my contact details, as well as those of my Korean supervisor in case they needed to speak Korean. The letter was signed and dated.

2 A copy of my employment contract with every page signed and dated

3 A copy of my passport photo page

4 A copy of my ARC

5 A passport photo

6 A copy of my Korean E-2 Visa

All documents were signed and dated.

The authorities in Thailand were concerned about my friend's passage and even had to confirm that the letter was actually sent from Korea. The woman at the immigration desk at Incheon opened the envelope and thumbed through it. I was waiting at the the airport, franticly fearing a phone call. None came.

Some Thai people have no trouble coming here. But to be sure: do as I did.

All the best,

[pidgin]

[aguywithinfo]

Just came came back with my Thai girlfriend the other day, so thought I would post up what happened for reference, noting that Peter Jackson's advice is all sound and I will do soemthing similar when she comes back.
I came in on the assumption that immigration's website info would be ok if taken to the letter...onward ticket, proof of funds and voila, 3 months for her to stay while not working. To their credit, the immigration people were pretty reasonable. I went through in no time. Once they got to her passport, typed everthing in and searched around the database for a few minutes. Then took her to a re-inspection room. I waited just past the passport check, so as to not let them forget I was waiting. Of course I didn't freak out or get angry, just stood there waiting.
In about 30 minutes someone came out and asked if she was my girlfriend, then asked questions that only she and I could have known : where had we met, how long had it been, why did we come, where did we go, etc. Was good, because we both (separately and without planning) put in details that matched and that were very particular to our situation. So, that convinced the girl that we knew each other and she toook me to the re-inspection room.
I was asked to sign a guarantee for her. I agreed, but then another official came and said they would need a Korean citizen as well. So, I called up a very cool friend of mine and he signed one for me. As far as I understod, I guaranteed her and he guaranteed me. Got through it, but they assured me that all involved would be up sh** creek if she doesn't leave.
When I asked her about the visa waiver, she just told me, yeah, that is the case, but to many people are coming in that way and never leaving, so they want guarantees. Also, I think the fact that they saw my old Korean visas and we spoke Korean together helped.
I doubt she would have made it in alone. Next time I am going to do what Jackson said, or something like it.
Anyway, we are in with 3 months. Good luck to you.

[jajdude]

[lichtarbeiter]

[Murakano]

My Thai girlfriend has been here quite a few times to visit and has had no real issues with immigration except one time recently as they were suspicious why she was coming here every few months. The issue though was when she was on her way out of Korea, not coming in! Asking why she was here, what she did etc