Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Meggie]

Hello all!

I'm coming to S Korea to teach, and my boyfriend will be coming with me.
Basically I need help with knowing what to do for his visa, flights and medical insurance, as he will be on a tourist visa. We live in England.

I've gotten some reassuring info from this post:
http://forums.eslcafe.com/korea/viewtopic.php?t=183750&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

So now were pretty confident we will be fine doing a visa run to Japan every 3 months (if anyone thinks this would be a problem please say!). However, I don't know how to go about sorting out his visa, medical insurance and flights - on that post the girl stated they have open flights where they can change the date for free, but I have no idea where such flights come from?!

If anyone can offer any help I'd be so grateful, as this is getting stressful and I'm a worrier at the best of times!

Thanks,
Megan :]

[ChilgokBlackHole]

[Meggie]

[fugitive chicken]

All I can help you with is the visa. It's not exactly a visa, it's just a stamp on his passport when he arrives. No extra cash or paperwork necessary. Sometimes they do ask you why you are in Korea and what address you will be staying at; but they will let you through.

[crossmr]

Buy a 1 year return ticket, and then also buy /book your first visa run's ticket for 3 months. You can take the boat to Fukuoka for the cheapest trip.

[Drew345]

I've changed flights for free on Korean Air, Asiana, and China Air.

[ED209]

Get a new tourist visa is pretty easy. Go to Busan and hop on the ferry to Japan, and hop on the next one back. Private medical insurance is available. Get some holiday insurance first. Then a Korean friend to help you sort out the private cover.

Disclaimer: Working on a tourist visa is a big no-no.

[Meggie]

Thank you all for your replies - making me feel more reassured about everything :]

I have asked my recruiter the same question and he has said the following:

As for your boyfriend, he will have to get his tourist visa at the Incheon airport , S. Korea so he can just leave without any visa from the UK. He can take our an insurance from there . There are several insurance for travellers abroad. He will have to find his own flight but the school will pay for yours.

Does that sound okay, leaving the UK with no visa? I didn't even think you could do that to a place like S Korea? Also, he may be coming a week or two later after me, (as he needs to give 4 weeks notice at work) so he won't be with me - would that be a problem as obviously he'll be telling them he is staying with me? Sorry - I've seen alot of those boarder control shows!

fugitive chicken - That would be the same as what my recruiter said then? I suppose if we are in the situation where he has to arrive after me I will know my address!

Crossmr - I thought the return ticket has to have the return date as 90 days time?

Drew345 - Can his book his flight to S Korea on those airlines? I was under the understanding that the flight he has to S Korea also has to have a return? Or does he just need proof that he has a return flight booked? Sorry - hope that makes sense!!

ED209 - So does he not have a visa as such at all? He just needs to go out of the country then come back in? Is this the stamp which my recruiter has mentioned?


Thanks again to all of you for your help :]

[crossmr]

[Meggie]