Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Iconoclast2011]

As a U.S. citizen who has worked in Korea for many years, I was pleased to see that the U.S. government admitted Korea to the �visa waiver program� a couple of years ago. Previous to that time, I had heard horror stories about Koreans who went through the interview process at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul and were granted a tourist visa to the U.S., only to be turned away when their flight landed. Apparently, those individuals did not give the answers expected by the all-powerful U.S. Immigration agent, and, as a result, they were immediately put on the plane back to Korea. They were not even given a chance to communicate with the U.S. citizen (boyfriend/girlfriend/friend) who was traveling with them.
I had hoped that the visa waiver program would eliminate both the time-consuming interviews as well as the hassle that visitors to the U.S. often receive. I was sadly mistaken. A couple of months ago, my Korean girlfriend, Jin-Hee, decided to accompany me for a winter vacation to the U.S. We applied online for her visa through the �visa waiver program� and paid the $14 fee. Her visa was approved with no problem. Being aware of some of the potential problems that could arise at U.S. Immigration, I gave her some important pieces of advice: don�t ever lie to the immigration agent, be sure he sees your return ticket (which was marked �nonrefundable�), and emphasize that fact that you (and I) have to return to Korea to our jobs in just 21 days. We even practiced likely conversations between the agent and her. When we actually arrived at Dulles International Airport, the actual questions went something like this:
Agent: Are you traveling with anyone?
JH: Yes, my boyfriend.
A (with unbridled interest): Oh, you have a boyfriend. How did you meet?
JH: He was my English teacher. We started going out together about five years after I graduated.
A: Oh, and what do you do?
JH: I�m an English teacher. I teach children at a language institute.
A: (In surprised and slightly insulting tone) You�re an English teacher? [Acting surprised that someone whose English accent is not perfect could be an English teacher, not considering the fact that young children need bilingual teachers.]
A: How long have you known your boyfriend? blah blah blah
=======
Jin-Hee had displayed her return (non-refundable) ticket on the counter along with her approved visa. The agent hardly glanced at those items.
The questions continued for about 10 minutes, as dozens of tourists waited in line for entry. I had already collected our luggage and was watching this conversation take place through the glass. I was getting really worried because of the lengthy interrogation and frankly expected her to burst into tears (She is a very emotional woman). I was beginning to doubt that she was going to gain entry, and I imagined her having to return to Korea without even being able to speak to me. Jin-Hee saw me waiting in the baggage claim area, and I saw her gesture toward me as she spoke to the agent. The agent looked at me through the glass, saw me wave meekly, paused for a couple of seconds, and then stamped her passport for entry. It seemed that seeing that I was a mature (and responsible-looking?) guy tipped the decision in our favor, though this is only speculation on my part. I shudder to think that might have happened if he had not seen me through the glass.
I am afraid to write a complaint directly to the U.S. Immigration Service for fear that they will mark my passport with a red flag in order to ensure future hassles. Also, I have no doubts about what their (indignant) response would be: The agent was just doing his job to protect America�s borders....[spucatum tauri...spucatum tauri... spucatum tauri].

In conclusion, anyone who thinks that the inclusion of Korea into the visa waiver program is going to mean routine and expeditious entry for Koreans into the USA is sadly mistaken. To the U.S. Immigration Service, �visa waiver� does not mean �hassle waiver.� U.S. Immigration agents are still asking the same questions that they asked before the visa waiver program started. Koreans traveling to the USA should be prepared for all possibilities, including denial of entry and a speedy return trip to their home country.

[giraffe]

Sucks to hear your GF had a hard time at immigration but honestly thats how it is. My Wife ( Korean) had a hard time going through Canada's borders a few times. Drilling her with questions. Immigration even calls me on the spot drilling me with questions as well.

As a Canadian I can go to most countries visa free but still doesn't mean i wont have any hassles at all. Immigration is annoying everywhere. I especially avoid travelling to or through the USA because i get a tonnes of questions and almost every time get threaten to get my trip cancelled for no apparent reasons. Not only the USA but I had problems with UK immigrations as well. Last time i went to London I was positive they were going to turn me around and put me on the next flight , again for no apparent reason. They are just doing their jobs....

Not that it matters but has nothing to do with race either. I'm probably the most bland , non stand out , typical white guy you'll ever see too...

Honestly, I think the only place I've never had any issues with is Korea. They never look at me or even ask any questions. I just give my passport they stamp it and I'm on my way. I wish all countries were like that =p.

also you have to realize regardless of visa waiver agreements theres still ALOT of problems with people coming in as tourist and doing things they aren't suppose too. Koreans included =p. I know in Canada theres a problem with Koreans studying on tourist visas , human trafficking , illegal working ect ... ect ... I think they do a good job screening people out but unfortunately I'm sure they sometimes make the wrong assumption/decision by sending home a Korean who doesn't deserve to be sent home. My wife tells me Koreans get sent back quite alot once they get to Canada, based on posts she reads on forums about Koreans complaining. They usually try to come in on a tourist visa and after getting their bags inspected they find way too many study books , paperwork and things they wouldn't normally need as a tourist.

And I doubt the immigration officer thought you looked mature and responsible after looking at you and decided to stamp her passport. I'm sure he was just giving your GF a hard time by doing his job and was going o stamp it anyways. Worst comes to worst they would have inspected her bags and even interviewed both her and you before sending her back.

Glad to hear she made it in regardless.

[West Coast Tatterdemalion]

You can complain to immigration until you're blue in the face and it won't make a lick of difference. I'm sure they get complaints daily. But they don't care because their job is not to make foreigners feel comfortable. No, it is to make America safe. Just imagine all the riff-raff that comes to America. They should be scrutinized. Hell, I have to go through a lot of the same garbage as well whenever I go back. Did you think that just because Korea joined the VWP that they would get a pass on these things? No, it isn't going to happen. You do know why Korean women are questioned and scrutinized so much, right? It's because of all the prostitution/human trafficking rings that are in North America. That's why. The simple solution to your problem is that if you are unwilling to put up with the interrogation, then simply don't go to the US. Otherwise, get used to it because it isn't going to change. Their job is to make America safe and if they have to act like the Gestapo to do it, they will. Just the way it goes.

[BoholDiver]

They grilled me last time I entered Canada, asking 'How long are you staying?' I said 'As long as I want.' I am a citizen, afterall.

They grilled me in Heathrow as well but not a single question in Charles De Gaulle. Not even a request to see a return ticket.

[D.D.]

The place I get the most hassles is Canadian customs. I am Canadian and dont look like a criminal or anything. They just cant understand why someone spends so much time outside of Canada.

[northway]

Sounds potentially better than the crap I've gotten from US immigration every time I've gone home. Which, considering I'm an American who went to uni in Canada, was a pretty regular occurrence. US immigration officials are pretty much the worst.

[Sector7G]

[Sector7G]

About the only sure way for anyone, regardless of visa status, to avoid a hassle is to sign up for one of these programs offered to pre-screened, low-risk, frequent travelers. http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/travel/2010-02-16-businesstravel16_ST_N.htm

[interestedinhanguk]

[bucheon bum]

[UknowsI]

I think your story has more to do with the immigration office than your friends nationality. I travelled to the US with my family and was stopped for 20 minutes because we hadn't booked a hotel yet. We were a Scandinavian family with two parents and two children and had our return tickets and everything, but they wouldn't let us through before we made up a place we would stay. We literally pulled up the Lonely Planet guide and gave him the address of a random hotel and he accepted it, so it seems like he was just being difficult.

[jungfreud]

For VWP countries the CBP officers at the point of entry are the only ones who get a face to face with the traveler, so they have to ask more questions. Many older Koreans still apply for and receive travel visas despite being eligible for VWP since they know at the Embassy they will get a Korean language speaking officer or translator and have plenty of time to plead their case. If you want to avoid hassle at the airport, it may be worth it just to get a travel visa, since the CBP officer knows that travel visa holders have already been interviewed and screened, it eliminates the need (though they still have the option) of conducting an in depth interview.

As a side note, your girlfriends experience sounds perfectly normal and theres no need to get bent out of shape about it. They are looking for a couple key warning signs like intent to marry/overstay, intent to work, and so forth, once they are confident that is not an issue you are good to go. If your GF answers their questions clearly and honestly, nothing to worry about. My wife is Japanese and she used to travel VWP fairly often, and they always grilled her at the POE because they thought she was trying to come over to get married. In retrospect I should have just had her get a B1B2, but hindsight is 20/20.

[nathanrutledge]

I'd write a letter - don't take *any* grief from those jack-booted thugs.

My personal experience - I was detained at Detroit on my way back to the US. I couldn't provide an address for their form - I don't have an address in the US, I didn't know who was picking me up or where I'd be staying (friends and family, but nothing was solid). They told me to just write something down. I told them the form clearly stated knowingly lying on the form was a crime and writing an address that I clearly didn't know would be a crime.

They wanted to know what my drivers license address was. I showed them, but my license had expired a few months earlier, so they said that it wouldn't work. At that point, I told them "I'm an American. You have my passport. There is no law that says I cannot be homeless. You have no right to deny me entry."

Long story short, they held me just long enough so that I missed my connecting flight and had to wait around in Detroit (ugh) for a few more hours. I wrote letters. I called people. I raised a big stink about it. And I clearly flipped the head guy the finger as I walked out of there. Seriously, protecting the country and enforcing the laws does not mean harassing citizens and arbitrarily violating the law. Don't take that crap for a second.

[interestedinhanguk]