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cedarseoul
Joined: 16 Feb 2008
Location: nowon-gu
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 Posted: Fri Sep 02, 2011 5:45 pm Post subject: Traveling with no visa sticker in my passport... |
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I'm on an E2, and I understand that I only require my ARC to travel...visa stickers are no longer necessary. I have a new passport, which has no Korean visa stickers in it at all--but no problem, I have the valid ARC.
However, when I was in Hong Kong last month, I had an incredibly frustrating experience at the check-in counter...both the clerk and her manager INSISTED that I required a visa sticker or an onward ticket to enter South Korea. I argued with them for about 30 minutes, and they made MULTIPLE phone calls before finally agreeing that--yes, I was right, I could board the plane.
I'm flying to Japan for Chuseok, and now I'm paranoid. I don't want to go through that again.
Is there anything I can/should do to decrease my chances of being harassed? Is there some kind of document I can show? Can immigration stick SOMETHING in my passport at Incheon that will pacify over-zealous clerks?
Thoughts? |
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politica
Joined: 12 Dec 2006
Location: Suwon-si
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| Posted: Mon Sep 05, 2011 5:52 pm Post subject: |
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Yep, I travel all the time and I have this problem all the time.
I have a visa in my passport- but it says that it expires in 2009 . . . of course when my visa was renewed, it was indicated only my ARC.
Every time I go through passport control, I hand over my passport and ARC. They always look at my passport first, raise their eyebrows at my visa, and then point at the expiration date.
And everytime I'm like, YES! LOOK AT MY BLOODY ARC!
Every godddamn time. |
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jumponit
Joined: 10 Jan 2011
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| Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 12:46 am Post subject: |
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| The first week in August I went to Vietnam with only my E2 visa and a piece of paper saying I had ordered my ARC. Didn't have a problem going to or from Seoul. Security should know the regulations have changed by now so you shouldnt have an issue. Before I left Korea i went to the immigration office at Incheon airport to make sure I would be ok and they said yes. |
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DaHu
Joined: 09 Feb 2011
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| Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 9:19 pm Post subject: Re: Traveling with no visa sticker in my passport... |
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| cedarseoul wrote: |
However, when I was in Hong Kong last month, I had an incredibly frustrating experience at the check-in counter...both the clerk and her manager INSISTED that I required a visa sticker or an onward ticket to enter South Korea. I argued with them for about 30 minutes, and they made MULTIPLE phone calls before finally agreeing that--yes, I was right, I could board the plane.
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Why would they think it's their business if you returned to Korea or not? |
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cedarseoul
Joined: 16 Feb 2008
Location: nowon-gu
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| Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2011 3:34 pm Post subject: |
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That's what I can't understand. It irritates me when airport clerks play the part of immigration officials. I mean, Americans get 90 days visa free anyway, so what difference does it make (to a clerk) whether I have a visa or not? That's my issue, not theirs.
***sigh*** |
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ttompatz
Joined: 05 Sep 2005
Location: Kwangju, South Korea
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| Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2011 3:58 pm Post subject: Re: Traveling with no visa sticker in my passport... |
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| DaHu wrote: |
| cedarseoul wrote: |
However, when I was in Hong Kong last month, I had an incredibly frustrating experience at the check-in counter...both the clerk and her manager INSISTED that I required a visa sticker or an onward ticket to enter South Korea. I argued with them for about 30 minutes, and they made MULTIPLE phone calls before finally agreeing that--yes, I was right, I could board the plane.
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Why would they think it's their business if you returned to Korea or not? |
| cedarseoul wrote: |
That's what I can't understand. It irritates me when airport clerks play the part of immigration officials. I mean, Americans get 90 days visa free anyway, so what difference does it make (to a clerk) whether I have a visa or not? That's my issue, not theirs.
***sigh*** |
The airline makes it their business because it is the airline who gets fined and bears the cost of your repatriation if you are denied entry or do not meet the requirements for visa free travel. Entry is NOT automatic (even though it seems that way).
Their option is to deny you boarding to protect themselves from being fined, paying to remove you and denial of their landing rights as punishment for bringing you to Korea without a visa or without meeting the visa waiver requirements.
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