Korean Job Discussion Forums

Katty89 · Joined: 20 Jun 2010

So, I am coming to Korea in mid May. I am not working, I will be studying Korean.

I'm a Canadian, so my plan is to just enter the country without an actual visa. I'm planning for just studying at a university language program so I don't need a student visa. Also, the short term student visa would only be 3 months at a time, while as a Canadian I can get my passport stamped for 6 months. Obvious why I'm doing that instead.

I've bought a one way ticket. Will they let me in on that? My plan is to take the ferry for a visa run to Japan to be able to stay another 6 months. I've heard some people say you should buy a refundable ticket on to anywhere as a backup, but I'd rather not do that in case of extra fees for canceling the ticket even if it claims to be refundable.
I'm flying in on Air China. Gotta go from Vancouver to Beijing, then onto Seoul. Any chance that I won't be allowed to board at either without an ongoing ticket?
I've also thought of just flying to Japan instead of the ferry since I can book flights but not the ferry that far in advance. But from what I can tell, the ferry is always cheaper. Or is it possible to find flights to Japan or elsewhere for a visa run for cheaper than the ferry? Or any other suggestions for a cheap flight just for a visa run would be appreciated!
Thanks!

ttompatz · Joined: 05 Sep 2005 Location: Kwangju, South Korea

TheUrbanMyth · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Location: Retired

Every time I have come to Korea from Canada I have done that on a one way ticket. And that was without a visa (I just did the visa run to Japan afterwards).

Never had any problems with the airline or Immigration...just told them I had a job offer and breezed on through.

Never flown on Air China though so I'd buy a refundable ticket just in case...I'm sure the fees won't be bigger than being refused boarding and having to buy another ticket on the spot.

bekinseki · Joined: 31 Aug 2011 Location: Korea

I have been forced to buy a last-minute ticket out of Korea when coming into Korea. Then again, that was the Japanese airline flying me in to Korea, and when I went through immigration in Korea, nobody asked if I had a ticket out of there. I'm sure it's required, but never checked, just like everything else in Korea.

tardisrider · Joined: 13 Mar 2003 Location: Seoul

It ultimately depends on the airline and the person behind the ticket counter, but having a visa already would make going to Korea on a one way ticket easier.

My understanding is that immigration has the right to turn away people with one way tickets and no visas, but I think they rarely do it unless they have a reason to suspect that a person will become indigent or something.

The person at the airport check-in counter doesn't want to risk having someone turned away at the destination, because then the airline is on the hook for getting him home. And you know who the finger will get pointed to? The check-in counter. I get the feeling that they're paranoid because they'll get in big trouble if that happens. Can't blame them for being careful.

deizio · Joined: 15 Jun 2007

Pretty much what the others said. I had to show my visa at the check-in desk in Glasgow when travelling to Seoul on a one-way ticket last year, presumably because something flashed up on the screen rather than any particular knowledge the Emirates counter staff at Glasgow airport have about Korean visa regulations. Better safe than sorry.

creeper1 · Joined: 30 Jan 2007

In my experience it is the airline staff for sure that will badger you about having an onward journey.

They might not let you check-in to your flight without having an onward ticket somewhere.

Died By Bear · Posted: Thu Dec 01, 2011 2:09 pm Post subject:

Katty89 · Joined: 20 Jun 2010

Thanks everyone. I'll play it safe and get a refundable ticket then.

wishfullthinkng · Joined: 05 Mar 2010

just wear nice business attire (which one should always do on long-haul flights as it raises your chances of getting bumped to business class and gets you treated better, but i digress) and say that you are going on a business trip and your company will be providing you with a return ticket when you get there because you are very busy and unsure when you will be finished with your project. they never ask questions at most airports and you also get the pleasure of not looking like a cargo-short wearing child.

there's almost always a way to talk yourself into or out of anything.

nathanrutledge · Joined: 01 May 2008 Location: Marakesh

I ran into some grief at my home airport (not an international one). They wouldn't let me board because I had a one way ticket. I told them I had a visa. Of course, my visa was expired and they pointed that out. I told them that the visa in the passport didn't matter, I had a valid ARC card. Of course, the date on the front wasn't valid anymore, and they pointed that out. SO I showed them the penned in information on the back. They were suspicious of that, so I really let fly with the abuse and pointed out the series of entry/ exit stamps in the passport, the two previous Korean visas, the fact that I had COME from Korea earlier, etc. They finally relented.

As others said, dress nice, tell them you have a visa already, and you don't need the entry visa in the passport. You should be fine. Of course, if you don't have the visa, you ARE lying to a government agent....