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plato's republic
Joined: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Ancient Greece
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 Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 12:13 am Post subject: Airport arrival |
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I'll be arriving at Incheon airport with a single(one-way) ticket. Will I have any problems with immigration asking questions about my return ticket, reasons for visiting, amount of money I have, place of stay....etc?
If so, what would be the best response?
I have found a job already, but my new boss wants me to come to Korea on a single ticket then do a visa run to Japan, but isn't it technically illegal to do visa runs or am I mistaken?
If stopped and questioned by immigration should I tell them the truth or that I'm just visiting on vacation?
I'm somewhat confused......  |
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kprrok
Joined: 06 Apr 2004
Location: KC
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| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 12:36 am Post subject: |
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Doing a VISA run isn't illegal. But starting to work before you have an E-2 is illegal. You can take your chances. You could say that you've come over with a few possible schools and want to see them in person before you decide. Or just lie and say you're on holiday.
KPRROK |
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chronicpride
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 2:11 am Post subject: Re: Airport arrival |
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| plato's republic wrote: |
I'll be arriving at Incheon airport with a single(one-way) ticket. Will I have any problems with immigration asking questions about my return ticket, reasons for visiting, amount of money I have, place of stay....etc?
If so, what would be the best response?
I have found a job already, but my new boss wants me to come to Korea on a single ticket then do a visa run to Japan, but isn't it technically illegal to do visa runs or am I mistaken?
If stopped and questioned by immigration should I tell them the truth or that I'm just visiting on vacation?
I'm somewhat confused...... |
If you are going to have a problem anywhere, it will be at the check-in desk of your airline. On their check-in screens for Korea-bound travellers, they are required to ask for proof of onward travel, if you plan on entering Korea on a tourist visa. Some airline counters will strictly enforce this and will not allow you to board unless you can show a ticket of when you will be exiting Korea. If you luck out, you might get someone at the counter that makes a mistake and overlooks this.
If you are lucky enough to get past the airline counter, you will have an easier time getting through Immigration's questions. They seem to bend for a good excuse a lot more easier than airline counters.
I had this identical situation happen with a school that I introduced a teacher to. The school and I were arguing about my expressed need for them to pay for the round-trip airfare upfront versus their wish for half upfront and half at the end. I stressed that if the airline counter is on the ball, then that teacher is not going to be getting on any plane with a one way ticket. They disregarded my advice and took the chance. Teacher was flagged at the airline desk for only having a one-way, prevented to board, missed the flight, and had to wait until the director ate his crow for not listening to me, re-schedule the original flight but this time with proof of onward travel.
I'd get on the phone with the director and seriously plan for this contingency. Get him to buy the Japan visa run ticket before you leave for Korea, and have the itinerary and receipt faxed to you, and treat that as your proof of onward travel when the airline counter asks for it. And make sure your director doesn't give you any 'Relax. We know what we're doing' stuff. Otherwise, you may have a gong show on your hands. |
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plato's republic
Joined: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Ancient Greece
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| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 3:01 am Post subject: |
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I never knew the airlines would be so strict about this. Four years ago i flew to japan on a one-way ticket and was never asked anything by anyone. Granted i had a work visa stamped into my passport but.....
Is korean immigration known for stopping people and asking them questions about what they're doing, where they're going etc?
I'll try to get my director to send or fax a copy of my visa run details and use that as evidence of an onward ticket, hopefully that'll do it. |
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mindmetoo
Joined: 02 Feb 2004
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| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 3:03 am Post subject: |
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| Depending how far in advance you book your ticket, you can get a round trip ticket cheaper than a one way. |
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chronicpride
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 3:07 am Post subject: |
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| plato's republic wrote: |
I never knew the airlines would be so strict about this. Four years ago i flew to japan on a one-way ticket and was never asked anything by anyone. Granted i had a work visa stamped into my passport but.....
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You can enter on a one-way if you have a work visa. It's the tourist visa issue that requires the proof of onward travel. However, coming in through Busan seaport without onward travel doesn't seem to be a big problem. Same when I flew in from Manila on a one-way. It can be hit/miss in some regional areas. |
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Wangja
Joined: 17 May 2004
Location: Seoul, Yongsan
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| Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2005 3:13 am Post subject: |
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Just as an aside, and accepting that Korean immigration officers at the airport are very "relaxed" about their interpretation of what is and is not required to pemit entry, what would your reaction be to someone arriving in USA without all papers in order?
Would you agree that they should be permitted entry?
Or denied? |
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drgoo
Joined: 10 Feb 2005
Location: Home, sweet home
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| Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2005 12:30 pm Post subject: |
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| The airline probably wouldn't care, but if you have a contract and E2 visa application with required documents would that satisfy Immigration? Or would that and four bucks get you a cup @ Starbucks? |
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john
Joined: 15 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2005 2:47 pm Post subject: Personally, I'd pass on this job. |
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It may be a bit late for this, but I would not come to Korea without a visa. The school could wash its hands of you or worse ... since you were gullible enough to come without a visa then it only follows that you will work without a visa at least for a few weeks. And since you have proven yourself open to manipulation early early morning or weekend classes might be an option now.
The only reason to come without a visa is to shop around for a school or do a working vacation of privates. My suggestion is to say "thanks, but no thanks" and send the ticket back to the school. Get a job with a school that is not so desperate for a (gullible and ignorant) teacher. Really walk (no run) away or 9 times out of 10 you will be kicking yourself in the ass, because your job sucks.
They need you more then you need them |
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chronicpride
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
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| Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2005 5:33 pm Post subject: |
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| drgoo wrote: |
| The airline probably wouldn't care, but if you have a contract and E2 visa application with required documents would that satisfy Immigration? Or would that and four bucks get you a cup @ Starbucks? |
No. You need the stamp. A co-worker at one of my first schools did that. He misunderstood the visa process instruction for the school, and thought that the contract and form was all he needed to get through Immigration. The school got a thorough tongue lashing on the phone from Immigration, and they gave him the tourist stamp and a visa run followed, shortly thereafter. |
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Intrepid
Joined: 13 May 2004
Location: Yongin
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| Posted: Thu Mar 10, 2005 7:04 am Post subject: Immigration is not worried about one-way tickets |
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| I had this problem last year, flying over on a one-way before my uni had issued my work visa. American said they couldn't book me to Seoul from my connecting flight in Detroit. Korean Air counter in Chicago said nothing. Immigration in Seoul didn't even look at my boarding pass, let alone ticket. |
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