Korean Job Discussion Forums

kangnam mafioso · Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Location: Teheranno

does immigration frown on foreigners coming into incheon airport with only a one way ticket for the purposes of tourism?

would they turn you away?

check your finances?

make you buy a return before entering the country?

thanks.

poker player · Joined: 27 Sep 2004 Location: On the river

I was told by a Korean consulate employee in Vancouver that I could not enter Korea with a 1 way ticket unless I already had a visa. I didn't ask him what would happen but I'm gusessing if they enforced it, they would make you buy a ticket out to another country or if you didnt have the resources to do so, send you back. But that seems then that it would be up to the airline to make sure you had an ongoing ticket before they let you fly to Korea otherwise, they would be responsible for flying you back out.
I also know of others who came in without a visa and no return and had no problems. Come to think of it, the last time I came, although i had a return ticket, they never checked it.
I think it's 1 of those Korean rules that is seldom enforced but it's on the books so that if they want to enforce it for whatever reason, they can. So you'll probably be OK with a 1 way BUT.........

bucheon bum · Joined: 16 Jan 2003

you might have a problem at the other end; depends on what airline and the employee.

I flew in on a one-way on Air Canada from Vancouver, no visa, no problem. Immigration officer asked me how long I was going to be there, I said, "one month." He expressed surprise (implying why the hell would i be there so long) but then handed my passport back and wished me a nice stay.

I always figured you could BS your way in by claiming you'd take the ferry to Japan.

lastat06513 · Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2005 1:36 am Post subject:

Going from Canada to Korea on an entry stamp is ok because it allows you to stay for up to 6 months and you can re-new it by just going someplace for a day and you guys can get another six months.

The downside to it is that the immigrations officers do catch on after a few months and the guys are the main office sometimes refuse to issue E2 visas to people with mutliple entry-stamps in their passport.

While us Americans could only get a one-month entry stamp in our passports and it is just plain difficult to come and go every month to re-new that.

I would say that the best way to come and go is to get a C3 visa. It only costs $45 and it is good for up to 5 years. And the best thing about it is that each stay is for 90 days, enough time to earn some spending money for the quarterly visa runs.

I was on it for over a year without any hassle from the immigrations people at the airport. If they did ask, I would say "oh....I am doing an article for a local newspaper about Korea and I need reserach...." but once they see a valid visa (not stamp) they gave me no hassle.

Its worth it if you don't want to be tied down to just one job.

Zyzyfer · Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2005 9:18 am Post subject:

Depends TOTALLY on where you're flying from. Immigration here in my personal experience didn't really give two whacks.

peppergirl · Joined: 07 Dec 2003

kangnam mafioso · Joined: 27 Jan 2003 Location: Teheranno

i'll be flying from new york or atlanta to incheon. i wanted to get a one-way because it's cheaper.