Korean Job Discussion Forums

[climber159]

Immigration is SLOW and I haven't been assigned a visa number yet. I'll be coming back to Korea in a couple of days and my employer will be paying for me to make a visa run in Japan. So, I'll be entering Korea on a one-way ticket with no visa. I do have confirmation (as in an application number issued by immigration) that my employer has submitted my visa paperwork to immigration.

Has anyone entered the country on a one-way ticket sans visa? Were you held up in Customs? (I hope to have a plane ticket in hand prior to my arrival in Korea, but...)

Thanks in advance.

[Kevtron]

I did the exact same thing. Though actually you're more prepared than I was a year ago, as I didn't have anything from immigration yet at all. So don't worry. You'll get a normal tourist visa stamped when you enter, and then since you've already got a job, they should ensure that you are able to get your E-2 before that one expires.
Just make sure you've got all your paperwork ready for the visa run, and get ready for a free (though short) trip to Japan

[Scotticus]

I was under the impression that they're legally not supposed to let you in on a one-way ticket, however as with most things here, if you push it they'll cave and let you in anyway. That or they won't feel like enforcing the law and will just shrug and stamp your passport. Either way, I wouldn't worry.

[Tathen]

When I was making a connection between flights in Japan, they checked to make sure I had an exit ticket from Korea (which I had purchased and later refunded). They also checked it at customs in Korea when I came through.

This was 1year ago. Personally I'd buy a refundable ticket just to make sure. It wasn't much of a problem to get it refunded (American Airlines I think), just took about 10minutes on the phone (long distance, but skype is cheap anyhow).

~Tathen

[ttompatz]