Korean Job Discussion Forums

[scottmclaughlin]

Hi, quick question, tried to find it in the FAQ, but no success. Do you need to show proof at customs of a flight out of Korea if you are an American Citizen? Thanks

Scott

[jajdude]

Canadian here, but I figure it's mostly the same. I have entered Korea many times without an outgoing ticket...no problems. I'm sure many others have done the same.

[hellofaniceguy]

No one one this site can answer your question; it's up to immigration. Period.
Chances are that you will have no problems as many travelers have entered korea without a RT or onward ticket.
It's all up to the immigration person though. They make the decision.

[mindmetoo]

It would be helpful to know if you're a tourist or an incoming ESL teacher. An incoming ESL teacher would not need a return ticket. A tourist might. The most trouble you might have is at the airline itself. Some airlines won't let you board unless you have a round trip ticket or proof you have a work visa.

[keithinkorea]

It is true. KLM were funny about me not having an onward ticket as the guy at the checking in desk didn't know I had an E2 visa and didn't know what one was! KLM are a pain in the backside, they used to be good but due to issues I've had with them recently I wont be flying with them again.

You should have an onward ticket to enter Korea or a visa, it is a pain in the backside but you need one.

[scottmclaughlin]

Thanks for the info.

scott

[just because]

Qantas(an Australian airline) also are very strict on round tickets. If you sre tourist they will not let you board if you are coming in as a tourist if you don't have an out ticket from the country you are visiting.

[chronicpride]

It's a soft policy, which will be ultimately determined at the check-in desk of the airline. Immigration only sees your passport and entry/depature cards that you fill out. They don't see your proof of onward travel.

Checking for Proof of Onward Travel is deferred to the airline companies. And that is discretionary, at best. I've come in thru Fukuoka, numerous times, and the Kobe Beetle company never says boo. I've come in on Philippine Airlines thru Manila, and they didn't say anything. I know a girl that tried to come in United thru Christchurch, NZ and she was prevented from boarding. I was behind a guy in Seattle's Asiana Airlines check-in, and they flagged him for having a one-way, but he kicked up a fuss and had his story down good and the flustered clerk gave him his boarding pass.

Most airline clerks don't have a lot of experience dealing with the soft/hard policies of visa entry requirements, so when they are looking at their pre-board check-in screens, there is usually a notes/comments caveat box/acronyms that remind them to check for this. Whether they do or not, is a variable. You might get someone overzealous, as my friend did in Christchurch, or you might get what many get, which is a wave-through. I always have a solid story in the back of my mind, whenever I prepare to board transportation to this country, when entering on a tourist visa, just in case I get some newb clerk that decides to follow policy to the letter.

Word of advice- you can check your bags and get your boarding pass, up to 8 hours prior to your flight. Do it early, if you are concerned. This way you have no surprises or snags an hour before the flight leaves. Your worst case situation is that they will not budge on the policy and you have to buy onward travel. Having some extra time helps you find a local travel agent that can do some last minute work and purchase a Busan-Fukuoka boat ticket (which will be your cheapest exit ticket. Around 70,000Won for the overnight one, as I recall), the Japanese or Korean agent will fax the ticket itinerary and receipt to your travel agent, and that will suffice for boarding. If you are flying around the same time that Kangsan Travel in Busan is open, then take their number, as they can do things like this in a pinch.

[mindmetoo]

[trevorcollins]

[hellofaniceguy]

So much misinformation given....it is ONLY up to immigration if you enter the country. While it is true that most of the time...immigration does not ask to see a return ticket...at times they do. Airlines? Why have a grudge against them if they refuse you to board without a RT ticket?!?! They are only doing there job! If the airline lets you board without a RT ticket or onward AND immigration denies you entry...that airline MUST fly you back to your home country FREE. So, the immigration man at the counter is thinking...the airline has done it's job and the visitor has a RT ticket or onward ticket and so they don't ask to see it. But..even in korea..I have been asked upon arrival to see my ticket on a few occassions in spite of having a E1 visa.

[J.B. Clamence]

[trevorcollins]

The general rule is a visa or an onward ticket. But it can vary from airline to airline as to whether they'll enforce it. It goes one step further than the airline having to fly you home for free if you're refused entry. They actually get fined ($10,000 is the current figure) by the destination country if they don't check you satisfy visa regulations, yet let you on the flight and your documents aren't in order.

[Milwaukiedave]

So I'm going home for Christmas, when I board to come back to Korea I won't have a ticket going out of the country. But I do have my ARC and E-2. I should have no problems correct?

That's all I need is some overzealous ticket agent trying to tell me I can't come back. I'll go fricking postal.

[trevorcollins]