Via KOREA?

[GuardianAngel 1]

My fiance and I were browsing on POSSIBLE flights to consider in going to Seattle. He wanted me to take Korean Air as it is the same airline he used when he visited me. According to him, Korean air really has a very decent and exquisite accommodation.

The question is, will there be a problem with Korean Immigration if I'll have to take the flight from Cebu to Korea- Korea to Seattle considering one has to stay there for 10 hours during the stop over? Worse case, Will I have to pay for my stay? (Philippines is NOT INCLUDED in the list of countries that can stay for free in Korea for a period of 3 months even without a visa)

[one...two...tree 2,762]

No. International airports are designated as neutral which is why you'll see many Duty Free shops in them. You do not need a Visa for South Korea if you have a connecting flight there.

Korean Air has excellent service, btw.

[Scott and Mhay 57]

exactly, inchon is set up to where you can just have your connecting flight there. Have your Fiance try and set up the time so you dont have that much layover there. Korean air is pretty nice to fly on. I have flown with them a few times and the planes dont seem as cramped as some of the other airlines.

[ScottThuy 140]

My fiance will be flying trough Seoul for the exact same reason he wants you to fly through there... great service on the plane.. a clean airport with excellent information services when needed... Korean air flights usually cost a little more but IMO are well worth it...

[GuardianOne 0]

The problem is, there's a 10+ hour layover. When I came back to the US they had the option of having a tour around Seoul or staying at the hotel there.

Since she's a Filipino, will she have issues staying at the hotel to rest and sleep? The hotel it outside the airport, but only a few miles away. I was stamped a VISA when I went to the hotel. But, I'm an american citizen so I get to go pretty much anywhere in the world without a visa.

[chinese_mutt 11]

My fiance and I were browsing on POSSIBLE flights to consider in going to Seattle. He wanted me to take Korean Air as it is the same airline he used when he visited me. According to him, Korean air really has a very decent and exquisite accommodation.

The question is, will there be a problem with Korean Immigration if I'll have to take the flight from Cebu to Korea- Korea to Seattle considering one has to stay there for 10 hours during the stop over? Worse case, Will I have to pay for my stay? (Philippines is NOT INCLUDED in the list of countries that can stay for free in Korea for a period of 3 months even without a visa)

You can stay in the airport but you cannot go out.

No korean tour for you... just 10 hour long boring stay inside the airport.

i'd rather take PAL direct flight... easier on the body. less stress and hassle.

The problem is, there's a 10+ hour layover. When I came back to the US they had the option of having a tour around Seoul or staying at the hotel there.

Since she's a Filipino, will she have issues staying at the hotel to rest and sleep? The hotel it outside the airport, but only a few miles away. I was stamped a VISA when I went to the hotel. But, I'm an american citizen so I get to go pretty much anywhere in the world without a visa.

She cannot go out. YOU can coz you are under Visa Waiver Program in most (if not all) countries around the world.

Sorry she can't even go to a hotel. She's going to have to sit or walk around the airport for 10 hours.

Trust me, take the PAL direct flight, I've been stuck in Macau Airport for 4 hours waiting for our plane... wasn't fun.

Edited December 21, 2009 by chinese_mutt

[one...two...tree 2,762]

She cannot go out. YOU can coz you are under Visa Waiver Program in most (if not all) countries around the world.

Sorry she can't even go to a hotel. She's going to have to sit or walk around the airport for 10 hours.

Trust me, take the PAL direct flight, I've been stuck in Macau Airport for 4 hours waiting for our plane... wasn't fun.

Now don't be giving out bad information if you don't know for sure. As far as I can tell, she can stay at a hotel in South Korea. For USC traveling to South Korea, you only need a Visa if you plan on staying there longer than 30 days. I would recommend contacting Korean Air to see if they have any information or can tell you who to ask.

From a Korean website:

Tourist visas: Foreign visitors who plan on staying longer than 30 days must also obtain a visa or visa extension

http://www.korea4expats.com/article-passpo...quirements.html

[chinese_mutt 11]

Now don't be giving out bad information if you don't know for sure. As far as I can tell, she can stay at a hotel in South Korea. For USC traveling to South Korea, you only need a Visa if you plan on staying there longer than 30 days. I would recommend contacting Korean Air to see if they have any information or can tell you who to ask.

From a Korean website:

Tourist visas: Foreign visitors who plan on staying longer than 30 days must also obtain a visa or visa extension

http://www.korea4expats.com/article-passpo...quirements.html

SHE is not a USC! Read again what I said.

Edited December 21, 2009 by chinese_mutt

[chinese_mutt 11]

SHE is not a USC! Read again what I said.

BTW, from the looks of the post, she's a FILIPINO citizen going to US to meet her fiance.

She has a 10 hour layover in Korea, she does not want to apply for visa (KOREA is not part of the ASEAN region where visa is waived for members), she's not going there as a tourist. She wants to go out of the airport to sleep/rest and catch her connecting flight 10 hours later.

SO... what's wrong with the info that I gave her? First, if you are only waiting for a connecting flight... you are not allowed to leave the airport. I know, I've travelled a lot and have been stuck in airports a lot too waiting for connecting flights. You are not allowed to enter the country.

Again which part of my advice is wrong? It is you who needs to read the thread carefully.

Edited December 21, 2009 by chinese_mutt

[one...two...tree 2,762]

SHE is not a USC! Read again what I said.

Can you find a South Korean source that says she could not stay in a hotel during her long layover? Because the site I just quoted from said "Foreigners staying longer than 30 days require a visa..." So unless you believe they have a different policy for Filipino Nationals, she would fall under foreigner.

Edited December 21, 2009 by Galt's gallstones

[chinese_mutt 11]

Can you find a South Korean source that says she could not stay in a hotel during her long layover? Because the site I just quoted from said "Foreigners staying longer than 30 days require a visa..." So unless you believe they have a different policy for Filipino Nationals, she would fall under foreigner.

http://www.buhaykorea.com/2008/02/13/how-t...without-a-visa/

Philippines have no Visa Waiver program with South Korea. HAPPY? That means she cannot go out of the airport and enter the country without a visa.

She doesn't have a GC yet... too bad.

Don't give out bad info.

Edited December 21, 2009 by chinese_mutt

[chinese_mutt 11]

Can you find a South Korean source that says she could not stay in a hotel during her long layover? Because the site I just quoted from said "Foreigners staying longer than 30 days require a visa..." So unless you believe they have a different policy for Filipino Nationals, she would fall under foreigner.

Let's use your own website... just so we are on the same page...

http://www.hikorea.go.kr/pt/InfoDetailR_en...;showMenuId=375

[one...two...tree 2,762]

http://www.buhaykorea.com/2008/02/13/how-t...without-a-visa/

Philippines have no Visa Waiver program with South Korea. HAPPY? That means she cannot go out of the airport and enter the country without a visa.

She doesn't have a GC yet... too bad.

Don't give out bad info.

From your link:

Is it possible to enter and visit Korea without a visa? It is.

From Korea's government website:

Tourists bound for another country.

- Applicable to those with a visa or a re-entry permit for US, Japan, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand (5 countries) and traveling to any one of those countries through Korea.

- Those traveling from any one of the five countries mentioned above, whose final destination is not Korea.

- Must have a confirmed onward flight ticket for departure within 30 days after entering Korea, in addition to having no record or criminal offence in the five countries mentioned above.

....

My mother is a Philippine passport holder and a US resident. I wanted her to visit us before she travel back to the US. I asked the Immigration office yesterday if it's possible for her to travel without a visa under her circumstance. After several pauses and "wait a minute"s, I was told that she could come to Korea without a visa as long as her outbound ticket is for the US and she could stay up to 30 days.

Edited December 21, 2009 by Galt's gallstones

[one...two...tree 2,762]

And more here:

My nephew, who is a Filipino green-card holder, will stop by Korea next week on his way back to Los Angeles. He asked me if he could get out of the airport and explore Seoul since his layover is for 14 hours! Does he still need a visa? He needs to give me the new Panasonic camera that my ever-so-generous older brother bought for me as an early birthday cum Christmas gift. I should have asked him to get me a PS3 too. LOL!

I reminded him that his grandmother, my mother, was able to get out of the airport when she was here for a 12-hour layover too. Her carrier, Asiana Airlines, provided a free accommodation but she waived it when we pick her up and brought her to an island near Incheon. We took her to the filming locations of “Full House” (drama starring Rain and Song Hye Gyo) and “Sad Sonata” (Kim Hee Sun and Kwon Sang Woo).

According to the G4F website:

Transit tourists bound for another country

Eligible countries

Applicable to all countries (save for Cuba, and Macedonia) that are not granted visa-free entry into Korea.

Applicable to…

*Those with a visa or a re-entry permit for U.S., Japan, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand (5 countries) and traveling to any one of those countries through Korea.

.......

So hopefully, this can give the original poster some peace of mind...YES, your Filipina fiancee CAN stay in a hotel in Seoul during her 10 hour layover.

[chinese_mutt 11]

From your link:

Is it possible to enter and visit Korea without a visa? It is.

From Korea's government website:

Tourists bound for another country.

- Applicable to those with a visa or a re-entry permit for US, Japan, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand (5 countries) and traveling to any one of those countries through Korea.

- Those traveling from any one of the five countries mentioned above, whose final destination is not Korea.

- Must have a confirmed onward flight ticket for departure within 30 days after entering Korea, in addition to having no record or criminal offence in the five countries mentioned above.

....

My mother is a Philippine passport holder and a US resident. I wanted her to visit us before she travel back to the US. I asked the Immigration office yesterday if it's possible for her to travel without a visa under her circumstance. After several pauses and "wait a minute"s, I was told that she could come to Korea without a visa as long as her outbound ticket is for the US and she could stay up to 30 days.

And more here:

My nephew, who is a Filipino green-card holder, will stop by Korea next week on his way back to Los Angeles. He asked me if he could get out of the airport and explore Seoul since his layover is for 14 hours! Does he still need a visa? He needs to give me the new Panasonic camera that my ever-so-generous older brother bought for me as an early birthday cum Christmas gift. I should have asked him to get me a PS3 too. LOL!

I reminded him that his grandmother, my mother, was able to get out of the airport when she was here for a 12-hour layover too. Her carrier, Asiana Airlines, provided a free accommodation but she waived it when we pick her up and brought her to an island near Incheon. We took her to the filming locations of “Full House” (drama starring Rain and Song Hye Gyo) and “Sad Sonata” (Kim Hee Sun and Kwon Sang Woo).

According to the G4F website:

Transit tourists bound for another country

Eligible countries

Applicable to all countries (save for Cuba, and Macedonia) that are not granted visa-free entry into Korea.

Applicable to…

*Those with a visa or a re-entry permit for U.S., Japan, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand (5 countries) and traveling to any one of those countries through Korea.

.......

So hopefully, this can give the original poster some peace of mind...YES, your Filipina fiancee CAN stay in a hotel in Seoul during her 10 hour layover.