POE /LAYOVER

[conlyne 0]

Good day,

 

I am from the Philippines and I hold an IR1 visa leaving Philippines on August 31st. I just want to ask your opinion again if i will get into trouble on my POE (ORD) if i decided to go outside Korea's airport during my long layover (12hrs & 50mins)? The reason I want to go outside is to join a tour, ICN offers free tours without visa needed  for travelers who has long layovers in ICN. I found that information from there website and have read some blogs already about it. My only concern is my POE in ORD, i am scared that they wont let me pass through if they found out that I joined a tour in Korea before boarding on the tour they will stamp my passport, so for sure they will find it out.

 

Does anyone here have tried to do this tours? was there any prob on your POE upon entering USA?

 

Thanks in advance.

[Dashinka 24,515]

Not directly familiar with this particular situation, but I can't imagine US immigration at the POE caring what you did during a layover in another country.

 

Good Luck and Safe Travels!

[JE57 239]

Good for you.... Enjoy your tour in Korea.  The US Government isn't going to care if you stop over in Korea on the Way to your POE.  There are no restrictions on that.  Your visa allows you a single entry to the USA it doesn't matter so much that you are stopping over on the way so long as you are not stopping in a place like Syria, Iran... etc.

[slycordinator 6]

There's no issue with going on a tour of South Korea. The only thing you'll want to actually worry about is keeping enough time in your schedule to be back at the airport. The airport and Incheon city in general are a ways outside of Seoul city. 

 

There are train options to get back that'll be quickest. There's also a thing called the "City Air Terminal" (CALT) in the COEX mall. You can check in there, do a pre immigration check, and after getting a ticket for a bus to the airport and supposedly skip the immigration line once at the airport (since they stamp your passport and boarding pass to approve you to use the line for diplomats). Though, I never used this myself when I lived in Korea; never happened to be near it when headed to icn.

Edited June 30, 2017 by slycordinator
Minor wording

[conlyne 0]

1 hour ago, Bill & Katya said:

Not directly familiar with this particular situation, but I can't imagine US immigration at the POE caring what you did during a layover in another country.

 

Good Luck and Safe Travels!

oh! thank you soooo much for the feedback. just wanted to see the place there and do something nice during my long layover. 

[conlyne 0]

1 hour ago, JE57 said:

Good for you.... Enjoy your tour in Korea.  The US Government isn't going to care if you stop over in Korea on the Way to your POE.  There are no restrictions on that.  Your visa allows you a single entry to the USA it doesn't matter so much that you are stopping over on the way so long as you are not stopping in a place like Syria, Iran... etc.

wow! this is such a great input. no i wont be stopping in those places, i try not to. LOL.

 

anyway, have you tried going out from the airport where you had layovers? were there no problem at all in your POE?

[conlyne 0]

1 hour ago, slycordinator said:

There's no issue with going on a tour of South Korea. The only thing you'll want to actually worry about is keeping enough time in your schedule to be back at the airport. The airport and Incheon city in general are a ways outside of Seoul city. 

 

There are train options to get back that'll be quickest. There's also a thing called the "City Air Terminal" (CALT) in the COEX mall. You can check in there, do a pre immigration check, and after getting a ticket for a bus to the airport and supposedly skip the immigration line once at the airport (since they stamp your passport and boarding pass to approve you to use the line for diplomats). Though, I never used this myself when I lived in Korea; never happened to be near it when headed to icn.

oh! thank you for the heads-up.   have you tried going outside the airport during your layovers (any country)? were there no problem in your POE?

 

anyway, i  believe i have more than enough time as i will be arriving there around 7am and will fly out at around 8pm. The tour i would like to have takes only 5 to 6 hours too and the transportation is also arrange by the airport. the tour is actually free with transportation and tour guide/s, all i have to pay (if ever i will really have it soon) will be the entrances and food during the tour. 

 

 the only thing that terrified me is when immig. personnel in my POE wont let me pass through USA. 

[Dashinka 24,515]

48 minutes ago, conlyne said:

oh! thank you for the heads-up.   have you tried going outside the airport during your layovers (any country)? were there no problem in your POE?

 

anyway, i  believe i have more than enough time as i will be arriving there around 7am and will fly out at around 8pm. The tour i would like to have takes only 5 to 6 hours too and the transportation is also arrange by the airport. the tour is actually free with transportation and tour guide/s, all i have to pay (if ever i will really have it soon) will be the entrances and food during the tour. 

 

 the only thing that terrified me is when immig. personnel in my POE wont let me pass through USA. 

I imagine with this plan you should be fine except you probably won't get a chance to get some good Korean Barbecue, or sashimi.  Enjoy your short visit, Korea is a great country!

[slycordinator 6]

When our POE was going to be LAX, we had an overnight layover in Guangzhou, China, the airline gave everyone transiting through access to a motel room, we got the free transit visa, and in LA they didn't give two shits that we slept in a motel and walked to a convenience store. 

 

And I bet your your will include food, but probably something like bibimbap rather than bulgogi samgyupsal 

Edited June 30, 2017 by slycordinator
Added note

[conlyne 0]

2 hours ago, Bill & Katya said:

I imagine with this plan you should be fine except you probably won't get a chance to get some good Korean Barbecue, or sashimi.  Enjoy your short visit, Korea is a great country!

yes, I heard of that too. I actually worked with a Korean company before, just resigned 2 weeks ago and heard about good places to see in the country. Just wanted to see it myself, since there's like a big chance to experience it , only if there wont really be a problem with my POE. hehehhe.

[conlyne 0]

43 minutes ago, slycordinator said:

When our POE was going to be LAX, we had an overnight layover in Guangzhou, China, the airline gave everyone transiting through access to a motel room, we got the free transit visa, and in LA they didn't give two shits that we slept in a motel and walked to a convenience store. 

 

And I bet your your will include food, but probably something like bibimbap rather than bulgogi samgyupsal 

i hope they wont give two shits on my plan too. hahahha... just that yours is quite different because it was really the airline that arrange your stay outside, mine would be my own.

 

still cant decide really, but i really love to get on it. 

[slycordinator 6]

They will not care. Going to South Korea isn't a red flag. In fact, they might just ask you why you'd stay in a boring airport (although ICN is supposedly in the top 5 globally).

[Shauneg 762]

14 hours ago, Bill & Katya said:

I imagine with this plan you should be fine except you probably won't get a chance to get some good Korean Barbecue, or sashimi.  Enjoy your short visit, Korea is a great country!

I miss it there immensely. Korean food just isn't the same here. Not even in Koreatown in NYC.

[slycordinator 6]

Though he'll have plenty of time for some Korean fried chicken. All the different sauces.