Can a refugee holding a US Green Card travel to South Korea without a visa?
I am a refugee from Cambodia with a Green Card in the US. I will get a refugee travel document, which is like a passport. Can I travel to South Korea? Will I need a visa? If so, how do I get it? Basically will Korea let me in with a travel document?
Best Answer
South Korea's policy on immigration is nationality based. Since you're Cambodian, you need a visa. The only way for you to visit Korea without a visa would be to travel in a triangle, taking advantage of the 30-day visa exemption for people who:
- transit through Korea, and
- have a visa from a few countries, including the US. Since you have a green card, that'd work.
But you would have to fly something like:
US - Korea, Korea - third country, and then third country - US.
You couldn't fly on a return ticket US-Korea without a visa.
Pictures about "Can a refugee holding a US Green Card travel to South Korea without a visa?"
Do I need visa for Korea if I have green card?
A Korean entry visa must be applied for and issued in your home country. However if you have a valid green card(re-entry permit) or valid entry visa to the U.S for a long term stay, you can apply for the visa at the Korean consulate.Do I need a Refugee Travel Document if I have a green card?
You do not need a refugee travel document if you have a passport from your home country and a valid green card and you want to return to the U.S. after temporary travel abroad (of less than one year).Do I need a visa with a US Refugee Travel Document?
If you are a refugee under the Geneva Convention, your travel document is accepted by every country that signed the agreement. However, this does not mean that you can travel visa-free to every country- you have to use your travel document to apply for a visitor visa.Can US refugees travel to another country?
Any person who was given asylum or refugee status in the United States is allowed to travel internationally. However, he or she must receive refugee travel documents to be able to return to the United States.Which Countries Can You Visit with a US Green Card?
More answers regarding can a refugee holding a US Green Card travel to South Korea without a visa?
Answer 2
According to IATA Timatic, used by airlines and travel agents to verify passengers travel document requirements, you would require a visa to enter the Republic of South Korea.
A search in TravelDoc expresses it thus:
Refugee Travel Document issued by United States of America to a national of Cambodia is not listed as an accepted document by Republic of Korea (South).
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
Images: Artem Beliaikin, Dương Nhân, Tima Miroshnichenko, Allen Beilschmidt sr.