Visa Free Transit... I think I am fine?

Question

I've been trying to digging information regarding Tourist in Transit. I could not get a straight answer from the embassy. I have a valid multi-entry visa to the US. Here is my plan:

Home Country (India) - Korea for 3 days - Third Country (SE Asia for 2 weeks) - USA. I think I am fine according to the information pulled from the website. Can someone help me understand the stay within 3 days rule?

2) Departing from the United States (A) going to the Home country (C) via Korea (B) and the third country (D), or vice versa.

*You must stay within 3 days in a country that transits before entering Korea, and if you stay more than that, you cannot enter Korea.

e.g. USA (A) → Korea (B) → Third Country (D) → Home Country (C) / [Possible]

Home Country (C) → Third country (D, stay within 3 days) → Korea (B) → USA (A) / [Possible]

USA (A) → Third country (D, stay within 3 days) → Korea (B) → Home Country (C) / [Possible]

Home Country (C) → Korea (B) → Third Country (D) → USA (A) / [Possible]

Thank you very much!

judithputz · Answer

You're reading the rule correctly, and your itinerary works under the Korea visa-free transit program. The key is that "stay within 3 days" refers to the time you spend in the third country (SE Asia in your case) before arriving in Korea, not the time you spend in Korea itself. Since you're in SE Asia for 2 weeks, that's fine, the rule only applies if the layover in the third country is 3 days or less before entering Korea.

In your case, going India to Korea to SE Asia to USA, you're following the last example in your list. Korea lets you stay up to 30 days on this transit, so your 3 days in Seoul is well within the limit. Just make sure when you check in for your flight from India, the airline sees your US visa and onward ticket to SE Asia, as they sometimes get nervous about transit rules.

janettpawlik · Answer

yeah you're good, the 3 day thing is about the third country stopover before korea not your time in seoul. so your 2 weeks in thailand or wherever doesn't matter at all, only if you were staying somewhere like 1-2 days before flying into korea would it be an issue

just a heads up though, immigration at incheon might ask to see your onward ticket to the US and your US visa so have those ready. the airlines at delhi or mumbai can be picky about this too, they've denied boarding before for less. also you get 30 days in korea on this transit not just 3 so you could stay longer if you wanted, but 3 days is enough for the main spots like myeongdong and gyeongbokgung imo

antoniahenning · Answer

honestly the 3 day rule is just about the stop before korea, not ur time in seoul itself. so ur 2 weeks in SE asia is fine, no issue there. just make sure at the airport in india they actually know this rule, cause some airlines staff get confused

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