Whether it’s okay to visit Korea, and reasons for deportation

There have been many questions about whether it’s okay to visit Korea, so I’m posting this as a notice. If any of the below applies to you, please decide whether to visit Korea only after consulting with an attorney.

Generally, we think people with nothing unusual going on can visit Korea or abroad without issue. And if your driver’s license isn’t Real ID, we recommend going to the DMV to switch to Real ID.

After reading this post, we will not take further individual consultation questions related to the below.

1. Visa/status holders: If you’re currently in trial for a DUI/DWI within the past year, or have been reported for domestic violence, please consult an attorney before visiting. Your visa status may have been or could be withdrawn.

2. Green card holders: If you have a misdemeanor or other criminal matter, please travel with the completed case documents once it’s resolved.

3. Those in the green card process: Please travel only after obtaining at least a travel authorization document. Some immigration attorneys don’t file for travel authorization, so please check carefully.

4. Green card holders: If traveling for 6 months to a year or more, you can obtain a “Reentry Permit” and travel with that.

5. Out of status: Those who are out of status could be deported without a hearing if arrested near the border or an airport.

6. Citizenship applicants: If there was an issue in how you obtained your green card, but you still received it, please consult with an attorney when applying for citizenship.

7. Those who obtained a green card through a fraudulent marriage in the past: Please consult with an attorney when applying for citizenship.

8. Those who applied for a green card through employment but didn’t work at the sponsoring organization for at least 6 months: Please pursue citizenship through an attorney consultation.

9. Those living using someone else’s Social Security number: Please pursue your green card process through an attorney consultation.

Updated after 4/9/2025

10. Someone with at least 2 DUI/DWI incidents.

11. Someone arrested or charged even once related to DUI — there have been cases at the airport where people were asked to sign a document without realizing it was a green card abandonment form. Please do not sign carelessly in such cases.

12. Someone with a record of being tried for a sex offense/sexual assault — if found not guilty, please keep the Disposition document.