Check-in Procedures

ROK Travel Requirement Questions and Answers, as of Sept. 3, 2022

As of Sept. 3, 2022, international arrivals are no longer required to submit pre-arrival COVID-19 tests. All arrivals, regardless of vaccination status, are still subject to a Day 1 PCR test at a military treatment facility. Movement will be restricted until results are received. Day 6/7 self-administered rapid antigen tests are recommended, but not required. Personnel assigned to areas not serviced by a military treatment facility may have their PCR test conducted by an alternate civilian facility (airport, civilian hospital, etc.).

Beginning July 25, 2022, all international arrivals, regardless of vaccination status, are subject to COVID-19 PCR test taken no later than day 1 after entry into Korea and must restrict their movement until they receive their day 1 test results. Individuals are authorized to perform life, health, and safety activities on U.S. Forces Korea-controlled installations only. Movement off-installation is prohibited unless traveling between domicile and duty or in the event of a medical emergency or threat to safety. Individuals must wear a respiratory mask outside of their domicile until they receive a negative test result.

For further info on ROK COVID-19 requirements and travel updates, visit the Eighth Army Facebook page or check the US Embassy COVID-19 information page at https://kr.usembassy.gov/022420-covid-19-information/ or the Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs at https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/us-newyork-en/brd/m_4235/view.do?seq=761567

Airline passengers heading to the United States no longer need to get tested and show the COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 prior to boarding a flight to the U.S. This information is current as of June 12, 2022. Check the U.S. State Department website and the Center for Disease Control website for additional information.

Personnel are advised to consult their airline regarding updated information about their travel plans or restrictions. Further information about COVID-19 conditions and regulations in the ROK are available on the U.S. embassy's COVID-19 website.

See the following links for additional information regarding the US Embassy health and travel alert:

• https://kr.usembassy.gov/category/alert
• https://overseas.mofa.go.kr/us-newyork-en/brd/m_4235/view.do?seq=761567

Arriving in Korea

Upon arrival to Incheon International Airport or Osan Air Base via Patriot Express, all new, inbound Eighth Army-affiliated personnel will be transported to Camp Humphreys where they will be given instructions by USFK medical professionals.

At Incheon International Airport, Korean Customs and Immigration personnel will direct all SOFA-affiliated members (U.S. Soldiers, dependent family members, GS civilians, and U.S. military contractors) to the 19th HRC/USFK welcome desk after completing the customs and immigrations requirements. Regardless of vaccination status, all international arrivals will be subject to COVID testing no later than Day 1 after entry into the Republic of Korea. For Eighth Army-affiliated individuals, testing will be completed at a U.S. military treatment facility upon arrival to Camp Humphreys.

To read the latest information from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA), including exceptions to Korea’s rules regarding registration of COVID vaccinations obtained outside of Korea, KDCA website. Select “ENG” in the top right corner for English language.

KOREA ONLINE ONE-STOP MAP

The website has a map tool to connect you to each garrison where you can learn about the programs and services offered in your future community. Many programs offer separate webpages to manage event calendars and activity schedules. You should take some time to navigate and explore. If you have any questions about services, programs, or activities prior to arrival you should contact your TASP unit sponsor.

More information on the newcomer/in processing, please visit https://8tharmy.korea.army.mil/site/newcomers/ 

Most assignments at U.S. Army Garrison Yongsan-Casey are unaccompanied tours. Please ensure you read your orders to see your entitlements. 

As the military hospital at Yongsan, in Seoul has been closed. Married service members wishing to bring family members on an accompanied tour of Korea should contact their losing unit's personnel section to begin the command sponsorship process. To qualify for command sponsorship to Korea, military members and family members must be prescreened through the medical Exceptional Family Member Program, Preventative Medicine, Installation Travel Office (for tickets, government issued passports, and visas), to name a few. Command sponsorship entitles family members to a wide variety of services in Korea, but prior approval is necessary, and the process could take two to three months.

Families arriving in Korea non-command sponsored should understand benefits and entitlements available to them while CONUS are not what they will receive here. Resources are limited and are only guaranteed to command-sponsored families. 

There will be budgetary impacts to your family:

• TRICARE: Only one option is available to a non-command-sponsored family - TRICARE Standard (with a co-pay required).
• The Basic Allowance for Housing rate is calculated for a military member without dependents. In order to adjust services to the increased BAH rate of with dependents requires a command-sponsored sequence number.
• If you get married before you PCS back to the United States, you must inform your commander and follow the procedures exactly as you are given them. The military will not pay for travel and housing of a spouse if you do not adhere to the procedures laid out in the International Marriage Policy. For more information, go to the United States Forces Korea website and look for USFK Policy 600-240. 

All eligible patients receive access to high quality health care governed by DoD and TRICARE regulations and guidelines. Access to care has been designed to support active-duty dependents to help them obtain care easily, and thus make it possible for active-duty members to perform their military service without worrying about health care for their dependents. 

The priority of care is based on the following categories:

• Priority 1: Active-duty service members.
• Priority 2: Active-duty family members who are enrolled in Tricare Prime.
• Priority 3: Retirees, their family members and survivors who are enrolled in Tricare Prime.
• Priority 4: Active-duty family members who are not enrolled in Tricare Prime.
• Priority 5: All other eligible persons.

It is also important to manage expectations as there is at time limitations in some fields of medicine or limited providers. You can generally expect to obtain an appointment for an acute/same day care within 24 hours. 

Emergency care is available at several nearby hospitals.

• Open Access - same calendar day
• Routine - 7 calendar days
• Wellness (physicals and well woman exams) - 28 calendar days
• Specialty Care - 28 calendar days
• Dental Routine - 21 calendar days

Please click on links for additional information.

• www.korea.amedd.army.mil/default.html
• www.tricare.mil
• https://8tharmy.korea.army.mil/site/assets/doc/newcomers/Tricare_Korean_Hospital_Handbook.pdf 
• https://kr.usembassy.gov/services-getting-married-in-korea/

Marriage in Korea for USFK personnel

Service Members assigned to USFK (except for Service Members attached to the U.S. Embassy and JUSMAG-K) must comply with the requirement outlined in USFK Regulation 600-240. “Assigned”, includes Service Members departing this command who have not yet signed in to their gaining command (i.e. in-country leave ICW PCS). This regulation is punitive and must be followed regardless of where the marriage actually takes place.

For more information, please refer to https://8tharmy.korea.army.mil/sja/assets/doc/marriage/Marriage-In-Korea(USFK-FN)-13MAR20.pdf