'Indian passport isn't the best': Visa expert reacts to influencer getting denied entry to Jeju island; 'Avoid areas with special status'

Reacting to Indian content creator Sachin Awasthi's experience of getting detained at Jeju Island, visa specialist Priyesh Sharma said the Indian passport isn't the best and even Shah Rukh Khan had been detained in the past, and it does not matter to the host countries whether you are a celebrity or have many social media followers.

"You can be a big shot in India and have millions followers, they (immigration of host country) won't care, remember people like Shahrukh Khan have been detained then who are folks like you and me? Unless the MEA contact person are on your speed dial, please tread carefully with Indian passport," Sharma said, adding that Indians should avoid traveling to areas with special status which may be "visa free but can be very brutal for Indians".

What happened to Sachin Awasthi at Jeju Island?

Indian content creator Sachin Awasthi said he was detained for 38 hours on Jeju Island after he and his wife were denied entry. They were kept in a detention center which Awasthi said was similar to a jail with no sunlight and access to outside. They were not told what exactly happened and were forced to book an expensive return ticket. "I am not sharing this for sympathy or drama. Immigration decisions are their authority.

But they did not have any right to treat us like CRIMINALS," Awasthu posted.

Where is Jeju Island? What are the visa requirements for Indians?

Jeju Island is in South Korea. But it is one of the three self-governing provinces of South Korea. This island has a special visa-free entry program different from the rest of South Korea. Indians can enter Jeju Island without a visa but for that they have to come directly from a foreign country and no through any mainland South Korea airport -- simply because then they would need a visa for South Korea.