South Korea establishes a special team to address issues in the U.S. visa process, following a large-scale detention incident
South Korea Establishes Task Force to Address US Visa Issues for Investors
The South Korean government has formed a "pan-government task force for addressing US visa issues" following the mass detention of South Korean workers by US immigration authorities. The move comes as the Lee Jae Myung administration pledges an additional $350 billion in investment under a new trade framework signed in July, and South Korean companies have committed $150 billion in US investments at the Aug. 25 summit in Washington.
The task force aims to improve visa procedures for Korean companies investing in the US, addressing a concern about insufficient US work visa options for Korean employees. South Koreans can work in the US on H-1B visas, but only about 2,000 are granted each year, significantly less than the H-1B cap of around 85,000 slots.
The majority of the detained Korean workers entered the US on nonimmigrant short-term business visas (B-1 visas or Electronic System for Travel Authorization permits). The formation of the task force is a response to these issues, with the goal of ensuring that the opinions of Korean companies are fully reflected in consultations with the US and allowing the public and private sectors to respond together.
During the first plenary meeting of the task force, which took place on Thursday, participants discussed matters necessary for consultations with the US, including Korean companies' difficulties in visa issuance, their demand and plans for dispatching personnel. The meeting was attended by representatives from the Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy, and the Ministry of SMEs and Startups, as well as the Korea Enterprises Federation and the Korea Federation of Small and Medium Businesses.
The task force has also decided to hold regular meetings to discuss whole-of-government responses to resolve difficulties related to the entry of personnel from Korean companies investing in the US. Additionally, plans for consultations with the US were discussed, including the items the Korean side will raise with the US side to address visa issues.
The pan-government task force aims to improve visa procedures for Korean companies investing in the US, as South Korea was the largest foreign investor in the US in 2023, with $21.5 billion invested. The task force will work to ensure that Korean companies can continue to invest in the US and grow their operations in the country, overcoming the challenges posed by insufficient US work visa options for Korean employees.
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