South Korea & US Kick Off First Visa Working Group 🚀
Last Tuesday in Washington, South Korea and the United States launched their inaugural visa working group, aiming to ease visa hurdles for Korean investors in the US. The meeting brought together Jung Ki-hong, South Korea’s rep for overseas protection and consular affairs, and Kevin Kim, senior bureau official for East Asian and Pacific affairs at the US State Department.
Why it matters: This comes after an immigration raid on September 4 at an EV battery plant joint-ventured by Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution, where 316 Korean workers were briefly detained and later released. The raid followed a verbal agreement in July for South Korea to invest $350 billion in the US in exchange for tariff cuts.
Key Takeaways 📝
- Korean Investor Desk: A dedicated desk at the US embassy in Seoul will fast-track visa support.
- Visa Flexibility: Korean companies can use the B-1 short-term business visa for tasks like installing and servicing equipment, and ESTA travelers get the same perks.
- Open Communication: Both sides will link up South Korea’s diplomatic missions in the US with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and US Customs and Border Protection.
What’s next? Smoother visa ops mean Korean startups, automakers, and tech pros can expand in the US without the usual red tape. Get ready for more cross-border collaborations and your next global gig! 🌏💼
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
