US eases visa rules for South Koreans after raid but no clear solution in sight

The US has agreed to allow South Koreans to work to set up facilities at US investment sites under existing temporary visas and open new channels to help its ally send workers to do business there, according to Seoul’s foreign ministry.

But US officials at a working group meeting offered no new answers to South Korea’s argument for a wider access to US visas for specialty workers despite reaffirming a commitment to advance trade and investment partnership, the ministry said on Wednesday.

The US side, made up of Departments of State, Homeland Security and Commerce officials, made clear that South Korean workers could work to install, service and repair equipment needed as part of South Korean business investment in the US, it said.

A new section dedicated for visas related to South Korean businesses will be set up at the US embassy in Seoul and US immigration authorities will open a new channel with South Korean missions to better coordinate visa matters.

The working group was set up in the aftermath of a massive immigration raid at a Hyundai Motor car battery facility under construction in the US state of Georgia last month, when hundreds of South Korean workers were arrested.

  

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