Press Release

U.S. EMBASSY INITIATES PROJECT TO REDUCE FRAUD, BRING KOREA CLOSER TO VISA WAIVER PROGRAM

In order to enhance and simplify the visa process experience for all applicants, the U.S. Embassy has placed a series of signs in its queuing area reminding applicants that over 96% of all visa applications were approved last year and that the use of fraudulent documents is both unhelpful and unlawful, and could result in a lifetime travel ban to the U.S.  The Embassy initiated this project in order to reduce the number of fraudulent applications that it receives, in the hopes of moving Korea closer to meeting the requirements of the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (VWP).

Visa brokers often try to convince applicants that it is hard to get a U.S. visa.  In fact, most applicants legitimately qualify for U.S. visas, but many applicants believe that they need to lie in order to get a visa.  Last year, the U.S. Embassy rejected over 600 applications because they contained or presented fraudulent information.

One condition for a country to join the VWP is that its visa refusal rate must be below 3%.  The U.S. Embassy believes that if fraud can be reduced, the visa refusal rate will decrease as well, thus helping Korea move closer to entry in the VWP.  The U.S. Embassy hopes that Korean applicants will avoid working with visa brokers and simply tell the truth during the visa application process, as that is the best way to obtain a visa.

The Embassy has also posted a copy of the Ambassador’s message to applicants on its website at: http://seoul.usembassy.gov/non-immigrant_visas.html