Press Releases 04~05

U.S. Embassy Seoul And State Of Hawaii Announce: Aloha Korean Honeymooners’ Travel Program

September 14, 2005
05-35

U.S. Embassy Seoul, the Hawaii Tourism Authority and the Governor of Hawaii are pleased to announce a campaign to encourage honeymoon travel to Hawaii.

“This important campaign is a result of Governor Lingle and my discussions when she was in Korea earlier this year. Increasing travel to the United States is an important initiative of the embassy and we are pleased that we were able to enlist the help and support of the State of Hawaii and private businesses to create and implement the Aloha Korea Honeymoon Travel Program,” said Consul General Michael D. Kirby.

Recognizing the appeal of one of America’s most romantic states, we are pleased to encourage Korean honeymooners to come to Hawaii. “This important campaign demonstrates Hawaii’s continued commitment to strengthen our relationship with the people of South Korea and the U.S. Embassy in Seoul. By minimizing the paperwork and accelerating the visa application process, we will be able to build on the relationships between Korea and Hawaii. We look forward to welcoming Korean honeymooners to the most romantic spot on earth, Hawaii,” said Hawaii State Governor Linda Lingle.

We recognize that one impediment to spending a honeymoon in Hawaii is the perceived difficulty of scheduling a visitor (B) visa appointment. To reduce anxiety of honeymooners during a time already filled with stress, we have made available up to 1,200 open visa appointments every month solely for Koreans intending to spend their honeymoon in Hawaii.

Using participating travel agencies the program is designed to minimize paperwork and speed the appointment process. Hawaii-bound honeymooners only need to book their honeymoon package and travel through Hanjin Travel, Hyundai Dream Tour, Lotte Travel, Pan Korea, Sejoong Travel and SK Tourvis.

Hawaii-bound honeymooners will get a 30-day open appointment to allow them to apply for an appropriate visa on the day and time of their choice.

Each applicant must bring only the following documents to the appointment:
• valid passport;
• application forms (DS156/157);
• machine readable visa fee receipt from Shinhan Bank;
• visa photograph; and
• travel agent confirmation.

Anyone who wishes to spend a honeymoon in Hawaii is eligible, except an applicant who:
• was previously denied a visa or entry into the U.S.;
• is not a Korean citizen with a full validity passport;
• is intending another destination besides Hawaii;
• is not the actual husband and wife; or
• is intending some other purpose in the U.S. besides a honeymoon in Hawaii.

We look forward to welcoming more Korean visitors to the U.S. and will continue to work with the State of Hawaii to expand tourism by Koreans to those beautiful islands.