Welcome to the Visa Section!

Paul Boyd, Consul General

The Consular Section of the U.S. Embassy in Seoul wants to help you have an enjoyable and productive trip to the United States. Whether you plan to visit the United States temporarily with a nonimmigrant visa, or you plan to relocate permanently with an immigrant visa, we are committed to making the visa application process as smooth and efficient as possible.

Most Koreans traveling on business or tourism for less than 90 days do not require a visa and may use the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) instead.  For information regarding travel without a visa, please visit our Visa Waiver Program page for more details. 

Nonimmigrant visas are available for those traveling to the U.S. to study, work, or participate in an exchange program for a specific period of time.  Immigrant visas are for those who plan to live and work permanently in the United States. Anyone who wishes to enter the United States to reside there permanently must apply for an immigrant visa.

I encourage you to read these pages carefully, as they contain all the information you need to prepare your application for travel to the United States. Just as there are many good reasons to visit the United States, there are many different types of visa applications, and this website explains them all.

I hope the information on our website is the beginning of an enjoyable visit to the United States.

Paul Boyd
Consul General