Visitor ( B1 / B2 )

If you are going to visit for business or pleasure, you must apply by interview for your B1/B2 visa through Visa Information Web Services at www.us-visaservices.com or by calling 003-08-131-420 from within Korea or 866-222-1107 within the U.S. (open M-F, 8:30 AM-5:00 PM Korean standard time, closed on Korean and U.S. holidays). Applicants who are between the ages of 55 and 79 may schedule an expedited appointment that is valid for 30 days by calling 003-08-131-420.

The below categories DO NOT need to apply by interview:

• Applicants applying before their 14th birthday, if parent(s) hold a valid U.S. visa.
• Applicants applying on/after their 80th birthday.

A child 13 years old or younger DOES NOT need to come to the Embassy for a nonimmigrant visa (NIV) interview. The child's parent(s) may bring in the child's application at the time of their interview and apply on the child's behalf.

Please click here for a list of B visa application materials.  Please bring all the required application materials fully prepared to your scheduled appointment.

You may apply without an appointment if your travel is due to a genuine emergency such as a death or critical illness of an immediate relative.  During working hours please come to the Nonimmigrant Visa (NIV) Reception Window with the B visa application materials and a death certificate or medical doctor's explanation.  The NIV Reception Window is open between 8:30-11:00 and 12:30-3:30, Monday through Friday. The Embassy is closed on both U.S. and Korean holidays. There is no visa processing when we are closed. You will be interviewed and finger scanned at the time of your application.  We cannot guarantee issuance or same-day processing.  Please understand if there are delays.

A B1/B2 visa is valid to apply for entry into the U.S. for short-term business or pleasure until it reaches its expiration date, even if the visa was issued prior to the collection of biometric identifiers. An unexpired visa is still valid in an expired passport. DO NOT REMOVE the visa or the page on which it appears in your expired passport. Simply present both your old and new passports to immigration inspectors upon arrival in the U.S.

Applicants applying for a B visa renewal must follow the same procedures as first-time applicants.  Renewal applicants must schedule an interview online at www.us-visaservices.com or by calling 003-08-131-420 within Korea or by calling 003-08-131-420 within Korea (M-F, 8:30 AM-5:00 PM, except Korean and U.S. holidays). All B visa application materials must be brought with the applicant to his/her scheduled appointment.

If you have ever lost or had your passport stolen that contains a valid U.S. visa, the U.S. visa in that passport is invalid even if you recover the passport. Do not use that visa to travel to the United States.  You must apply for a new visa.  Please note that if you are found eligible, a limited one-year validity visa will be issued for the first year.

To apply for a new visa, please schedule an interview online at www.us-visaservices.com or by calling 003-08-131-420 within Korea or 866-222-1107 from within the U.S. (open M-F, 8:30 AM-5:00 PM Korean standard time, closed on Korean and U.S. holidays).

Please submit the B visa application materials, as well as the following:

• Entry/exit records from Korean Immigration. (See "How to Obtain a Certificate of Entry/Exit Record")
• A signed and dated police report, if available.
• A copy of your lost/stolen U.S. visa, if available. 
  

For more information, or to schedule an appointment, please go to USA VISA Information Services at http://www.us-visaservices.com. USA VISA Information Services is available 24 hours a day, and can be accessed from both inside and outside of Korea.

For nonimmigrant visa (NIV) inquiries (excluding E, H, L, O, P, Q visa inquiries), please e-mail us at : seoulniv@state.gov. For E, H, L, O, P, Q visa inquiries, please e-mail us at : seoulgoldteam@state.gov.The applicant, not the U.S. Government, assumes full responsibility for all documents and materials submitted in connection with any consular or visa matter, and for qualifying for the required visa or travel document in time to meet the applicant's needs.

This is an official U.S. Government source of information on the WWW. Inclusion of non-U.S. Government links or information does not imply endorsement of contents. 

Updated 10 April 2008