US Allows South Korean Workers at Investment Sites Under Temporary Visas After Raid

The United States has agreed to allow South Korean workers to install, service, and repair equipment at American investment sites using existing temporary visas such as ESTA and B-1, following a massive immigration raid at a Hyundai battery facility in Georgia that resulted in hundreds of arrests. Despite this accommodation, U.S. officials have not offered expanded visa categories for skilled South Korean workers, citing practical legislative constraints tied to immigration sensitivities in Congress. To improve visa coordination, a dedicated visa section for South Korean businesses will be established at the U.S. embassy in Seoul, and new communication channels will be opened between U.S. immigration authorities and South Korean missions. The U.S. reaffirmed its commitment to advancing trade and investment partnerships with South Korea, a leading foreign investor, while the working group established to address these issues will continue its discussions. South Korea has long advocated for legislation to create or expand visa categories for skilled nationals, but progress remains difficult due to the political complexities around immigration in the U.S. The recent developments aim to ease the challenges specialized South Korean workers face when obtaining appropriate U.S. visas for investment site work.