Table of Visas for Korean Government officials and employees

Visa

Purpose

Passport

MRV fee

Eligible applicants

A1 A2

Official duties in U.S., permanent assignment or temporary travel

diplomatic, official

No fee

Central govt officials and accompanying immediate family members

G1 G2 G3 G4

Assigned to or employee of international organization

diplomatic,official & regular (G4 applicants only)

No fee

Anyone assigned by Korean govt or individually employed or invited by an international organization in U. S. and accompanying family members

C3

in transit

diplomatic, official

No fee

Central govt officials and accompanying immediate family

MRV FEE: A, C3, and G visa applicants, and diplomatic passport holders applying for any visa, are exempt from the MRV fee. All other visa applicants must pay the MRV fee and attach the receipt. The MRV fee is nonrefundable, even if paid in error.

BIOMETRIC IDENTIFIER COLLECTION: A, C3, and G visa applicants are not required to be fingerscanned. All other visa applicants are required to be finger scanned. If your left or right index finger is injured (i.e. cut, stitched, bandaged, etc.), we highly recommend that you schedule your interview for a day after your finger has healed. If we are unable to digitally scan your index fingerprint, we will not be able to process your application and you may be required to return to the Embassy.

How Do I Apply?

A1, A2, C3 and G1, G2, G3, G4 visa applicants may apply by sending the required documents listed below through DHL Ilyang (1588-0002) or Hanjin (1588-0011) couriers or may drop off their applications at the NIV reception window at 11:00 am or 3:00 pm, any weekday. The U.S. Embassy is closed on both U.S. and Korean holidays, and all weekends.

The following applicants and their immediate family members who have a diplomatic note for their travel to the U.S. may apply by e-mailing seoulrp@state.gov, and using the Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (E-form DS-156). Your interview request e-mail must include the full names of all the applicants who appear on the diplomatic note, Korean identification numbers and three dates you and your family are available to come to the Embassy for an interview.

ROK Diplomats.

Diplomats assigned to missions recognized by the ROK.

Members of the ROK National Assembly.

Central government (ministry employees) official passport holders who are at the Director-General level and above.

Provincial governors.

Mayors of the special metropolitan areas of Seoul, Busan, Daegu, Daejeon, Incheon, Ulsan and Gwangju.

At or above level of judges of the District Court.

Military officers holding a rank of at least brigadier general and naval officers holding a rank of at least that of a rear admiral.

If you do not have one of the above ranks, you must schedule an interview through Visa Information Web Services at www.us-visaservices.com. For example, if you will be a student in the U.S., you must apply for a student (F) visa. If you are traveling to the U.S. on a personal trip, you must apply for a visitor (B) visa.

Domestic servants applying for A3 and G5 visas must follow the visitor (B) visa instructions and schedule an interview through Visa Information Web Services at www.us-visaservices.com. A3 and G5 applicants are required to be interviewed and finger scanned at the time of their appointment.

Required Documents

A signed passport valid for more than six months.

A completed and signed Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (E-form DS-156 with photo (See "photo requirements" for the DS-156) for each applicant.

A completed Supplemental Nonimmigrant Visa Application (DS-157) for each applicant.

A diplomatic note from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT) for central government officials traveling on official business or from your diplomatic mission in Seoul, or a letter of explanation for other applicants. For G4 visa applicants with regular passports, an original copy of your letter of employment from the international organization you will be working for.

A Korean official seeking an official visa, who is not assigned to the Blue House or is not an employee of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MOFAT), must submit a letter explaining the nature of the intended travel to the U.S. If the travel is to a non-Korean government entity in the U.S., please also submit a copy of the invitation letter that includes the schedule, the purpose of travel and point of contact in the U.S.

A courier service receipt from DHL Ilyang: 1588-0002 or Hanjin: 1588-0011.

You can now track the delivery of your passport on-line!

Click on a logo for more information or follow this link

All non-English documents must be translated into English.

Diplomatic/Official ("A") visa:
Any Korean central government employee entering the U. S. on official business for the central government of the Republic of Korea. "A" visas are unavailable to employees of quasi-governmental bodies and provincial or local governments even if on official travel. Employees of the Korean central government, military or civilian, may qualify for "A-2 temporary duty (TDY)" visas if going to the U.S. for short periods of temporary official duty. TDY activities include training with the U.S. armed forces, temporary work at the Korean Embassy or a Korean Consulate, direct talks with the U.S. government or attendance at meetings on the orders of the Korean central government. "A-2 TDY" visas are exempt from the MRV fee.

Visitor ("B") visa:
Anyone, including Korean central government officials traveling on a diplomatic or official passport, who will enter the U.S. for personal affairs, commercial, competitive business, tourism or is en route to another destination. Provincial and local government officials, even if traveling to perform official duties, are eligible only for a "B" visa, not an "A" visa.

Student ("F") visa:
Anyone, including government officials traveling on a diplomatic or official passport, who will study fulltime in the U.S., must qualify for an "F" visa.

International Organization ("G") visa:
Anyone who will represent the Korean Government at, or who will work directly for, an international organization based in the U.S. (e.g. UN, IMF, World Bank) must qualify for a "G" visa, which is exempt from the MRV fee.

Exchange ("J") visa:
Anyone, including central government officials traveling on a diplomatic or official passport, seeking to enter the U.S. for an educational exchange or research program must qualify for a "J" visa.

If you have a question about your status as a Korean government official seeking a visa, before you apply please inquire by fax at 02-725-6843 or e-mail at seoulniv@state.gov, stating your question, office, contact person's name, telephone and fax number, and email address.

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 ualifying 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 October 19, 2004
wwwh1430.html