South Korean citizens moving to United States of America
South Korea has E-1/E-2 treaty access and the dedicated E-3 Professional visa (created via the US-Korea FTA framework has not yet been activated — the E-3 visa proper is Australia-only). H-1B and L-1 are the main temporary routes.
We cover 14 United States routes — 5 can be started without a job offer, and 6 lead to permanent residence.
Tourist entry
Yes. South Korean nationals can enter United States of America without a visa for tourism, typically up to 90 days. This does not confer the right to work, study long-term, or establish residence.
Treaty & bilateral memberships
- US E-1/E-2 Treaty
Consular processing: Seoul
What this means for South Korean citizens
Of the 14 United States of America routes we cover, 5 can be started without an employer sponsor and 6 can lead to permanent residence. As South Korean citizens, you may also have access to 1 treaty route (E-2 Treaty Investor) that most nationalities cannot use. Relevant memberships: US E-1/E-2 Treaty. Expect a language test or qualification-recognition step, since language alignment is only partial.
Headline figures — H-1B Specialty Occupation
Computed from our continuously re-verified, primary-sourced data. Indicative, not legal advice.
Salary you must earn
US$62,000/yr
H-1B — Level 1 prevailing wage (median across SOC codes)
Verified 1 July 2024 · DOL — Foreign Labor Certification wage search →
Government cost
US$3,595
Initial H-1B, standard employer (>25 FTE, not H-1B-dependent), no premium
H-4 dependants pay a $470 I-539 filing fee (each) plus $85 biometrics. Consular DS-160 fee is $205 each where applicable.
Verified 1 June 2026 · USCIS — Fee Schedule (Form G-1055) →
How long it takes
2 months – 8 months
H-1B I-129 petitions commonly take 2–8 months at USCIS service centers; Premium Processing ($2,965) resolves within 15 business days.
Verified 1 June 2026 · USCIS — Case Processing Times →
Treaty and bilateral routes
These routes are available to South Korean applicants under specific bilateral agreements.
Routes with nationality-specific notes
Each link opens the South Korean-specific guide for that route.
All United States of America routes open to South Korean applicants
General routes available to all nationalities. Click any to read the full guide.
H-1B Specialty Occupation
Employer-sponsored non-immigrant visa for specialty occupations requiring a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Job offer required · Temporary
L-1A Intracompany Transferee (Executive or Manager)
Intracompany transfer for executives or managers moving to a US office of a related multinational employer.
Job offer required · Temporary
L-1B Intracompany Transferee (Specialised Knowledge)
Intracompany transfer for employees with specialised knowledge of the employer’s products, services, or processes.
Job offer required · Temporary
O-1 Individuals with Extraordinary Ability or Achievement
Visa for individuals with extraordinary ability in sciences, education, business, athletics (O-1A) or the arts/film/television (O-1B).
Job offer required · Temporary
EB-1A Extraordinary Ability (Immigrant)
Employment-based first-preference green card for individuals with extraordinary ability — self-petitionable.
No job offer needed · Leads to permanent residence
EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW)
Second-preference green card with a waiver of the job offer and PERM labor certification, where the beneficiary’s work is in the US national interest.
No job offer needed · Leads to permanent residence
EB-3 Skilled, Professional, and Other Workers
Third-preference employment-based green card requiring employer sponsorship and PERM labor certification.
Job offer required · Leads to permanent residence
F-1 Student Visa (with OPT and STEM OPT)
Non-immigrant student visa for academic study at a SEVP-certified institution, with post-study OPT employment authorisation.
No job offer needed · Temporary
J-1 Exchange Visitor
Exchange visitor visa covering academic scholars, students, trainees, interns, researchers, au pairs, and other exchange programs.
Job offer required · Temporary
TN USMCA Professionals (Canada & Mexico)
Non-immigrant work visa under USMCA for Canadian and Mexican citizens in listed professions.
Job offer required · Temporary
K-1 Fiancé(e) of US Citizen
Non-immigrant visa allowing the fiancé(e) of a US citizen to enter the US to marry within 90 days and then apply for a green card.
Job offer required · Leads to permanent residence
Spouse of US Citizen or Green Card Holder (IR1/CR1 & F2A)
Permanent residence for the spouse of a US citizen (IR1/CR1) or lawful permanent resident (F2A preference).
Job offer required · Leads to permanent residence
Recent policy changes affecting this route
What changed most recently on this route — each linked to its primary government source.
- 12 January 2026In force 1 March 2026
US: premium processing rises to $2,965 and H-1B moves to wage-weighted selection
Two USCIS changes land for the FY2027 H-1B season: the Form I-907 premium-processing fee rises with inflation, and cap-subject H-1B selection switches from a random lottery to a wage-weighted process.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services → - 1 April 2024In force 1 April 2024
USCIS final fee rule takes effect
USCIS implemented its first major fee schedule adjustment in nearly a decade, including differentiated H-1B filing fees by employer type.
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services →
Frequently asked questions
Can South Korean citizens enter United States of America without a visa?+
Yes. South Korean nationals can enter United States of America without a visa for tourism, typically up to 90 days. This does not confer the right to work, study long-term, or establish residence.
Which United States of America visa routes are best suited to South Korean applicants?+
Treaty routes (E-2 Treaty Investor) apply specifically to South Korean nationals. Common general routes used by South Korean applicants include EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program. South Korea has E-1/E-2 treaty access and the dedicated E-3 Professional visa (created via the US-Korea FTA framework has not yet been activated — the E-3 visa proper is Australia-only). H-1B and L-1 are the main temporary routes.
Where do South Korean applicants typically apply for a United States of America visa?+
Applications are typically processed at Seoul. Some digital and in-country applications can be filed directly with United States of America's immigration authority without a consular visit.
Do South Korean citizens need a job offer to move to United States of America?+
Not necessarily. 5 of the 14 United States of America routes we cover can be started without an employer sponsor, while the rest need a sponsoring employer or job offer. If you do not have an offer yet, the no-sponsor routes are the place to start.
Can South Korean citizens get permanent residence in United States of America?+
Yes. 6 of the 14 United States of America routes we cover lead toward settlement or permanent residence; the others are temporary. Timelines vary by route, so check the settlement detail on each visa page.
How much does the H-1B Specialty Occupation cost for a South Korean applicant?+
Government fees for the worked example (Initial H-1B, standard employer (>25 FTE, not H-1B-dependent), no premium) total about US$3,595. H-4 dependants pay a $470 I-539 filing fee (each) plus $85 biometrics. Consular DS-160 fee is $205 each where applicable. Figures from USCIS — Fee Schedule (Form G-1055), verified 1 June 2026. Treat these as indicative — confirm the current schedule on the official source before budgeting.
What salary do South Korean applicants need for the H-1B Specialty Occupation?+
The H-1B — Level 1 prevailing wage (median across SOC codes) floor is US$62,000/yr, effective 1 July 2024 (DOL — Foreign Labor Certification wage search). Your occupation's published going rate may bind higher — whichever is greater applies.
How long does the H-1B Specialty Occupation take to process from South Korea?+
The typical published decision window is 2 months – 8 months. South Korean applicants usually file via Seoul, and consular-post backlogs can add to the wait. Source: USCIS — Case Processing Times, verified 1 June 2026.