H.R. 4687: Partner with Korea Act

The "Partner with Korea Act" is a bill focused on expanding opportunities for highly-skilled workers from South Korea to live and work in the United States. The legislation proposes several changes to existing immigration laws.

Key Provisions

Reciprocal High-Skilled Visas

The bill modifies the Immigration and Nationality Act to introduce a new category of visa specifically for nationals of South Korea. This new visa would allow South Korean professionals to enter the U.S. to perform services in what is defined as a "specialty occupation." A specialty occupation typically requires specialized knowledge and at least a bachelor's degree or its equivalent in a specific field.

Secretary of Labor Certification

Before South Korean nationals can be granted this new visa, their potential employers in the U.S. must file an attestation with the Secretary of Labor. This attestation is a formal statement certifying that hiring the foreign worker does not displace U.S. workers and complies with labor laws.

Numerical Limitations

The bill sets a cap on the number of new visas issued each fiscal year. Specifically, it limits the number of these visas to 15,000 per year for South Korean professionals. This limit only applies to the principal applicants and does not include their spouses or children.

Definition Updates

It updates the definition of “specialty occupation” in the legislation to include the new visa category, ensuring that the framework supports these skilled professionals. This reinforces the requirements that they possess the necessary qualifications and expertise in their respective fields.

Amendments to Existing Law

The bill also includes amendments to existing legislation related to labor attestation and visa classifications to clarify the references to South Korean nationals. This ensures that the new category fits within the broader context of U.S. immigration law while extending benefits to skilled workers from South Korea.

Relevant Companies

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