I 
109TH CONGRESS 
1ST SESSION H. R. 4304 
To designate the Republic of Korea as a program country under the visa 
waiver program established under section 217 of the Immigration and 
Nationality Act. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
NOVEMBER 10, 2005 
Mr. MORAN of Virginia (for himself, Ms. BORDALLO, Mr. MCCOTTER, Mr. 
ABERCROMBIE, Mr. CAPUANO, and Mr. BLUMENAUER) introduced the 
following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary 
A BILL 
To designate the Republic of Korea as a program country 
under the visa waiver program established under section 
217 of the Immigration and Nationality Act. 
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representa-
tives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, 
SECTION 1. FINDINGS. 
The Congress makes the following findings: 
(1) The Republic of Korea has proven dedica-
tion to freedom and friendship with the United 
States. The country has exemplified true dedication 
as allies to the United States against tyranny.
(2) The United States and the country have 
close historical and military ties and the country has 
been designated a major non-NATO ally. 
(3) Korean history provides pioneering exam-
ples of constitutional democracy and religious toler-
ance throughout Asia. 
(4) The United States is home to over 
2,000,000 individuals of Korean heritage and ances-
try. 
(5) Korean immigrants have contributed greatly 
to the success of industry and agriculture in the 
United States. 
(6) Since the end of the Korean Conflict in 
1953, the Republic of Korea has become a stable, 
democratic nation. 
(7) The Republic of Korea has adopted eco-
nomic policies that promote free markets and rapid 
economic growth. The Republic of Korea is the 
world’s eleventh largest economy. 
(8) The Republic of Korea is the seventh larg-
est trading partner of the United States and the 
fifth largest market for United States agricultural 
products. 
(9) The Republic of Korea has been a staunch 
ally and supporter of the efforts of the United
States with respect to the global war on terrorism, 
Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi 
Freedom. 
(10) The Republic of Korea demonstrated its 
commitment to the United States and to the global 
war on terrorism by supporting continued operations 
in Afghanistan. 
(11) The Republic of Korea has further dem-
onstrated its commitment by committing over 3,000 
troops to the cause of freedom and liberty in the 
peacekeeping and reconstruction efforts in Iraq. 
(12) The Secretary of Homeland Security and 
Secretary of State administer the visa waiver pro-
gram, which allows citizens from 27 countries, in-
cluding the French Republic and the Federal Repub-
lic of Germany, to visit the United States as tourists 
without visas. 
(13) The Republic of Korea unilaterally re-
pealed the visa requirement for United States citi-
zens traveling to the Republic of Korea for 90 days 
or less. 
(14) More than 626,000 citizens from the Re-
public of Korea visit the United States each year, 
contributing to the local economies in the areas in 
which they visit.
(15) The United States Embassy in Seoul is 
the busiest visa issuing consulate in the world and 
processes an average of 2,000 visas a day. 
(16) During calendar year 2004, a total of 
626,595 Korean citizens visited the United States, 
an increase of three percent over calendar year 
2003. 
(17) According to the United States Depart-
ment of Commerce, overall tourism dollars spent in 
the United States by tourists from the Republic of 
Korea exceeded $1,000,000,000 in fiscal year 2004. 
(18) Currently all potential Republic of Korea 
travelers seeking to obtain a travel visa to the 
United States must apply at the United States Em-
bassy in Seoul, regardless of their place of residence 
in the Republic of Korea. 
(19) The United States consular affairs office 
at the United States Embassy in Seoul has not been 
able to meet the growing demand for nonimmigrant 
visas to the United States due to lack of space and 
personnel, resulting in unnecessary delays, frustra-
tion, and loss of economic opportunity for the 
United States. 
(20) The Republic of Korea will or has met all 
deadlines set by the Department of Homeland Secu-
rity with respect to passport and biometric stand-
ards. 
SEC. 2. DESIGNATING THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA A VISA 
WAIVER PROGRAM COUNTRY. 
Effective on the date of the enactment of this Act, 
and notwithstanding section 217(c) of the Immigration 
and Nationality Act (8 U.S.C. 1187(c)), the Republic of 
Korea shall be deemed a designated program country for 
purposes of the visa waiver program established under sec-
tion 217 of such Act. 
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