I
105TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 203
To designate the Republic of Korea as a visa waiver pilot program country
for one year under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY 7, 1997
Mr. KIM (for himself, Mr. ABERCROMBIE, and Mr. UNDERWOOD) introduced
the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary
A BILL
To designate the Republic of Korea as a visa waiver pilot
program country for one year under 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. CONGRESSIONAL FINDINGS.
The Congress makes the following findings:
(1) The Republic of Korea and the United
States have close historical and military ties.
(2) The Republic of Korea has been designated
as a major non-NATO ally.
(3) The Republic of Korea is the sixth largest
trading partner of the United States.
(4) There is increasing demand by citizens of
the Republic of Korea to visit the United States,
with an increased demand for nonimmigrant visas
from a 1982 total of 800 to a 1995 total of over
2,000 applications per day.
(5) During calendar year 1995, a total of
592,000 Korean citizens visited the United States,
an increase of 19 percent over calendar year 1994.
(6) According to the United States Department
of Commerce, overall tourism dollars spent in the
United States by tourists from the Republic of
Korea exceeded $680,000,000 in fiscal year 1993.
(7) According to the United States Census Bu-
reau, in 1995 the United States exported goods val-
ued at $25,379,874,000 to the Republic of Korea,
and imported goods valued at $24,183,941,000 from
the Republic of Korea, a trade surplus of nearly
$1,200,000,000.
(8) 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.
(9) 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.
(10) During the past year numerous press re-
ports and media stories have centered around the
growing dissatisfaction of the South Korean people
in relation to such delays and the lack of adequate
protection against the natural elements.
(11) The Republic of Korea has a unique place
of importance with respect to the United States
under the provisions of the United States-North
Korea Agreed Framework.
SEC. 2. DESIGNATION OF THE REPUBLIC OF KOREA AS A
VISA WAIVER PILOT PROGRAM COUNTRY.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, beginning 60 days after date of enactment
of this Act, the Republic of Korea shall be designated for
one year as a visa waiver pilot program country for the
purposes of section 217 of the Immigration and National-
ity Act.
(b) AUTHORITY TO DESIGNATE.—Notwithstanding
any other provision of law, the requirements for designa-
tion of a country under section 217 of the Immigration
and Nationality Act shall not apply to any designation of
the Republic of Korea as a visa waiver pilot program coun-
try under such section.
(c) REPORT REQUIREMENTS.—No later than one
year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary
of State and the Attorney General shall compile and sub-
mit to Congress a report evaluating the visa waiver pilot
program country designation under subsection (a) and the
qualifications of the Republic of Korea for designation
under the provisions of section 217 of the Immigration
and Nationality Act.
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