I
104TH CONGRESS
1ST SESSION
H. R. 2582
To designate the Republic of Korea as a pilot program country for one
year under the Immigration and Nationality Act.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
NOVEMBER 2, 1995
Mr. KIM introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee
on the Judiciary
A BILL
To designate the Republic of Korea as a pilot program
country for one year under the Immigration and Nation-
ality 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) In 1994, total United States exports to the
Republic of Korea were $14,800,000,000, with im-
ports of $17,100,000,000, a trade surplus of
$3,700,000,000, and cumulative direct investment of
$1,200,000,000.
(5) There is an 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 daily.
(6) During fiscal year 1993, a total of 408,213
Korean citizens visited the United States as tourists,
making the Republic of Korea the twelfth highest
source country for tourism in the United States, an
increase of 20 percent over fiscal year 1992.
(7) 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.
(8) It is estimated that for fiscal year 1995, ar-
rivals from the Republic of Korea will reach more
than 600,000, an increase of over 900 percent from
fiscal 
year 
1987 
arrivals, 
and 
more 
than
$1,000,000,000 in tourist spending.
(9) Currently, all potential Republic of Korea
travellers seeking to obtain a travel visa must apply
at the United States Embassy in Seoul, regardless
of their place of residence in the Republic of Korea.
(10) 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.
(11) During the past several months, numerous
press reports and media stories have centered
around the growing dissatisfaction of the South Ko-
rean people in relation to such delays and the lack
of adequate protection against the natural elements.
(12) The commitment of the United States to
the Republic of Korea has been enhanced and solidi-
fied by the recent visit of President Kim to the
United States.
(13) The Republic of South 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
VISA WAIVER PILOT PROGRAM COUNTRY.
(a) IN GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, beginning 60 days after the date of the enact-
ment of this Act, the Republic of Korea shall be des-
ignated for one year as a visa waiver pilot program coun-
try for purposes of section 217 of the Immigration and
Nationality 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.—Not later than one
year after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Sec-
retary of State and the Attorney General shall compile and
submit to the Congress a report evaluating the visa waiver
pilot program country designation under subsection (a)
and the qualifications of the Republic of Korea for des-
ignation under the provisions of section 217 of the Immi-
gration and Nationality Act.
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