Ministry of Foreign Affairs Informs US Missions: "B-1 and ESTA Eligible for Corporate Activities"

by Son Seonhee

Published 02 Oct.2025 10:54(KST)

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs recently provided guidance to all regional missions in the United States regarding the scope of use for short-term business (B-1) visas and the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), as discussed in the recent Korea-US Visa Working Group.

On the 2nd, Kim Sunyoung, Director of the Quantum Economy and Diplomacy Bureau (top left), is holding an economic officers meeting with officials from 14 US regional missions.

On October 2, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that it had held an economic officers meeting, presided over by Kim Sunyoung, Director of the Quantum Economy and Diplomacy Bureau, with the participation of all US regional missions. The meeting was attended by officials from a total of 14 US regional missions, including the Embassy in the United States, nine Consulates General in cities such as New York, Los Angeles, and Atlanta, and four branch offices.

The meeting addressed ways to resolve visa-related challenges faced by Korean companies in order to ensure a stable investment environment in the United States, and explored ways for the Ministry and the missions to collaborate organically. The plan to establish a dedicated "Korean Investor Desk" at the US Embassy in Korea, which was agreed upon by both countries in the working group, was also introduced to enhance the understanding of economic officers who support companies on the front lines in the United States.

Director Kim emphasized, "As the rapid increase in our companies' investments in the United States inevitably leads to a surge in personnel exchanges, it is more important than ever to create a stable environment for our companies to stay." In particular, he urged economic officers to proactively and independently support companies at each mission by actively establishing mutual lines of contact between Korean missions and US immigration enforcement agencies, such as the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the Customs and Border Protection (CBP), as agreed upon in the Visa Working Group meeting.

An official from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "As both sides have agreed to hold a follow-up meeting of the Korea-US Business Visit and Visa Working Group as soon as possible, we will continue to seek additional institutional improvements to provide a stable investment environment for our companies." The official added, "We will also work to establish a close cooperation system with our missions to actively address challenges faced by our companies and enhance their convenience."