U.S. and South Korea Reach Agreement to Ease Visa Rules for Korean Engineers

The U.S. government has agreed to permit South Korean engineers traveling under short-term business visas or visa waiver programs to engage in activities related to building factories on American soil, according to a statement from South Korean officials on Wednesday.

This agreement was finalized in Washington on Tuesday amid diplomatic discussions addressing visa complications that arose after a large-scale immigration enforcement action at an electric vehicle battery factory construction site in Ellabell, Georgia. The raid, which resulted in the arrest of 317 South Korean workers, sparked significant outrage from Seoul.

Hyundai Motor Group and LG Energy Solution, two major South Korean corporations, had deployed numerous engineers to assist in the factory's construction as part of a joint venture. These engineers primarily entered the U.S. on short-term B-1 business visas or through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) visa waiver program.

U.S. immigration authorities accused these workers of unauthorized employment during the raid. After spending approximately one week in detention, all but one of the detained engineers were repatriated on a chartered flight.

Following the enforcement action in Georgia, South Korean officials cautioned that their companies might reconsider investments in the United States unless visa restrictions for their technical staff were addressed.

During the Tuesday meeting, U.S. officials confirmed that individuals entering the U.S. on B-1 visas or via ESTA would be authorized to install, service, or repair equipment purchased from abroad as part of constructing South Korean manufacturing facilities on American soil, according to the South Korean foreign ministry.

Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau expressed that the U.S. welcomes foreign engineers contributing to the development of South Korean plants. He also committed to establishing a dedicated desk at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul to expedite visa processing for these workers.

These commitments are anticipated to reassure South Korean companies and encourage the redeployment of engineers to resume construction at the Georgia factory site.

LG Energy Solution issued a statement on Wednesday affirming its intention to proceed with constructing and operating its plant in the United States under the newly agreed terms. Most of the engineers detained during the September 4 raid were affiliated with LG or its subcontractors.

In addition to ESTA and B-1 visas, South Korean firms have occasionally utilized B-2 tourist visas to bring engineers into the U.S., citing insufficient issuance of longer-term work visas. This challenge persists even as the U.S. has encouraged South Korean investment in new factories, sometimes leveraging tariff threats to secure commitments.

Some of the engineers returned to South Korea reported lasting trauma from their detention and expressed reluctance to return to their assignments. Others indicated willingness to resume work contingent on resolution of visa issues by both governments.