[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4304 Introduced in House (IH)]







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 Representatives 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 dedication 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 examples of 
        constitutional democracy and religious tolerance throughout 
        Asia.
            (4) The United States is home to over 2,000,000 individuals 
        of Korean heritage and ancestry.
            (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 economic 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 largest 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 demonstrated 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 program, which allows citizens 
        from 27 countries, including the French Republic and the 
        Federal Republic of Germany, to visit the United States as 
        tourists without visas.
            (13) The Republic of Korea unilaterally repealed the visa 
        requirement for United States citizens traveling to the 
        Republic of Korea for 90 days or less.
            (14) More than 626,000 citizens from the Republic 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 Department 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 Embassy 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, frustration, 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 Security with respect to 
        passport and biometric standards.

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 section 217 of such Act.
                                 <all>