Partner with Korea Act
- Bill Number
- H.R. 4687
- Origin Chamber
- House
- Congress
- 119th Congress, Session 1
- Policy Area
- Immigration
- Status
- Introduced
- Latest Action
- 2025-07-23: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- Last Updated
- 2026-06-25T08:08:51Z
AI-Generated Summary
Purpose
The "Partner with Korea Act" (H.R. 4687) aims to expand U.S. visa options for high-skilled workers from South Korea by creating a new category under the E visa program. This promotes reciprocity in trade and labor agreements, allowing South Korean nationals to work temporarily in the U.S. in specialized jobs, similar to provisions for other allied countries.
Key Provisions
- New Visa Category: Adds a subcategory (E-iv) to the E nonimmigrant visa for South Korean nationals to perform services in a "specialty occupation" (jobs requiring specialized knowledge or skills, typically needing at least a bachelor's degree or equivalent).
- Certification and Attestation Requirements: Employers must file an attestation with the Secretary of Labor, affirming compliance with wage and working condition standards. The Labor Secretary certifies this to the Secretaries of Homeland Security and State before visa approval.
- Numerical Limit: Caps approvals at 15,000 initial visas per fiscal year, applying only to principal workers (not spouses or children).
- Definition Updates: Expands the legal definition of "specialty occupation" to include this new visa type and adjusts related attestation rules to cover South Korean applicants.
Significant Changes to Existing Law
- Amends Section 101(a)(15)(E) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) by inserting a new clause for South Korean specialty workers, building on existing E visa subclauses for treaty traders and investors.
- Adds a new paragraph to Section 214(g) of the INA to impose the 15,000 annual cap, which did not previously exist for this specific nationality-based subcategory.
- Modifies Section 214(i)(1) and Section 212(t) of the INA to integrate the new category into definitions and employer attestation processes, mirroring rules from the U.S.-Chile Free Trade Agreement but tailored for South Korea.
Potential Impacts
- Government Agencies: Increases workload for the Departments of Labor (certifications), Homeland Security (visa adjudications), and State (consular processing), potentially requiring updated guidance or systems to handle the new cap and attestations.
- Citizens and Employers: U.S. businesses, especially in tech, engineering, or other high-skill sectors, gain easier access to South Korean talent without competing in the broader H-1B visa lottery, potentially boosting innovation and filling labor shortages.
- International Relations: Strengthens U.S.-South Korea ties by reciprocating visa benefits, similar to those for Australia and Chile, fostering economic partnerships under free trade frameworks.
Main Stakeholders Affected
- South Korean Nationals: Gain a dedicated pathway for temporary work in specialty roles, with streamlined processes compared to general skilled worker visas.
- U.S. Employers: Benefit from hiring qualified South Korean professionals, subject to the annual cap and labor protections.
- U.S. Government Agencies: Departments of Labor, Homeland Security, and State must implement and enforce the new rules.
- Broader U.S. Workforce: May see indirect effects on job competition in high-skill fields, balanced by requirements ensuring no adverse impact on American workers' wages or conditions.
Notable Legal, Constitutional, or Political Implications
- Legal: Aligns with existing INA frameworks for treaty-based visas, ensuring consistency without overriding broader immigration caps; the attestation process protects against labor exploitation by mandating fair wages.
- Constitutional: No apparent conflicts with equal protection or due process, as it targets a specific allied nation under congressional authority over immigration (Article I, Section 8).
- Political: Signals bipartisan support for strengthening alliances (introduced by Reps. Kim and Kamlager-Dove) and could influence future bilateral agreements, though the cap limits scale compared to uncapped programs like H-1B.
This summary was generated by AI and may contain inaccuracies. Refer to the official source document for the authoritative text.
Sponsor
Cosponsors (14)
Rep. Kamlager-Dove, Sydney [D-CA-37], Rep. Fitzpatrick, Brian K. [R-PA-1], Rep. Suozzi, Thomas R. [D-NY-3], Rep. Malliotakis, Nicole [R-NY-11], Rep. Vindman, Eugene Simon [D-VA-7], Rep. Wilson, Joe [R-SC-2], Rep. Min, Dave [D-CA-47], Rep. Lawler, Michael [R-NY-17], Rep. Ross, Deborah K. [D-NC-2], Rep. Bera, Ami [D-CA-6], Rep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-16], Rep. Carter, Troy A. [D-LA-2], Rep. Meng, Grace [D-NY-6], Rep. DelBene, Suzan K. [D-WA-1]
Recent Actions
- 2025-07-23: Referred to the House Committee on the Judiciary.
- 2025-07-23: Introduced in House
- 2025-07-23: Introduced in House
Bill Versions
- Partner with Korea Act — issued 2025-07-23 — PDF (3 pages)