Speech #1040189013

Travel and tourism play a major role in reducing the United States unfavorable balance of trade. There is an increasing demand by citizens of the Republic of Korea to visit the United States. In fiscal year 1994. 320.747 nonimmigrants visas were Issued to Korean travelers. In fiscal year 1995. 394.044 nonimmigrant visas were issued to Korean travelers. Of this amount. 320.120 were tourist visas. The Republic of Korea is not eligible to participate in the current Visa Waiver Pilot Program. Thus. Koreans are required to obtain a visa to travel to the United States. Unfortunately. U.S. visas can not be processed in a reasonable time frame. There is often a 2 to 3 week waiting period to obtain tourist visas. Although the Secretary of State has attempted to address the problem by including additional personnel in the consular section at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul. visa processing delays do continue. The legislation we are introducing today would establish a 3year pilot program that would waive the visa requirement for Korean nationals traveling as part of a group tour to the United States. Under the program. selected travel agencies in Korea would be allowed to issue temporary travel permits. The applicants would be required to meet the same prerequisites imposed by the United States Embassy. The pilot legislation also includes additional restrictions to help deter the possibility of illegal immigration. These are: The stay in the United States is no more than 15 days. The visitor poses no threat to the welfare. health. and safety. or security of the United States. The visitor possesses a roundtrip ticket. The visitor who is deemed inadmissible or deportable by an immigration officer would be returned to Korea by the transportation carrier. Tour operators will be required to post a $200.000 performance bond with the Secretary of State. and will be penalized if a visitor fails to return on schedule. Tour operators will be required to provide written certification of the ontime return of each visitor within the tour group.