The employees of Korean companies with branches in the United States love to be here. In fact, they love it so much that they want to live in the United States for good. For increasing numbers of branch employees, the United States is their intended new home. The main reason they want to work here is that, with a work visa, they become eligible to apply for a green card. The second influencing factor is the continued weak rate of exchange for the U.S. dollar versus the Korean won. The rate is so favorable that many Koreans are in a position to finance their own homes.

Branch employment is the shortest route to work-sponsored immigration; the work visas issued to Korean branch workers put them on a quick track for an immigration visa, without the [need to get a certificate from] Department of Labor. This visa type has become of prime importance for Korean-based company employees in Korea awaiting their orders to proceed to the United States, and for branch employees who are already in the United States awaiting green cards.

The U.S. dollar exchange rate has been falling continuously for some time. This is good news for Korean branch employees, because they have always received their salaries in Korean won.

Mr. Lee, a 46 year-old employee of a Korean company in New Jersey, said, “I recently decided to apply for an immigration visa to further my children’s education. With the exchange rate so low, using my retirement fund, I can even finance the down payment for a house here.”

Mr. Kim, 42 years-old, is now visiting the United States, and has concrete plans to return here next year as a branch employee. “I often have news about America from my relatives who live here. Now that the dollar is so weak against the won, many people in their 30s and 40s are seriously thinking about coming to America to work and live. Many really want to make America their new home,” he said.

Song-soo Kim, chairman of Korean Branch Companies Members Club (KOSEM) says, “One strong motivator for Korean employees to remain in America is their children’s education. There have been a lot of fathers returning to Korea without their kids. Once the father’s employment here ends, he must return to Korea – but the kids are enrolled in schools and colleges, so that the majority of the family stays here and the father returns alone. With the weak dollar, now families can remain together in the United States. Often, though, fathers have not applied for green cards, and therefore have no choice but to return to Korea. In such cases, he must finance his family’s stay in America from Korea.”

A Korean branch employee must file forms DS156 or DS157 to apply for an immigration visa. There is some accompanying documentation to submit concerning the applicant’s company and company’s profile. The applicant must have a Korean passport valid for at least half a year. Further documents include resumes, work history, diplomas, family registry, and, where applicable, a U.S. entry certificate (embarkation and disembarkation cards).

Immigration lawyers note that, “Unlike an E-2 visa [given for investors], the visa for Korean employees is looked at as a sort of occupation visa. This means that holders can apply for a green card. If an applicant has already been approved by USCIS, they can apply directly for an I-140 [immigrant petition for alien worker] and I-485 [application to register permanent residence or adjust status].”