Exclusive: U.S. Visa Rejections for South Koreans Surge Amid Diplomatic Strains
Rejection rate hits 24.73%, highest among U.S. allies, as political tensions fuel speculation
Last year, the U.S. visa rejection rate for South Korean nationals applying for B1/B2 visitor visas surged, with one out of every four applications denied. The rejection rate for South Koreans was higher than that of other U.S. allies, including Japan, Germany, and France, as well as China, which the U.S. classifies as an adversarial nation.
According to data submitted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the office of People Power Party Representative Kim Dai-sik and U.S. Department of State statistics, the final rejection rate for South Korean applicants in 2025 was 24.73%, a 9.76 percentage point increase from 14.97% in 2024. Between 2021 and 2024, the rejection rate for South Koreans had fluctuated between 14–18%, but it spiked sharply last year.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs explained, “U.S. domestic political issues related to immigration may have influenced stricter visa screening policies.” However, the U.S. rejection rate for Japanese applicants decreased from 5.76% in 2024 to 5.68% last year, and the rate for Chinese applicants also fell from 25.37% to 20.21%.
Political circles speculate, “If rejection rates only increased for South Korea, could strained Korea-U.S. relations be a factor?” Last year, prolonged negotiations over tariffs and security issues occurred between the two countries, and disagreements arose over Coupang’s personal data leak. Since early this year, the U.S. has restricted intelligence sharing due to Unification Minister Chung Dong-young’s remarks about ‘Korean uranium enrichment facilities.’ Recently, controversies erupted when U.S. visa issuance was delayed for National Intelligence Service staff dispatched to Washington and former Democratic Party of Korea leader Jung Chung-rae.
People Power Party Representative Kim Dai-sik stated, “We must thoroughly investigate whether changes in the South Korean government’s diplomatic and defense policies toward the U.S. and shifts in Korea-U.S. relations have influenced visa rejections.”
◇‘Visa Rejections’ Highest Among U.S. Allies… “Korea-U.S. Issues Likely Influenced”
With the U.S. rejection rate for South Korean B1/B2 visas reaching 24.73% last year, many South Koreans likely faced difficulties in trade, family visits, and other activities. B1 visas are commonly used for short-term business purposes, such as trade negotiations, equipment maintenance, and training for exported goods. B2 visas are for tourism, medical treatment, and family visits. They are primarily applied for by individuals requiring stays longer than 90 days or those ineligible for the U.S. Visa Waiver Program (ESTA) due to prior visits to Iran, Cuba, or North Korea. The rejection rate for South Koreans had remained in the mid-10% range from 2021 (18.03%) to 2023 (14.44%).
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted, “The U.S. does not disclose rejection reasons, making it difficult to identify exact causes,” but speculated, “Heightened domestic political tensions over immigration in the U.S. may have led to stricter visa policies.”
However, according to U.S. Department of State consular statistics, rejection rates for U.S. allies with ESTA programs—such as the UK (20.44%), Germany (12.22%), France (9.67%), and Japan (5.68%)—were significantly lower than South Korea’s 24.73%. The UK’s rate increased by 2.41 percentage points from 2024, while France’s rose slightly by 1.17 percentage points. Taiwan’s rate increased by 4.23 percentage points to 9.45%. Japan (-0.08 percentage points), New Zealand (-0.85 percentage points), and Norway (-3.26 percentage points) saw decreases.
Rejection rates for nationals of countries without visa waiver agreements with the U.S.—including China (20.21%), India (22.04%), and Vietnam (22.08%)—were also lower than South Korea’s. China’s rate decreased by 5.16 percentage points from 2024. Only South Korea experienced a sharp rise.
The number of U.S. visitor visas issued to South Koreans also declined from 15,508 cases in 2024 to 12,226 cases last year. Nam Jong-beom, a U.S. immigration attorney at SN Law Firm, stated, “While corporate employees face few issues, ordinary applicants increasingly encounter rejections. The required documentation has expanded, and reapplication after a prior rejection rarely succeeds.”
The U.S. crackdown on South Korean companies’ local dispatch personnel last year may have contributed to the surge. On September 4, 2025, U.S. immigration authorities raided Hyundai Motor and LG Energy Solution’s battery plant construction sites in Georgia, arresting and detaining over 300 South Korean workers. The U.S. reportedly suspected South Korean firms of circumventing labor laws by using B1/B2 visas to dispatch workers. However, U.S. statistics follow a fiscal year (October–September), and last year’s data (October 2024–September 2025) cannot be solely attributed to the Georgia incident in early September. Other factors, such as the U.S. insurrection special counsel team’s unannounced search of Osan Air Base in July 2025—which drew protests from the U.S. military—may have also played a role.
Park In-hwi, a professor at Ewha Womans University’s International Studies Department, said, “Alongside the Trump administration’s anti-immigration policies, last year’s Korea-U.S. issues—such as the Osan Air Base controversy—could have impacted visa issuance. The government must demonstrate resolve to address diplomatic conflicts, as reflected in the rejection rates.”