Korea to Join Visa Waiver Program in 2008
It appears that Koreans will be able to enter the US Visa free by 2008:
Michael Kirby, U.S. consul-general to South Korea, said on Thursday that it will be possible for Seoul to join Washington’s Visa Waiver Program (VWP) as early as 2008 if it shows a visa refusal rate below 3 percent for two years.
South Korea recorded a 3.2 percent rate last year, according to sources. They believe the rate will go below the 3-percent level this year.
“I am very optimistic that, if everything works out, it will be possible perhaps for (South) Korea to join the program as early as 2008,” Kirby told YTN, a 24-hour cable news channel.
I think it is great if South Korea becomes part of the Visa Waiver Program because it has been a sore point for Koreans traveling to the US for a long time, plus the US Embassy in Seoul would be greatly relieved because they currently process more visa applications than any other US Embassy in the world. I just think that it is important that the VWP rules not be bent to allow the Koreans to join. There are set rules that must be met and if Korea meets them by 2008, than they should be allowed to join the program.
