U.S. and South Korea Move to Resolve Visa Issues After Georgia Raid

(GEORGIA, UNITED STATES) The United States and South Korea have moved quickly to address visa issues for Korean workers after a September 2025 immigration raid in Georgia that detained more than 300 employees at a Hyundai-LG battery plant. Officials from both governments say the workers have since been released and allowed to return to the U.S. under temporary arrangements, while a new U.S.–South Korea Business Travel and Visa Working Group develops longer-term fixes. As of October 22, 2025, the group has met twice and is reviewing policy changes meant to prevent similar disruptions at critical industrial sites.

The high-level response follows a sweeping investigation into alleged unlawful employment practices tied to the battery facility. No criminal charges have been filed to date, but the episode exposed gray areas in how some Korean specialists have been entering the U.S. for short-term projects, often using B-1 business visas or the visa waiver program (ESTA) for work that may exceed the limits of those entries. Both governments now say they want to support legitimate business activity while ensuring strict compliance with U.S. rules.

Officials from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Department of Commerce, and the State Department joined counterparts from South Korea’s foreign and trade ministries for the working group’s first in-person meeting in Washington, D.C., on September 30, 2025, followed by a second virtual session on October 21, 2025. The agenda includes clarifying what tasks foreign specialists can legally perform under B-1 or ESTA and considering streamlined solutions for Korean investors and technicians supporting large U.S. manufacturing projects.

Emergency response after Georgia raid

In immediate relief measures following negotiations, the detained workers connected to the Hyundai-LG battery plant were released and permitted to complete their assignments in the United States using short-term entries, including B-1 visas and ESTA, pending longer-term policy work. Both governments confirmed this temporary pathway.

The message to employers and workers is twofold: production can continue in the near term, but everyone must adhere closely to the permitted scope of activity under each entry category.

To help Korean firms reduce processing delays and address problems early, the U.S. Embassy in Seoul has opened a dedicated visa desk for Korean businesses. In parallel, the two countries launched a Korean Investment and Travel Task Force focused on smoother visa issuance and airport entry for workers supporting U.S.-based industrial projects.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, Korean companies with active U.S. buildouts are closely tracking these changes and adjusting travel plans to account for tighter screening.

South Korean and U.S. officials describe the new mechanisms as a bridge to deeper policy alignment. The working group is studying the permissible scope of work under B-1 entries, with an eye to clearer guidance that could reduce inadvertent violations.

• Some improvements may be made through agency guidance without new law.
• Creating a new visa category or setting a specific quota for Korean skilled industrial workers would require an act of Congress, which could be lengthy.

While the investigation tied to the Georgia raid remains open, the lack of criminal charges so far underscores how much of the problem sits in the gray areas of current rules. Korean technicians often fly in for short periods to install, test, or maintain specialized equipment at U.S. factories. If their tasks are considered “productive work” rather than “business activities,” those duties can exceed what B-1 or ESTA allow. That mismatch raises legal risk for workers, employers, and project timelines.

Policy review and next steps

Officials involved in the working group say they are focused on lowering that risk without weakening enforcement. Key lines of effort now underway include:

1. Clarifying the B-1 scope so companies know exactly which activities are permitted.
2. Coordinating pre-travel reviews and establishing clear documentation standards for Korean nationals supporting U.S. plant construction, commissioning, or maintenance.
3. Expanding embassy-level support through the dedicated visa desk to resolve routine questions before workers travel.

Discussions about a new visa category or a special quota for Korean skilled industrial workers are active but will require legislation. U.S. officials caution that any statutory change will take time. In the meantime, agencies are trying to improve consistency at ports of entry and reduce unexpected detentions connected to industrial projects that both governments consider important to the bilateral economic partnership.

For Korean businesses investing in the United States, the short-term outlook is more stable than it was in the immediate aftermath of the raid. The dedicated visa desk at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul and the Korean Investment and Travel Task Force provide practical avenues to flag cases, coordinate itineraries, and reduce friction. Still, companies should expect continued scrutiny and plan project staffing with conservative timelines.

Guidance for workers and employers

Workers should keep a close eye on compliance. Even with the temporary relief, enforcement activity has increased. Travelers using B-1 or ESTA should:

• Carry clear documentation of their tasks, assignment duration, and employer contacts.
• Be ready to explain how their activities fit within permitted business purposes.
• Recognize that hands-on installation or on-the-line production may be considered productive work and could exceed B-1/ESTA limits.

Employers and project managers should:

• Pre-brief traveling staff on permitted B-1/ESTA activities.
• Prepare concise support letters describing tasks and timelines.
• Build buffer time for travel screening and arrange quick access to U.S.-based contacts who can confirm job details.
• Reassess entry pathways or adjust duties if work involves hands-on production.

For official updates, Korean businesses and workers should consult the U.S. Embassy in Seoul: https://kr.usembassy.gov/. Embassy notices, appointment procedures, and business traveler guidance will reflect the latest decisions from the working group and related task forces.

Broader stakes and diplomatic coordination

The Hyundai-LG battery plant and similar projects are central to U.S. supply chain goals, including vehicle electrification and energy storage. South Korean firms bring specialized equipment and technicians who understand how to commission and maintain that machinery. When visa issues interrupt those flows, the impact ripples beyond a single factory floor—affecting local contractors, logistics schedules, and the communities counting on these jobs.

Both governments have signaled a diplomatic commitment to keep legitimate investment moving. South Korean ministries and U.S. agencies are coordinating more closely than before the Georgia raid. The aim is to:

• Reduce surprise detentions,
• Make entry rules clearer, and
• Ensure that workers with the right skills can get to job sites on time while staying within U.S. law.

Officials say further policy review will continue through the working group, with additional guidance possible as consensus forms on the B-1 scope.

Key takeaway: As of October 22, 2025, the path forward rests on two tracks — immediate facilitation through temporary entries and embassy support, and longer-term solutions that may include clearer agency guidance and, potentially, legislative proposals. The investigation tied to the Georgia operation remains active, but officials stress most Korean workers at U.S. industrial sites are engaged in legitimate activities and should not face disruptions if they follow the rules.

Practical checklist (next steps for stakeholders)

• Employers: Pre-brief staff, prepare support letters, and plan conservative staffing timelines.
• Project managers: Allow extra time for travel screening and secure U.S.-based contacts for rapid verification.
• Workers: Carry assignment letters, travel itineraries, return tickets, and be ready to describe duties in plain language aligned with B-1/ESTA limits.

Companies and workers tied to the Hyundai-LG battery plant—and other large projects—will be watching the working group’s next steps closely. The test will be whether new guidance can keep production on schedule while giving consular and port-of-entry officers a straightforward checklist for what is allowed. For now, the message is: proceed, document carefully, and stay aligned with the temporary measures that have reopened the door for needed specialists to return to work.