Partner with Korea Act
The Partner with Korea Act would create a new reciprocal high-skilled visa pathway for nationals of the Republic of Korea. Specifically, it adds a new category to the H-1B-style framework (specialty occupations) that allows Korean nationals to come to the United States to work in specialty occupations, provided their prospective employer files a labor attestation with the Department of Labor (DOL). The bill also places an annual cap of 15,000 on initial applications for this new category, limited to principal applicants (dependents would not count toward the cap). In addition, the act broadens the definition of “specialty occupation” to include this new category and updates related attestation provisions to reflect the new process. The measure is titled the Partner with Korea Act and was introduced in the House by Representative Kim (with Ms. Kamlager-Dove) on July 23, 2025, and referred to the Judiciary Committee.
Key Points
- 1Creates a new subcategory of the H-1B-type visa (101(a)(15)(E)(iv)) for nationals of the Republic of Korea to work in the United States in a specialty occupation, contingent on the employer’s labor attestation filed with the Department of Labor.
- 2Imposes an annual numerical cap of 15,000 initial applications for this new category, applicable only to principal applicants (spouses and children are not counted toward the cap).
- 3Expands the definition of “specialty occupation” to include both the existing category and the new (iv) category, ensuring the new Korean visa category is treated as a specialty occupation.
- 4Reforms the attestation process (Section 212(t)) so that employers must file the required attestation and so the Secretary of Labor certifies it to the Secretary of Homeland Security and the Secretary of State before visa adjudication.
- 5The bill is titled the “Partner with Korea Act” and is framed as a reciprocal, high-skilled visa arrangement with Korea to bolster bilateral cooperation and labor mobility.