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The window for issuing visas at the US Embassy in Seoul. (Yonhap News)

Visa issuance interviews at the US Embassy in South Korea are being suspended as of Mar. 19 as a result of the novel coronavirus outbreak.

In a press release on Mar. 18, the embassy said, “In response to worldwide challenges related to the outbreak of COVID-19, the Department of State is suspending routine visa services in all countries with a level 2, 3, or 4 U.S. Department of State travel advisory.”

“Accordingly, the U.S. Embassy to the Republic of Korea will cancel all routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments as of March 19, 2020,” it continued. This means it will be difficult for South Koreans to acquire new visas for study abroad, employment, employee residence abroad, or other purposes for the time being. Previously issued visas will remain valid, and South Korean nationals will still be able to visit the US for tourism and business purposes for up to 90 days through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) under the Visa Waiver Program (VMP).

The US has issued its highest travel advisory level of 4 (do not travel) for Daegu and a level 3 advisory (reconsider travel) for the rest of South Korea.

“The US government provided prior explanation to the South Korean government before the announcement,” a Ministry of Foreign Affairs senior official said.

“They explained that this is not a travel restriction on South Koreans but part of the social distancing efforts to reduce embassy staff’s face-to-face encounters with visa applicants, and that there should be no issues with the validity of existing visas or travel through ESTA,” the official added.

But with many South Koreans requiring visas for academic and business purposes, the suspension of issuance services appears likely to cause havoc for numerous people if it persists into the long term. According to US Department of Homeland Security figures, a total of 2,541,826 South Koreans entered the US through nonimmigrant visas in the 2018 accounting year, with 2,290,705 of them entering through ESTA and the remainder arriving after having a visa issued.

By Park Min-hee, staff reporter

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