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South Korea → United States

Migration corridor · visas, permits and flows

From
South Korea
To
United States
Inflow, 2023 (OECD)
14,240
Change since 2018
-18.9%
Share of all arrivals in the United States, 2023
1.21%
Inflow 202314,240OECD
Year by year
Data as at 2025
CR<USSOUTH<KOREA<UNITED<STATES<<<<<<<<<<<<<<
KR1<US4<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<8

Migration from South Korea to the United States

Inflows of nationals of South Korea recorded by the United States; stock of nationals of South Korea living there; and acquisitions of the United States' nationality (OECD).

Inflows by year

13k27k200020032006200920122015201820212023
13k27k2000200420082012201620202023
Data table
200015,721
200120,532
200220,724
200312,382
200419,766
200526,562
200624,386
200722,405
200826,358
200925,703
201022,095
201122,607
201220,671
201322,951
201420,219
201516,974
201621,658
201719,003
201817,549
201918,302
202016,055
202112,236
202216,058
202314,240
YearInflowStockAcquired nationality
2024—317,321—
202314,240261,90711,520
202216,058273,56115,149
202112,236268,03814,827
202016,055327,61511,223
201918,302321,92616,149
201817,549328,27115,922
201719,003330,53414,470
201621,658387,34314,251
201516,974412,63714,119
201420,219364,23413,513
201322,951435,69615,697
201220,671475,26013,732
201122,607476,72512,623
201022,095446,59111,065
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Migrant population

People born in South Korea who live in the United States: mid-year estimates of the international migrant stock (UN DESA).

Migrant population by year

564k1.13M19901995200020052010201520202024
564k1.13M19902000201020202024
Data table
1990858,465
1995912,885
2000970,756
20051,038,088
20101,128,067
20151,126,824
20201,091,276
20241,083,174
Estimate, 2024
1,083,174
Share of all international migrants in the destination, 2024
2.1%
Rank among countries of birth, 2024
12
Counted by
country of birth
Source: United Nations, DESA Population Division, International Migrant Stock 2024 (CC BY 3.0 IGO)Data as at 2024

U.S. visas

Visas issued to citizens of South Korea (fiscal years) and certified PERM labor certifications.

Non-immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. B1/B212,206
  2. F111,861
  3. J17,985
  4. E25,359
  5. C1/D5,328
  6. L23,529
  7. A23,276
  8. J23,180
  9. L13,009
  10. H1B2,329
  11. P11,449
  12. O21,386

Non-immigrant visas by fiscal year

38k75k201720182019202020212022202320242025
38k75k20172019202120232025
Data table
201749,367
201874,986
201975,413
202037,575
202143,567
202259,612
202370,086
202474,859
202565,755
Immigrant visas by class, FY2025
  1. I51,168
  2. E2925
  3. IR1497
  4. IR5488
  5. CR1285
  6. E3263
  7. EW238
  8. F4136

Certified PERM cases by fiscal year (citizenship published to FY2024)

4,1758,34920082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
4,1758,3492008201120142017202020232024
Data table
20083,119
20091,878
20104,610
20113,147
20122,639
20131,406
20142,672
20154,895
20168,349
20175,373
20184,796
20193,114
20202,544
20212,896
20222,254
20232,153
20242,067
Source: U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs, monthly visa issuances (public domain); U.S. Department of Labor, OFLC PERM disclosure data (public domain)Data as at FY2025

Green cards, citizenship and admissions

Green cards and naturalizations of people born in South Korea, and I-94 admissions of citizens of South Korea, by fiscal year (DHS).

Fiscal yearGreen cardsNaturalizationsI-94 admissions
202415,10012,7601,962,790
202315,77012,3301,699,890
202216,17014,880795,360
202112,35015,000168,260
202016,24011,3501,120,010
201918,48016,3002,352,340
201817,68016,0402,541,830
201719,19014,6502,510,990
201621,80014,3502,197,910
201517,14014,2301,946,890
I-94 admissions by class of admission, FY2024
  1. WT1,959,490
  2. GMT1,030,450
  3. WB333,330
  4. F137,060
  5. B100,060
  6. E69,100
  7. J52,370
  8. L40,140
  9. H1B15,260
  10. L2Y13,350
  11. L2S13,290
  12. A12,770
Green cards by class of admission, FY2024
  1. Employment-based preferences8,500
  2. Immediate relatives of U.S. citizens6,120
  3. Family-sponsored preferences400
  4. Other classes70
  5. Diversity visa lottery10
  6. Refugees and asylees10
Temporary worker admissions (I-94), FY2024
  1. Intracompany transferees (L-1)21,160
  2. Spouses and children17,210
  3. Specialty occupations (H-1B)8,310
  4. Extraordinary ability (O-1, O-2)3,220
  5. Athletes, artists and entertainers (P)2,200
  6. Other temporary workers1,900
  7. Seasonal non-agricultural workers (H-2B)70
Green cards, FY2024 (born in South Korea)
15,100
Naturalizations, FY2024 (born in South Korea)
12,760
I-94 admissions, FY2024 (citizenship)
1,962,790
Source: U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Office of Homeland Security Statistics, Yearbook of Immigration Statistics 2024 (public domain)Data as at FY2024

Embassy and consulates

Missions of the United States in South Korea, as recorded in Wikidata. Details change; the mission's official website is authoritative.

MissionCityOfficial website
ConsulateBusankr.usembassy.gov
Source: Wikidata (CC0)Data as at Oct 2026

Compared with other corridors

Nationalities with the most arrivals in the United States, 2023; South Korea ranks 20.

Inflows to the United States, 2023
  1. Mexico190,560
  2. Cuba88,480
  3. India68,420
  4. Dominican Republic67,700
  5. China57,240
  6. Philippines48,690
  7. Vietnam37,040
  8. Afghanistan35,630
  9. Brazil27,440
  10. El Salvador27,280
  11. Colombia26,150
  12. Jamaica22,120
Other destinations for people from South Korea, 2023
  1. Japan27,566
  2. Germany6,599
  3. Canada5,205
  4. Australia2,740
  5. Hungary2,535
  6. New Zealand2,061
  7. Netherlands1,447
  8. Mexico579
  9. Austria490
Source: OECD, International Migration Database (OECD.ELS.IMD), accessed 24 Oct 2026Data as at 2023

Official data, not advice. Visa Atlas publishes figures from government registers and statistics. It does not assess eligibility or give immigration advice; for advice, consult a regulated adviser. Read more