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[김성렬교수의 시사영어] Visa Free Travel to USA
With the introduction of the electronic passport system this August in Korea, visas to the USA are expected to be waived early next year, but they are possible for only stays in the USA not longer than 90 days. For those who are pursuing studies and business, which require a long-term stay, visas still need to be obtained from the American embassy in Seoul. The move to waive visas approaching, its visa work load diminished, the American Consulate in Busan will likely focus on bettering the relationship between the USA and Busan.
In an exclusive interview with Busanilbo during her first visit to Busan on January 18 and 19 after her appointment to Consul General in Korea, Julia R. Stanley discussed the American position on the pending visa waiver between Korea and the USA and the role of the American Consulate in Busan.
Appointed Consul General in September, 2006, she emphasized, "Although it is my first visit to Busan, it is definitely not my last." She made clear: "The American Consulate in Busan, re-opened last October, will make efforts to forge relationships with various city organizations, business persons, and media."
Consul General Stanley explained the American visa waiver in detail, which has drawn the attention of Korean citizens. "The Korean Ministry of Commerce informed us that the electronic passport system will come into effect this August. The implementation of visa waivers in the first half of 2009 will spare Busan, Kyungnam citizens of the inconvenience of having to go up to Seoul and wait for hours to obtain a visa," she stressed.
She added "What I would like to emphasize to Busanilbo readers is that there is no visa waiver in 2008. As in the past, those intending to travel to the USA this year must receive a visa issued by the American Embassy in Seoul."
America, Europe, Japan, among others in the world, are adopting electronic passports. Especially, for the sake of airport and airplane safety, it is important that lost or stolen passports be quickly reported to the USA, and that Korea and America possess knowledge in common of the purpose of a traveler's visit, she pointed out.
Their containment of information regarding the physical attributes of a traveler as well as personal information accounts for the adoption of electronic passports. Consul General Stanley describes the electronic passport system as mutually beneficial and reciprocal, for American travelers entering Korea provide likewise personal information to the Korean authorities whereas Americans requiring long-term stays for the purpose of business and study must be issued visas by the Korean Embassy.
"As Secretary of State Rice emphasized several times, it is important to maintain close relationships through a more active foreign policy of engagement with diverse peoples and nations. I am depending on the contribution of the re-opened American Consulate to advance the relationship between Busan and the USA. Ambassador Vershbow has also held firmly to the position that forming good relations between America and regional cities through the re-opened consulate is essential."
Asked for her first impression of Busan, she replied, "Beautiful and dynamic. I will certainly return to visit." She added, "I would like to tell the Korean people that the rising value of the Korean currency can buy a lot of quality goods in the USA and that many attractive travel destinations like Hawaii and Florida are worth visiting."(한글 내용은 www.busanilbo.com 1월 19일자 6면) urizen@dau.ac.kr
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 / 입력시간: 2008. 01.29. 15:48
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