🇺🇸 United States — USCIS / National Visa Center / US Embassy Seoul
US Green Card — Korean Documents Required
Obtaining US permanent residence (green card) is the most document-intensive US immigration process for Korean nationals. Whether you are applying through family sponsorship, employment, or a diversity visa, USCIS and the National Visa Center require a comprehensive set of apostilled Korean civil documents and criminal background checks — all with USCIS-compliant certified English translations. Apostille First specialists handle complete green card document packages for Korean applicants.
Required Korean Documents
Basic Certificate (Birth Certificate)
기본증명서RequiredApostilled 기본증명서 with certified English translation. Required for all immigrant visa categories. Must be issued within 1 year of the NVC submission deadline.
How to apostille this documentFamily Relations Certificate
가족관계증명서RequiredApostilled 가족관계증명서 (detailed version) with certified English translation. Required to document family relationships for family-based petitions.
How to apostille this documentMarriage Certificate (혼인관계증명서)
혼인관계증명서RequiredApostilled detailed 혼인관계증명서 showing all marriage history with certified English translation. Required for all applicants — even those who have never been married (shows no record).
How to apostille this documentCriminal Background Check
범죄·수사경력 회보서RequiredCombined criminal and investigation records from the Korean National Police Agency, apostilled and translated. Required for all applicants 16 years or older. Must be issued 'for foreign immigration and stay' purposes.
How to apostille this documentMay Also Be Required
Diploma / Academic Credentials
학위증명서Apostilled diploma with certified translation. Required for employment-based immigrant visas (EB-2, EB-3) and cases where educational qualifications must be proven.
How to apostille this documentStep-by-Step Process
- 1
Your sponsoring family member or employer files the immigrant petition (Form I-130 or I-140) with USCIS
- 2
Upon approval, the case transfers to the National Visa Center (NVC) for document collection
- 3
NVC sends a checklist of required civil documents — gather apostilled Korean documents per the checklist
- 4
Submit all documents to NVC via the Consular Electronic Application Center (CEAC) portal
- 5
NVC forwards the case to the US Embassy in Seoul once all documents are approved
- 6
Attend the medical examination and then the immigrant visa interview at the US Embassy in Seoul
- 7
Upon visa approval, enter the US as a legal permanent resident — your green card will be mailed after entry
Tips & Common Mistakes
- NVC document requirements are strict about document age — civil documents must typically be issued within 1 year of submission. Order fresh documents for each application stage
- The police clearance must specifically be the combined 범죄·수사경력 회보서 (both conviction and investigation records), not just the conviction-only version
- If you lived in any other country for 12 months or more after age 16, police clearances from those countries are also required — not just Korea
- All translations must include the translator's certification statement — USCIS has specific requirements for the certification language
- Start preparing documents at least 6–8 weeks before your NVC submission deadline to account for university processing, MOFA apostille, and translation time
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to apostille every document submitted to NVC for a green card?
Yes. NVC requires that all foreign civil documents be apostilled (for Hague Convention countries like Korea) or legalized (for non-Hague countries). Korea is a Hague member, so a MOFA apostille is the correct authentication for all Korean documents submitted to NVC.
I was born in Korea but have lived in the US on an H-1B for several years. What Korean documents do I still need?
Regardless of how long you have lived in the US, NVC requires your original Korean civil documents — birth certificate (기본증명서), marriage history (혼인관계증명서), and police clearance from Korea for the period you lived there. These must be newly issued, apostilled, and translated.
How long does it take to prepare a complete green card document package?
For a full Korean document package (5–6 documents with apostille and translation), allow 3–4 weeks from start to having everything ready for NVC submission. This accounts for document issuance, MOFA apostille (same-day walk-in), certified translation, and any courier time if you are processing from abroad.
Related visa guides
🇺🇸 All apostille services for United States
Documents, services, and requirements for sending Korean documents to United States
Document Legalization Experts
Verified specialists who handle apostille, translation, and legalization
Need help with your Korean documents?
Apostille First connects you with verified specialists who handle MOFA apostille, certified translation, and international delivery — end to end.