🇺🇸 United States — USCIS / US Citizenship and Immigration Services

US H-1B Visa — Korean Documents Required

The H-1B specialty occupation visa is one of the most common US work visas for Korean professionals. Your sponsoring US employer petitions USCIS on your behalf — but you are typically responsible for providing apostilled Korean credentials when your case is consular-processed at the US Embassy in Seoul. The employer's immigration attorney will specify exactly what is needed; this checklist covers the Korean documents that are almost always required.

Required Korean Documents

University Diploma

학위증명서Required

Must be apostilled by MOFA and accompanied by a USCIS-compliant certified English translation. Required to prove specialty occupation eligibility (at minimum a bachelor's degree or equivalent in the relevant field).

May Also Be Required

Criminal Background Check

범죄·수사경력 회보서

The combined criminal and investigation records report issued by the Korean National Police Agency. Apostilled and translated. Required if you have ever been arrested or if USCIS requests it during adjudication.

How to apostille this document

Step-by-Step Process

1
Your US employer's immigration attorney files the H-1B petition (Form I-129) with USCIS — you do not file this yourself
2
Upon USCIS approval of the petition, you apply for the H-1B visa stamp at the US Embassy in Seoul (consular processing)
3
Before your visa interview, gather your apostilled Korean credentials. Order your diploma and transcripts from your Korean university, submit to MOFA for apostille, and arrange certified English translations
4
Bring the apostilled and translated documents to your US Embassy visa interview in Seoul
5
After visa approval, your employer completes any remaining USCIS notifications before you begin work

Tips & Common Mistakes

Order university documents at least 4–6 weeks before your visa interview — Korean university registrar offices sometimes have processing delays
The H-1B petition approval notice (Form I-797) is not a visa — you still need the visa stamp from the US Embassy
If your Korean degree is from a field not directly matching the H-1B job, a credential evaluation from an NACES-member organization (e.g., ECE, WES) may be required to show equivalency — this is separate from the apostille
USCIS-compliant certified translations require a specific certification statement — ensure your translator uses the correct format
Criminal background checks are not always required for H-1B, but have them ready if USCIS requests additional evidence (RFE)

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to apostille my Korean diploma for every H-1B application?

For H-1B petitions processed entirely within the US (change of status, not consular processing), USCIS may not request your original Korean diploma — the employer provides evidence of your qualifications. However, if your case goes through consular processing at the US Embassy in Seoul, the embassy typically requires apostilled original credentials at the interview.

My Korean degree is not directly in the H-1B specialty field. Can a credential evaluation substitute for the diploma?

A credential evaluation (e.g., from ECE or WES) assesses whether your Korean education is equivalent to a US degree in the relevant field. It does not replace the apostilled diploma — the credential evaluator will require your apostilled diploma and transcripts as the basis for their evaluation.

How far in advance should I start preparing Korean documents for my H-1B visa interview?

Start at least 4–6 weeks before your scheduled visa interview. Factor in: university processing time (2–5 business days), MOFA apostille (same-day to 3 business days), certified translation (1–3 business days), and any courier time if you are not currently in Korea. Apostille First can manage the full process from abroad.