WASHINGTON (Yonhap News) ― South Korea is pushing to expand the quota of non-immigrant U.S. visas for its citizens with a “specialty occupation,” a diplomatic source said Thursday.

With the U.S. stuck in high jobless rates and politicians preoccupied with upcoming elections, South Korea is aiming to achieve the goal next year, added the source.

“Riding on the South Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the South Korean government will step up efforts to increase the number of H-1B visas for its citizens seeking jobs in the U.S.,” the source said, requesting anonymity.

Roughly 3,500 South Koreans are granted the visas each year for those with professional skills such as IT, engineering, mathematics, physical sciences, social sciences, biotechnology, medicine and health, law, accounting, and the arts.

South Korean officials believe the amount falls far short of the need, with a growing number of South Koreans studying and seeking jobs here.

“South Korea’s goal is to have a separate yearly quota of about 15,000,” the source said.

If Congress accepts Seoul’s push, South Korea will no longer be subject to the 85,000 annual visa limit for H-IB visas worldwide.

“A problem is that Congress are focused on other issues. It appears to have no room to handle the visa issue this year,” the sources said. “South Korea expects the matter to be resolved next year.”