The number of nonimmigrant visas issued to South Koreans has declined following the start of former U.S. President Donald Trump’s second-term administration, which has reintroduced stricter immigration policies, Rep. Hong Ki-won of the Democratic Party said Saturday.
According to data compiled by Hong’s office from the U.S. Department of State’s country-by-country visa-issuance statistics, a total of 24,736 nonimmigrant visas were granted to South Koreans between January and May this year—down 18.3% from 30,262 during the same period last year.
The decline was steepest among business and tourism visas. Issuances of B-1/B-2 visas, typically granted for business or leisure travel, fell 41.2%, from 7,407 last year to 4,352 this year. E-1/E-2 visas, commonly used by treaty traders and investors, also dropped 36.4%, from 3,241 to 2,062.
Student and exchange categories saw similar declines. F-1 student visas issued to Korean nationals fell from 4,839 to 3,853, while J-1 exchange visitor visas—covering exchange students and internship participants—dropped from 3,212 to 2,631.
Rep. Hong urged the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take proactive measures to address the growing challenges faced by Korean citizens seeking to study or work in the United States.
by Byung-yeon Yoo
yooby@hankyung.com
