The Korea Times reports that the United States issued 68 130 non-immigrant visas to South Korean nationals in FY 2025—down 7.95 percent from the previous year and the lowest total since 2020. The figures, obtained from State Department country-by-nationality data and released Sunday by opposition lawmaker Hong Il-pyo, show declines across visitor, student and work categories. Hong blamed the Trump administration’s tighter screening policies and called on Seoul to negotiate priority interview slots for students. He noted that Korean applicants still fare better than peers from other countries, but warned that further drops could hurt the estimated 50 000 Koreans preparing to begin studies in the United States next fall. Consular experts point to the re-imposition of in-person interviews for many renewals and lingering staff shortages at the U.S. Embassy in Seoul. Business travelers have reported waits of up to three months for B-1 appointments—manageable but longer than the one-week norm that prevailed pre-pandemic. Companies relocating Korean talent to the U.S. should track appointment availability and consider staging visa stamping trips to Tokyo or Singapore, where slots open sooner. Meanwhile, education agents are urging students to book interviews immediately after receiving I-20 forms to avoid missing semester start dates.
Source: The Korea Times
