Under the new rules, visitors who have travelled to eight countries – most of them in the Middle East – including North Korea since March 1, 2011 are “no longer eligible”, according to details posted on the US Customs and Border Protection website.
Foreigners who have travelled to North Korea in the past eight years will no longer be granted visa-free entry rights to the United States, under new rules that were announced this week.
The US previously allowed citizens of 38 countries – including Singapore, South Korea, Japan and France – to enter for up to 90 days without a visa under a waiver programme.
Under the new rules, visitors who have travelled to eight countries – most of them in the Middle East – including North Korea since March 1, 2011 are “no longer eligible”, according to details posted on the US Customs and Border Protection website.
Instead, they will have to apply for tourist or business visas.
The change is said to affect tens of thousands of people from visa waiver countries who have visited the North as tourists or for other purposes in recent years, reported AFP.
It will also impact South Korean President Moon Jae-in’s cross-border tourism projects for its citizens who have participated in past reunion events with its neighbour.