U.S. ESTA Travel Pass News

The Wall Street Journal reported on the 8th that the Donald Trump administration is considering a plan to transfer U.S. troops stationed in NATO member states deemed uncooperative with the war against Iran to member states that did cooperate. Given that President Trump has publicly expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of cooperation from South Korea and Japan in addition to NATO, attention is focused on whether this plan will materialize and whether it will affect the deployment of U.S. forces in South Korea and Japan.

Citing Trump administration officials, the WSJ reported that the U.S. is considering sanctions against certain NATO member states deemed uncooperative with military operations against Iran. The plan centres on withdrawing U.S. troops stationed in member states deemed unhelpful by the Trump administration and redeploying them to countries that are more supportive of a war against Iran.

The Wall Street Journal reported that this is one of several measures being discussed by the Trump administration for NATO sanctions; while still in the early stages, the proposal has circulated among senior officials and gained support in recent weeks. The number of U.S. troops stationed across Europe is approximately 84,000, with troop numbers fluctuating due to military exercises and rotational deployments. The WSJ noted that U.S. military bases in Europe serve as key hubs for global operations and provide significant economic benefits to host nations.

U.S. forces stationed in Eastern Europe also function as a deterrent against Russia. In addition to troop redeployment, the Trump administration is reportedly considering closing a U.S. military base in at least one European country. Bases in Spain or Germany are said to be potential targets for closure. There are concerns that if the Trump administration pursues retaliatory measures, including the redeployment of U.S. troops, citing a lack of cooperation from NATO allies, it may also consider measures against South Korea and Japan.

President Trump reportedly became furious in mid-last month after his request to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz was met with refusals and calls for careful consideration from various countries; since then, he has repeatedly expressed his dissatisfaction, publicly naming NATO member states as well as South Korea, Japan, and Australia.

New Jersey Transit has launched a “free shuttle van” ride-hailing service connecting passengers’ residences with bus stops, focusing on Korean-dense towns within Bergen County such as Tenafly, Englewood, and Teaneck. Transit authorities announced that they began a pilot operation of a new public transportation ride-hailing program called “MicroLink” on the 6th.

Funded by the federal government and operating for the next two years, this program allows passengers to directly hail a van via a mobile application to travel from their residences to nearby bus stops or transfer parking lots. This pilot service is initially available only in parts of Bergen County and Monmouth County within New Jersey. The service areas within Bergen County include four towns with large Korean populations: Tenafly, Englewood, Teaneck, and Bergenfield. The service is available on weekdays from 6:00 AM to 8:00 PM and is free of charge during the pilot period.

Passengers can conveniently travel from near their residences to bus stops by booking a vehicle in real-time via the ‘Microlink’ app. The Transit Authority emphasized, “This service was established for passengers who experienced inconvenience using public transportation due to the long distance from their homes to bus stops,” adding that it “will play a role in dramatically improving public transportation accessibility for local residents.” Residents wishing to use the service can download the ‘Microlink’ app on their smartphones.

Elderly individuals and others unfamiliar with using apps can also request a ride by phone (973-233-4047). However, as the service operates on a demand-based basis, reservations must be made 20 to 30 minutes in advance to ensure a smooth experience. The vehicles deployed for the Microlink service are 6-seater vans equipped with wheelchair boarding facilities to accommodate those with mobility impairments.

New York City’s high school graduation rate has declined for two consecutive years.

According to data from the New York City Department of Education, the graduation rate for 2025 was 81.2%, a decrease of 2.1 percentage points from the previous year. The graduation rate had steadily increased for over a decade, reaching 83.7% in 2023 after falling 0.8 percentage points from 65.5% in 2011 to 64.7% in 2012. However, following a 0.4 percentage drop to 83.3% in 2024, the downward trend continued in 2025.

The 2.1 percentage point decline recorded last year is the largest drop in the past 20 years, since 2005 when it fell by 1.1 percentage points compared to the previous year. Education officials link the significant decline in graduation rates to the fact that high school graduates in 2025 are students who began ninth grade in September 2021, just as the pandemic was ending. They analyze that the chaotic post-pandemic educational environment, where students attended classes remotely during the pandemic but began in-person schooling in the fall semester of 2021, likely influenced the drop in graduation rates.

Furthermore, they interpret the renewed tightening of exemptions and lowered passing standards for certain Regent exams, which had been in place during the pandemic, as having had a considerable impact on graduation rates.

“Golf Emperor” Tiger Woods (USA) is expected to have difficulty competing in the Master’s in early April or serving as captain of the 2027 Ryder Cup due to a traffic accident on the 28th. On the 29th, the Associated Press published an article titled “Woods’ Future Becomes Uncertain After Being Arrested and Released for Drunk or Drug-Related Driving in Florida,” predicting that Woods’ returns scenario would effectively come to a “complete halt.”

Woods was driving on a two-lane road in Jupiter Island, Martin County, Florida, the previous day when he collided with another vehicle. After the accident, Woods exited the vehicle through the passenger-side window and sustained no major injuries. Although he tested negative on a breathalyzer, he refused a urine test. Local police stated that “Woods was in a state of typical impaired driving ability,” placing weight on the possibility that he was driving under the influence of drugs. Woods was released on bail, but his participation in the Masters, the season’s first major tournament in early April, has become virtually impossible. Woods, born in 1975 and 50 years old, last competed in an official tournament held on a golf course at The Open in July 2024.

The Associated Press reported that “Woods will be charged with drunk driving or drug-impaired driving, property damage, and refusing a urine test,” adding that “neither Woods’ management company nor the PGA Tour commented on the matter.” The Associated Press reported, “Woods’ chances of playing in this year’s Masters were not high (even before this incident), and he was also in a situation where he had to give an answer by the end of March regarding whether he would serve as the captain of the U.S. team for the 2027 Ryder Cup.”

Woods has revealed that he is considering an offer to serve as the U.S. captain for the Ryder Cup, the men’s golf competition between the U.S. and Europe to be held in Ireland in 2027. He is also scheduled to attend the unveiling of a municipal course designed by his design team in Augusta, Georgia, in early April, alongside Augusta National President Fred Ridley.

The Associated Press explained, “Woods’s latest accident is similar to when he was arrested in Florida in 2017 on charges of drunk driving or drug-impaired driving.” The report noted, “At that time, Woods was asleep in the driver’s seat of a vehicle with the engine running and the right turn signal on, and two tires were flat.”

It was revealed that Woods was not driving under the influence of alcohol at the time, but had taken a mixture of painkillers, sleeping pills, and antidepressants. Given that Woods underwent surgery on his Achilles tendon and back last year, there is a possibility that he caused this traffic accident again using drugs such as painkillers.

It was found that three out of four New York City residents experienced financial hardship last year due to rising food costs. According to a survey released on the 24th by the New York City anti-hunger organization “No Kid Hungry New York,” 74% of New York City residents stated that their financial situation had worsened, including increasing debt, due to rising food costs.

84% of all respondents said that the problem of rising food costs had not improved compared to the previous year and that food expenses were increasing faster than their income. Furthermore, more than half of the respondents (52%) stated that their debt had increased last year due to rising food costs.

74% of households with children reported having to make a difficult choice between food expenses and essential living costs, such as utilities, rent, mortgages, and medical bills. For all households, 67% faced a difficult choice between the two. To cover food expenses, more than one in four people (28%) were found to have used interest-bearing “Bought-Now-Paying” (BNPL) plan apps, such as Afterpay or Klarna. Four out of ten people (39%) used BNPL plan apps, reaching nearly half (48%) of households of color.

This survey was conducted from February 3 to 10 with 1,512 participants, and the margin of error is ±2.5%.

Bills aimed at restricting indiscriminate immigration enforcement in New Jersey have passed the state legislature in large numbers, bringing them to the brink of enactment. On the 23rd, the New Jersey State Senate and Assembly each held plenary sessions and successively passed three bills designed to protect New Jersey immigrants from the Trump administration’s large-scale immigration crackdowns.

With this, only the signature of New Jersey Governor Mikey Sherrill remains for final legislation. Governor Sherrill’s office has stated that it intends to sign the bills, indicating that the countdown to legislation has begun. These bills had previously passed the state legislature last January but were discarded after former Governor Phil Murphy exercised his veto power. However, they were passed this time after the legislature revised certain provisions and resumed discussions.

The immigrant protection bills passed this time include:

▲ legislation of “Immigrant Trust Guidelines” prohibiting cooperation between local police and federal immigration authorities (A-4071);

▲ a bill prohibiting government agencies and medical facilities from requesting or collecting residents’ immigration status, birthplace, and Social Security numbers (A-4070); and

▲ a bill banning law enforcement officers, including ICE agents, from wearing masks while on duty in New Jersey (A-1743).

Among these, Korean-American State Assemblywoman Ellen Park co-sponsored the legislation of Immigrant Trust Guidelines and the bill prohibiting public agencies from requesting and collecting residents’ personal information. Regarding these bills, some Republican state legislators are pushing back, arguing that they disregard the authority of the federal government and prioritize politics over public safety.

Meanwhile, Governor Cheryl is actively pushing forward with immigrant protection policies, having already expressed support for banning ICE agents from wearing masks and enacting immigrant trust guidelines into law. Governor Cheryl filed a lawsuit in federal court on the 20th to block the Trump administration’s plan to convert a warehouse in Roxbury, New Jersey, into a large-scale immigrant detention facility.

Instability in the Middle East is shaking both international financial markets and the real economy. As the won-dollar exchange rate soared past the 1,500 won mark—considered a psychological threshold—and fuel surcharges on airline tickets skyrocketed due to rising international oil prices, overall costs for overseas travel, studying abroad, and business trips are rising sharply.

On the 17th (KST), the won-dollar exchange rate closed at 1,491.90 won, down 1.80 won from the previous day’s closing price in the Seoul foreign exchange market. Although the sharp rise was temporarily calmed by intervention from foreign exchange authorities, a sense of crisis is spreading in the market that the “1,500 won era” has already begun.

On the previous day, the won-dollar exchange rate rose to 1,501 won during trading, surpassing the 1,500 won mark for the first time in 17 years since the global financial crisis in 2009. The recent surge in the exchange rate is attributed to the continued strength of the dollar, driven by rising international oil prices and growing inflation concerns stemming from the escalation of the Iran-U.S. war.

In the foreign exchange market, extreme forecasts suggest the exchange rate could skyrocket to the 1,600 won range if the war becomes prolonged. The problem, however, is that the rise in the exchange rate is not merely a financial market issue. As international oil prices and the exchange rate surge simultaneously due to the Middle East crisis, the aviation industry anticipates a massive increase in fuel surcharges applied to international flights this coming April.

For routes from Korea to the U.S., it is expected that a fuel surcharge of up to approximately 400,000 won will be added for a round trip. Consequently, Korean Air will now charge a fuel surcharge of up to 303,000 won per one-way trip. For a round-trip flight from Incheon to New York, approximately 408,000 won will be added to the ticket price. Asiana Airlines is also applying a fuel surcharge of up to 251,900 won per one-way trip to its New York and Los Angeles routes. This figure represents a whopping 3.2-fold increase from the previous 78,600 won. The rise in aviation fuel surcharges is placing a heavy burden not only on Koreans who frequently travel between Korea and the U.S. but also on Korean Americans.

Choi (42) said, “When looking at it in dollar terms, it feels like travel costs to Korea have become a little cheaper, but I don’t really feel it because airfare prices have risen so much,” adding, “I travel back and forth often because my parents live in Korea, so it is a huge burden if fuel surcharges rise like this.”

The rise in international oil prices triggered by the Iran-U.S. war is tightening the grip on residents by causing gasoline prices in New York State to skyrocket. In this regard, Governor Kathy Hockul held a press conference on the 16th and announced a ‘Consumer Protection Plan’ containing measures such as eliminating hidden energy costs, eradicating excessive rate hikes, and expanding programs to alleviate the burden of energy costs.

Governor Hochul stated on this day, “In just two weeks, gasoline prices in New York State have surged by an average of 21% (62 cents) per gallon and diesel by an average of 28% ($1.13) per gallon,” adding that he would do his utmost to protect consumers as the resulting impact, including inflation, is inevitable.

Recent data indicates that homes in Northern Virginia are selling within just two weeks of being listed. According to the February market report released on the 10th by real estate information service provider Bright MLS, homes in Northern Virginia—including Fairfax, Arlington, and Loudoun counties—are selling within just 5 to 11 days of being listed.

Looking at the data by region, Fairfax County was found to be particularly hot. In this area, a transaction took place within just 7 days of listing, and the number of transactions increased by 6.3% compared to the same period last year. The median sale price was recorded at $729,000, continuing a solid upward trend. In Loudoun County, the time taken from listing to sale was 7 days with an average transaction price of $760,000, while in Arlington County, it took 11 days with a transaction price of $695,000.

Last month, a total of 3,574 new listings appeared across the entire Washington metropolitan area, plunging 13% year-over-year and marking the lowest February supply in over 20 years. Conversely, as 30-year fixed interest rates fell to their lowest level in three and a half years, buyers accelerated their activity.

In contrast, downtown Washington, D.C., presented a stark contrast to Northern Virginia, with transaction volume plunging 18.8% and the median price falling 6.2% to $599,000. Experts predict that this “listing drought” and “ultra-fast sales” will continue for the foreseeable future.

The Senate is pushing a bill to exempt households with an annual household income of $75,000 or less from federal income taxes, and attention is focused on its passage.

Senator Cory Booker introduced the “Keep Your Pay Act,” a middle-class tax cut, on the 9th. The bill would exempt the first $75,000 of annual income from federal income tax for married couples filing jointly. The bill would expand the standard deduction from $32,200 to $75,000, further expanding the exemption. The bill also expands the standard deduction to $37,500 for single adults filing individually and to $56,250 for households filing as head of households.

Congressman Booker explained that visitors can easily estimate the savings that could be realized if the bill becomes a reality by visiting his website (booker.senate.gov/tax-calculator). “It’s a simple idea: eliminate taxes on the first $75,000 of a household’s income,” he said. “We need a dramatic change to make the American Dream accessible to everyone once again.

The money needed to eliminate the income tax exemption can be more than offset by measures like curbing corporate tax evasion and raising taxes on the wealthy and corporations.

The New York City Council is actively pursuing a plan to raise the minimum wage to $30 per hour, and attention is focused on its future course.

On the 10th, New York City Councilmember Sandy Nurse (Democrat) formally introduced a minimum wage increase ordinance (Int. 757) with these provisions to the City Council and began the process for its passage. The ordinance introduced that day stipulates that the minimum wage per hour for companies with 500 or more employees will gradually increase starting at $20 in 2027, $23 in 2028, $26 in 2029, and $30 in 2030, and starting in 2031, it will automatically increase annually in line with the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W), or inflation rate. The ordinance also includes a provision to gradually increase the minimum wage per hour for small businesses with 500 or fewer employees over five years, starting at $19 in 2027, then $21.50 in 2028, $24 in 2029, $27 in 2030, and $29 in 2031, before automatically increasing annually starting in 2032, also linked to the rate of inflation. If this ordinance becomes law, New York City will have the highest minimum wage in the United States.

The $30 hourly minimum wage was one of Mayor Zoran Mamdani’s key campaign promises during last year’s mayoral election. If the ordinance passes the City Council, it will almost certainly take effect immediately, without a veto. The ordinance will take effect 180 days after the mayor signs it.

At a press conference held after introducing the ordinance that day, Councilmember Nurse pointed out, “Currently, a worker earning the minimum wage of $17 per hour in New York City has an after-tax real income of only $500 per week, which makes it virtually impossible to live in New York City.”

She continued, “There is research that shows that a real ‘living wage’ in New York City, considering the consumer price index, should be at least $36.99 for even a childless adult. Considering the high inflation and the murderous cost of living in New York City, the current minimum wage of $17 is woefully inadequate,” emphasizing the legitimacy of raising the minimum wage to $30.

Councilmember Nurse continued, “Currently, New York City’s minimum wage falls short of Flagstaff, Arizona’s $18.35, Denver’s $19.29, and Seattle’s $21.30.” Meanwhile, regarding Councilmember Nurse’s proposed minimum wage increase to $30, New York City Mayor’s spokesperson Dora Pequek said, “While the city government is reviewing this ordinance, Mayor Mamdani will focus on solving the housing and other cost-of-living crisis for workers using all available city resources,” avoiding a direct answer to the question of whether Mayor Mamdani supports or approves of the ordinance.