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<keyword id="6355572" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sri-lanka" source="Orion">Sri Lanka</keyword> will allow visa-free entry to visitors from seven countries, including India, China and Russia, under a pilot project the country's foreign affairs minister said on Tuesday. The decision was approved by the Sri Lanka Cabinet, minister <keyword id="8316702" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Ali-Sabry" source="Orion">Ali Sabry</keyword> said. The minister said that the pilot project that has begun with immediate efffect will continue till till March 31, 2024. Taking to X, Minister Sabry said, "Cabinet approves issuing of free visas to India, China, Russia, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia &amp; Thailand with immediate effect as a pilot project till 31 March." Last week, the Ministry of Tourism announced that a Cabinet Paper had been presented during the previous Cabinet meeting, proposing the issue of free tourist visas to foreigners from five countries who intend to visit Sri Lanka as tourists, The Daily Mirror reported. (ANI)

Sri Lanka announces free visa entry for Indians

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Consulting firm Henley &amp; Partners released the 2024 ranking of the world's most powerful passports.</li><li>Two Asian and four European countries were tied for having the world's most powerful passport.</li></ul>Six countries now have the world's most powerful passport, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.henleyglobal.com/passport-index/ranking">according to the 2024 Henley Passport Index</a> — but the US isn't one of them.UK-based consulting firm Henley &amp; Partners first published the index in 2006. Passports are ranked based on the number of destinations they can access without a visa or e-visa, relying on data from the International Air Transport Authority (IATA). The index includes 199 passports and considers the ease of access to 227 destinations.Four countries in Europe and two in Asia were tied for having the most powerful passports — the first time in the index's history, according to a Henley &amp; Partners press release.For Asia, it was <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/singapore-travel-food-hotel-budget-tips-price-cost-expensive-cheap-2024-1">Singapore</a> and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/dad-living-in-tokyo-shares-differences-in-school-culture-2023-12">Japan</a>, both <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/the-most-powerful-passports-in-the-world-in-2022-ranked-2022-7">retaining the top spot from last year's index</a>. <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-pass-for-paris-local-cafes-shops-public-transit-2023">France</a>, Germany, Italy, and Spain — all part of the European Union — were added. All six have visa-free entry to 194 destinations.The US ranked seventh — tying with Hungary and Canada — in this year's index, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.henleyglobal.com/passport-index">with visa-free entry to 188 destinations</a>. Countries that require visas for US passport holders include <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/tourism-still-declining-in-china-2023-9">China</a>, Brazil, and <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/michelin-guide-hanoi-vietnam-missing-best-street-food-pho-2023-12">Vietnam</a>. Twenty-five countries ranked higher than the US on the index.Over 67 million US citizens traveled overseas last year, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.trade.gov/data-visualization/apisi-92-monitor">according to data by the International Trade Administration.</a> Some popular destinations Americans travel to — including <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/mexico-city-cdmx-best-places-to-eat-restaurants-tacos-2023-2">Mexico</a>, Canada, and Italy — are visa-free.The strength of the US passport has declined in the past decade, peaking in 2006 and 2014 and ranking first on the index, data from the Henley Passport Index show. The US has ranked seventh since 2020 — the lowest it's been ranked in the index's history.<a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/taliban-mannequin-women-afghanistan-covered-face-mask-hood-2023-1">Afghanistan</a> took last place on the index, with visa-free entry to 28 countries. Syria, Iraq, Pakistan, and Yemen are the bottom five countries, with 29, 31, 34, and 35 visa-free destinations, respectively.<div type="image" title="Mount Fuji Tokyo" height="800" width="1200" msid="106751085" hostid="261" sizebytes="91508"></div><h2>These are the 10 most powerful passports for 2024, and how many countries they each grant visa-free access to:</h2><ol><li>France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Singapore, and Spain 194 destinations</li><li>Finland, South Korea, and Sweden 193 destinations</li><li>Austria, Denmark, Ireland, and the Netherlands 192 destinations</li><li>Belgium, Luxembourg, Norway, Portugal, and the UK 191 destinations</li><li>Greece, Malta, and Switzerland 190 destinations</li><li>Australia, Czech Republic, New Zealand, and Poland 189 destinations</li><li>Canada, Hungary, and the US 188 destinations</li><li>Estonia and Lithuania 187 destinations</li><li>Latvia, Slovakia, and Slovenia 186 destinations</li><li>Iceland 185 destinations</li></ol>

6 countries have tied for the world's most powerful passport — and the US isn't one of them

Indian tourists do not need a visa for visiting <keyword id="19915592" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="iran" source="keywords">Iran</keyword> with a new policy coming into effect from February 4, according to a statement issued by the Embassy of Iran here on Tuesday. "Individuals holding ordinary passports will be allowed to enter Iran without a visa once every six months, with a maximum stay of 15 days," the Embassy said in a statement. It is important to note that the 15-day period cannot be extended, the statement clarified. The visa-free entry applies only to individuals entering Iran for tourism purposes. Indians who visit Iran for business or educational purposes would have to apply for visa under the respective categories. Those who want to visit Iran more than once within the six-month time span will have to obtain a visa. The statement also made it clear that the visa-free entry would be applicable only to those Indian tourists who arrive in Iran by air. Those coming to Iran via the land route through Turkey, Afghanistan, Pakistan or any neighbouring nation would not be allowed to enter without a prior visa. Iran now joins the list of countries like <keyword id="19913659" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="thailand" source="keywords">Thailand</keyword>, Malaysia, <keyword id="19931726" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="sri-lanka" source="keywords">Sri Lanka</keyword> and Vietnam, which have recently waived visa requirements for Indian visitors.

After Thailand and Sri Lanka, Iran allows Indian tourists entry without visa

Seoul, Apr 8 (AP) South Korea plans to take further steps to tighten border controls to slow coronavirus infections imported from abroad as outbreaks worsen in Europe and the United States.South Korean Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun during an anti-virus meeting on Wednesday said Seoul will suspend visa-free entries and visa waivers with countries imposing entry bans on South Korean nationals and employ further restrictions to repel foreigners traveling on "unnecessary and non-urgent purposes." Officials were expected to formally announce the measures later Wednesday.South Korea has been enforcing two-week quarantines on all passengers arriving from abroad since April 1.South Korea's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Wednesday reported 53 new cases of the coronavirus and 8 more deaths, bringing national totals to 10,384 infections and 200 fatalities.At least 832 infections have been linked to passengers arriving from abroad, with most of the cases detected in the past three weeks in the densely populous Seoul metropolitan area, where about half of South Korea's 51 million people live. (AP) AMSAMS

South Korea to tighten border to slow virus

<ul class="summary-list"><li>At least 200,000 Russians have fled the country after Putin ordered a partial mobilization.</li><li>Many are heading to neighboring countries where they can enter visa-free, like Kazakhstan and Georgia.</li></ul>A surge of Russians fleeing their country to avoid being drafted is sending hotel rates and rents in Kazakhstan and Georgia soaring.At least 200,000 Russians have left the country since <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/putin-speech-partial-military-mobilization-draft-reservists-ukraine-war-2022-9">President Vladimir Putin</a> announced a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/putin-speech-partial-military-mobilization-draft-reservists-ukraine-war-2022-9">partial military mobilization</a> order for the Ukraine war on September 21, <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-09-28/russians-fleeing-putin-s-draft-stir-fears-in-worried-neighbors">Bloomberg</a> reported on Wednesday, citing data from Kazakhstan, Georgia, and the European Union.Russian men, some with <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/kazakhstan-struggles-accommodate-russians-fleeing-war-2022-09-27/">families in tow,</a> have been heading to countries with visa-free entry for Russians — by car, bicycle or by foot, with long queues forming at the land borders, according to the <a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-putin-estonia-kazakhstan-d851fdd9e99bedbf4e01b98efd18d14b">Associated Press</a> on Wednesday.The sudden surge in Russians entering these neighboring countries has jacked up hotel rates and home rents in Kazakhstan and Georgia. Prices have doubled in some places, and have led to heightened tensions with locals, according to Bloomberg.To be sure, it's not the first influx of Russians fleeing Putin's regime. Many highly educated professionals have left Russia since the war with Ukraine broke out, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-brain-drain-economy-ukraine-sanctions-immigration-putin-iran-isolation-2022-3">Insider's Jason Lalljee</a> reported in March.Russians, alongside Ukrainians and Belarusians escaping from war and repression have also pushed up rents in Armenia and Georgia, Tbilisi-based independent news site <a href="https://oc-media.org/features/evictions-surge-as-rents-skyrocket-in-yerevan-and-tbilisi/">OC Media</a> in March. In some cases, tenants have faced eviction, as they have been unable to fork up additional rents, the publication reported. It's not just accommodation costs either. An air ticket out of Russia can cost as much <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russians-paying-27000-to-escape-country-on-private-jets-report-2022-9">$27,000 on a private jet,</a> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/sep/27/russians-paying-25000-for-seats-on-private-planes-after-war-mobilisation">The Guardian reported</a> on Tuesday — but demand is robust. That could be because <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/plane-tickets-out-russia-sell-out-after-putin-declares-mobilization-2022-9">plane tickets out of Russia are selling out</a> fast.The <a href="https://ec.europa.eu/info/sites/default/files/business_economy_euro/banking_and_finance/documents/faqs-sanctions-russia-aviation_en.pdf">European Union</a> has <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/european-union-ban-russian-flights-airspace-fresh-sanctions-report-2022-2">banned Russian flights</a> from its airspace, but Russian travelers can still enter the bloc via <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-tourist-ban-poland-estonia-latvia-lithuania-eu-schengen-finland-2022-9">Finland.</a> They can then travel in the block with a valid checks-free Schengen visa.

Russians fleeing Putin's draft are pouring into nearby countries, sending hotel rates, rents, and airfares soaring

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Sri Lankan authorities<a target="_blank" href="https://sltda.gov.lk/en/important-notices"> </a>said it would scrap free long-term visas for Russian and Ukrainian tourists.</li><li>The move followed controversy caused by a Russian-organized "whites only" party.</li></ul>Sri Lanka has scrapped free long-term visa extensions for Russians and Ukrainians who headed to the country in the last two years, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/sri-lanka-halts-free-visas-long-staying-russian-ukrainian-nationals-2024-02-29/">Reuters</a> reported.It follows outrage over a "whites only" event advertised at a Russian-run nightclub on the island.The Sarayka lounge, situated in the popular resort town of Unawatuna in the south of the country, had planned to host a "White Party" last week.But a poster about the event that was widely circulated on social media caused outrage as it included a line saying "Face Control: White," which many people took to mean that non-white people would be refused entry.Shortly after the party was canceled, <a target="_blank" href="https://sltda.gov.lk/en/important-notices">the Sri Lankan Tourism Development Authority announced</a> that it would be scrapping free long-term visa extensions for Russian and Ukrainian tourists as of February 23, although a 14-day grace period will allow those without new visas to stay until March 7.Public Security Minister Tiran Alles told Reuters that any affected people wishing to remain in Sri Lanka would have to pay around $50 for a 30-day visa."Whoever wants to stay back can apply for new visas," Alles said. "They can immediately renew their visas and remain here."<a target="_blank" href="https://twitter.com/RusEmbSriLanka/status/1761636636863942816">In a statement issued in response to the nightclub incident</a>, the Russian Embassy in Colombo said: "Russia strongly condemns all forms of racial discrimination and nationalism" and called on its citizens to follow local laws and customs.<h3>Russians have flocked to the island since the Ukraine war broke out</h3>Following the invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russians have flocked to Sri Lanka, and around 300 to 400 are thought to have remained there since, Priantha Fernando, the chairman of the island's tourism body, said, per Reuters.According to official statistics, almost 200,000 Russians and around 5,000 Ukrainians visited the island in 2023.That has come as a welcome boost to Sri Lanka's economy, which has struggled in recent years, with the country <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/sri-lanka-says-bankrupt-financial-crisis-ravages-country-debts-default-2022-7">declaring bankruptcy</a> in 2022 as it faced mounting foreign debt.But its economy has shown some signs of revival more recently, growing by 1.6% from July to September, <a target="_blank" href="https://www.reuters.com/markets/asia/sri-lankas-economy-returns-growth-led-by-agriculture-2023-12-15/">Reuters</a> reported.

Sri Lanka has ended free long-term visas for Russians and Ukrainians following outrage over a 'whites only' party

<ul class="summary-list"><li>The European Union has pushed back its new "ETIAS" travel authorization to 2025.</li><li>The new rules will require US travelers to pay a $7.50 fee and fill out an entrance form.</li></ul>US tourists will get an extra year of free travel to Europe after the European Union pushed back its plans to charge a fee for entry.European officials <a target="_blank" href="https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/jha/2023/10/19-20/">confirmed on Friday</a> that the EU's "ETIAS" travel authorization, which will require travelers from the US to <a target="_blank" href="https://www.insider.com/application-requirements-for-americans-traveling-to-europe-etias-2024-2023-7">complete an application form and pay €7 ($7.50)</a> to enter the bloc, has been delayed until 2025.The new rules, which were expected to roll out in 2024, will apply to 60 visa-free countries, including the US, UK, and Canada.The EU has said that the application for entry will not take more than 10 minutes to process, but some travelers could be kept waiting up to 30 days if they are required to do an interview or submit extra documentation.The new authorization will last for up to three years, or until your passport expires. US visitors can currently travel to the 27 countries within Europe's Schengen zone for <a target="_blank" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/places-to-visit-in-europe-in-your-lifetime-2015-10">90 days without a visa.</a>While tourists traveling to Europe can soon expect to pay a fee, one thing they won't get back is a physical passport stamp, with the EU planning to replace manual passport stamping with a digital system that relies on fingerprint and face scans by 2024.US tourists have flocked to Europe this year as international travel continues to recover from the pandemic slump. The number of passengers traveling between the US and Europe in July <a target="_blank" href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/american-travelers-are-shunning-the-u-s-for-europe-5b5e08ea">was up 14% compared to 2019</a>, according to data from trade group Airlines for America.

Americans won't have to pay Europe's new entrance fee until 2025 

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Russians fleeing Putin's military draft have left via car, train, plane, and less frequently, by boat.</li><li>All but two Russians known to have sailed into South Korea to avoid the draft have been denied entry.</li></ul>Russians heading to South Korea by boat in hopes of evading Vladimir Putin's military draft are being denied entry, <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/russia-ukraine-war-conscription-putin-reservists-boats-south-korea-rcna52040">NBC News reported</a> Sunday.In September, after having <a href="https://thehill.com/policy/defense/3593041-russia-has-seen-70000-to-80000-casualties-in-attack-on-ukraine-pentagon-says/">faced military losses</a> and <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/putin-become-more-hands-on-war-on-ukraine-2022-9">failures on the ground</a>, Putin ordered a "<a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/putin-speech-partial-military-mobilization-draft-reservists-ukraine-war-2022-9">partial military mobilization</a>" in an effort to add an additional 300,000 troops to Ukraine. Since then, Russia has seen numerous <a href="https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-briefing-notes/2022/09/arrests-russia-protests-over-troop-mobilization">protests with thousands of arrests</a> and a <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russian-man-says-he-break-leg-or-prison-avoid-draft-2022-9?inline-endstory-related-recommendations=">fleeing population</a> of those <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russians-fleeing-putin-ukraine-mobilization-face-traffic-expensive-flights-prison-2022-9">who hope to avoid the conflict</a>.Most fleeing the conscription left via plane, train, or car, but at least 23 took to the sea hoping to get into South Korea, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/russians-fleeing-putins-call-up-sail-skorea-most-refused-entry-report-2022-10-12/">Reuters reported</a>. At least one group arrived at the South Korean island of Ulleung from the Russian city of Vladivostok, according to the <a href="https://www.jpost.com/international/article-719447">Jerusalem Post</a>. And, according to NBC News, at least one boat remains stationed in Pohang, North Gyeongsang, despite those aboard being denied entry since its arrival Tuesday."It is likely that Korea is becoming an intermediate stopover as more people attempt to escape Russia," An Ho-young, a South Korean lawmaker, told NBC News. An said it was necessary for the government to come up with "dedicated procedures for handling what could turn into a diplomatic and human rights issue."While each of the Russians who attempted to get to South Korea by boat applied for tourist visas, all but two were denied entry due to "insufficient documentation and unclear objective," per An, NBC News reported. The two that were granted entry had been in the country before.Reuters reported that Russians are typically allowed to enter South Korea without a visa if they are approved through the country's electronic travel authorization system."The Russian visitors went through a regular routine immigration process like everybody else, and those denied of entry to South Korea were because they did not meet the visa requirements and regulations," a South Korean Justice Ministry spokesperson told NBC News.Russia and South Korea have an agreement allowing citizens to enter for up to 90 days visa-free, according to the <a href="https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20221012000699">Korea Herald</a>. But if an individual is visiting South Korea for purposes other than employment, residence, or study, they must obtain the Korea Electronic Travel Authorization ahead of arrival, the outlet added.Those seeking refugee status on the basis of avoiding military conscription do not typically qualify for it, the Korean outlet added. The Herald, citing a Coast Guard officer, said the official numbers for Russians seeking asylum are currently unknown, but more may be on the way. "We don't know if the Russians who sailed their way over here were asking to apply for refugee status. But if they were, I don't think taking them in would have hurt our ties with Russia," Lee Sang-joon, a professor of South Korea-Russia relations at Kookmin University, told the Korea Herald. "South Korea is already a country that accepts very few refugees," he said. "I think now may be a good time for us to revisit our standards," he said. "We could open our doors to Russian IT workers who have been leaving their country en masse, and Putin opponents or those otherwise seeking political asylum."South Korean Justice Ministry did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

South Korea is turning away Russians trying to escape Putin's military draft by sea

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="6359421" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="visa">Visa</keyword> will launch a credit card that rewards users in <keyword id="6354947" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="bitcoin">Bitcoin</keyword>, instead of the traditional cash, or airline miles, in early 2021.</li><li>The card comes at an annual fee of $200.</li><li>Users will receive 1.5% of their purchases back in Bitcoin and a bonus of $250 in the world's most popular digital currency after spending $3,000 or more within the first three months. </li><li><keyword id="6357017" type="DEFINITION" weightage="60" keywordseo="cryptocurrency">Cryptocurrency</keyword> startup BlockFi, Visa's card partner, said it "offers an easy entry point, enabling consumers to accrue bitcoin through everyday spending."</li></ul><a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/stocks/v-stock">Visa</a> is releasing a new credit card that will offer cashback rewards to customers in <a href="https://markets.businessinsider.com/currencies/btc-usd">Bitcoin</a> in early 2021.The payments company has partnered with cryptocurrency startup BlockFi for its "Bitcoin Rewards Visa Credit Card," which comes at an annual fee of $200. Users will receive 1.5% of their purchases back in the form of the digital asset.Cardholders will also receive a bonus of $250 in Bitcoin after spending $3,000 or more within the first three months of ownership, BlockFi said in a statement. Waitlist registrations have already opened for both existing and new BlockFi account holders. But current BlockFi users will have first access as they can register, apply, and receive the new credit cards before everybody else. A public waitlist will open in early January.Read More: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/stocks-to-buy-31-set-to-become-growth-engines-hsbc-2020-12">HSBC says buy these 31 global stocks that are exposed to the pandemic's biggest tech disruptions and set to become growth engines of the future</a>The new card, which will be issued by Evolve Bank &amp; Trust, seeks to serve the crypto-curious who are finding ways to add Bitcoin holdings to their investments. It "offers an easy entry point, enabling consumers to accrue Bitcoin through everyday spending," BlockFi said."We're excited to add credit cards to our suite of products and expand bitcoin's accessibility to a broader set of consumers," Zac Prince, BlockFi's CEO and founder, said in a statement. "This card makes it simple and risk-free for people to gain or increase exposure to a new asset class without changing their spending or investing habits."Visa's adoption of Bitcoin didn't start with BlockFi. In April, the credit card firm partnered with startup <a href="https://foldapp.com/card/">Fold</a> to offer rewards denominated in Bitcoin. In February, Visa and Coinbase announced the Coinbase Card, which <a href="https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeldelcastillo/2020/02/19/visa-grants-coinbase-power-to-issue-bitcoin-debit-cards/?sh=641e055f2e83">allows users to issue Bitcoin</a> using debit cards.Bitcoin has rallied 166% this year and hit record highs near $20,000 in the last week, driven by institutional buy-in and investors looking for a hedge against the devaluation of traditional paper money.Read More: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/investing-advice-tips-growth-fund-manager-dennis-lynch-morgan-stanley-2020-11">Dennis Lynch has tripled his clients' money since 2010. The star fund manager shares 5 bets he's seizing on for 2021 and beyond — and explains how he avoids making costly investing decisions.</a>

Visa will offer a credit card that rewards purchases in Bitcoin, rather than cash or airline miles, in early 2021

<ul class="summary-list"><li>I travel often but my recent <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/vietnam-travel-places-to-avoid-skip-tips-sapa-halong-bay-2023-9">trip to Vietnam</a> was the first time I had issues entering a country.</li><li>I was denied entry because my visa didn't have my middle name on it, but my passport did.</li></ul>After nearly a day-and-a-half of flights that took me from Phoenix to Dallas to Tokyo to <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/ho-chi-minh-city-district-4-vietnam-mafia-urban-explorer-2023-10">Ho Chi Minh City</a>, I was exhausted but thrilled to finally reach my destination.It had been six months since I last visited Vietnam and I was looking forward to exploring new-to-me cities in this beautiful country.Upon deplaning, I headed to the passport-control area with my passport and a print-out of the visa I had applied for — and was granted — about six weeks earlier. When I got to the front, I handed over my two documents and awaited the inevitable stamp of approval. Instead, the employee handed them back to me and said, "Denied."I was so confused — I've traveled to 46 countries and had not had issues gaining entry to any of them before.After bouncing around the airport and waiting in lines I found an employee who would review my documents to tell me what the problem was. It turns out they didn't match: My middle name was on my passport but not on my visa. <h2 id="cdeec0eb-2e67-4139-a5fa-5d67995a3e3a">I couldn't believe such a tiny error had cost me</h2><div type="image" title="Ho Chi Minh City" height="715" width="1200" msid="113822505" hostid="261" sizebytes="182670"></div><a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/turkey-now-allows-visa-applications-for-digital-nomads-2024-4">Visa applications</a> can be denied if your name doesn't match the one on your passport, and I'd missed this discrepancy. Eventually, the employee told me I had two choices: I could fly back to Japan, where I'd just arrived from, or pay for a "very, very expensive" emergency visa.I knew flying back to Japan wasn't an option, as I was embarking on a <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/river-cruise-great-if-you-dont-like-cruises-opinion">river cruise</a> out of Vietnam in less than 12 hours. So, I chose the latter.I let out a sigh of relief when I learned my new visa would be $130 — I'd expected it to cost much more. But I panicked again when I pulled out my credit card, and the employee told me they only accepted cash. Fortunately, I found a few $20 bills shoved in my bag. After a stressful wait, I had my new visa and was free to go. <h2 id="73da479c-f964-4a15-a967-430a639804de">I learned 2 valuable travel lessons I'll never forget </h2>I still don't understand how my visa application was approved in the first place — I had to submit a photo of my <a target="_blank" class="" href="https://www.businessinsider.com/golden-visas-passports-countries-wealthy-residence-investment-2024-9">passport</a> to get it — but now I know to be extra vigilant.Later, I also realized why I'd forgotten to include my middle name: The electronic visa application didn't have a specific spot labeled for it.The form says "Given name" and "Surname" — I didn't think to include my middle name in the same spot as my first because I'm used to seeing a separate spot for it on applications. From now on, though, I'll remember that names on a passport and visa must match perfectly, which means including every detail (even if the application doesn't ask for it in a way you'd expect).I'm glad I was able to continue on my trip — and I'll never travel again without money on hand for emergencies. Cash is still king in most places, and I'm lucky this mistake only cost me a few bills and few hours.

I flew 33 hours to Vietnam but was denied entry because of a common travel mistake that I'll never make again

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Djokovic is in a Melbourne quarantine hotel over issues with his visa and <keyword id="11893194" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="coronavirus" source="Orion">coronavirus</keyword> vaccine rules.</li><li>Serbia's government has been critical, and his mother said he is being held "prisoner."</li></ul><keyword id="11897977" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="australia" source="Orion">Australia</keyword> denied claims that it was keeping the tennis star <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/novak-djokovic">Novak Djokovic</a> "captive" and said he was free to leave the country whenever he wants.Djokovic is currently <a href="https://www.insider.com/novak-djokovic-held-in-detention-center-while-awaiting-deportation-2022-1">being held in a quarantine hotel</a> in Melbourne, and may be deported after a visa issue prevented him entering the country to play in the Australian Open.His parents and the government of his native Serbia have been highly critical, with his mother saying he is <a href="https://www.insider.com/novak-djokovic-australia-mother-says-son-being-held-as-prisoner-2022-1">being held "prisoner"</a> and the president <a href="https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/novak-djokovic-visa-australian-open-reaction-serbia-b975162.html">accusing Australia of "harassment."</a>But Karen Andrews, Australia's home affairs minister, hit back against the criticism on Friday. In comments to the <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-01-07/novak-djokovic-tennis-australian-open-detention-melbourne/100742036">Australian Broadcasting Corporation</a>, Andrews said Djokovic was free to leave any time — and that Australia would actually help him do so."Mr. Djokovic is not being held captive in Australia, he is free to leave at any time that he chooses to do so and Border Force will actually facilitate that," she said.<div type="image" title="Australian Minister for Home Affairs Karen Andrews and U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland (not pictured) announce a landmark new law enforcement partnership at the U.S. Department of Justice" height="1320" width="2000" msid="88758246" hostid="261"></div>Djokovic had arrived in Melbourne on Wednesday under the impression that he would be able to compete in this month's Australian Open after being given a medical exemption that would allow him to play without having a COVID-19 vaccine. However, upon arrival, his visa was revoked.<a href="https://www.insider.com/novak-djokovic-australia-cancels-visa-tennis-covid-19-vaccine-2022-1">The Australian Border Force released a statement Thursday morning Australian time</a> saying Djokovic had "failed to provide appropriate evidence to meet the entry requirements to enter Australia" and that we would subsequently be held and deported. <a href="https://www.theage.com.au/national/visa-bungle-delays-novak-djokovic-s-entry-into-australia-20220105-p59m75.html?utm_medium=Social&amp;utm_source=Twitter#Echobox=1641387869-1">The Australian newspaper The Age</a> reported that Djokovic had applied and been approved for the wrong type of visa that didn't allow for COVID-19 vaccine medical exemptions.The 34-year-old is currently residing at The Park Hotel, a quarantine facility in the center of Melbourne's Carlton neighborhood, while his legal team contest his proposed deportation.<a href="https://www.insider.com/novak-djokovic-held-in-detention-center-while-awaiting-deportation-2022-1">The facility has been used by the Australian government to detain refugees and asylum-seekers</a>, many who have been held for years, while awaiting their visas to be approved. Detainees have previously complained of being served food replete with mold and maggots.On Thursday, Djokovic's mother, Dijana, <a href="https://www.insider.com/novak-djokovic-australia-mother-says-son-being-held-as-prisoner-2022-1">told reporters at a press conference that her son was being held as a "prisoner."</a>"I feel terrible since yesterday, the last 24 hours," she said. "They are keeping him like a prisoner. It's just not fair. It's not human. I just hope he will be strong as we are trying also to be very strong to give him some energy to keep on going. I hope that he will win."On the hotel, she added: "It's just some small immigration hotel, if we can call it a hotel at all. Some bugs, it's dirty, and the food is so terrible."

Australia denies holding Novak Djokovic 'captive' and says it will help him leave the country whenever he wants

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Russians will no longer be able to stay in Kazakhstan indefinitely, Reuters said. </li><li>It's ending a program allowing Russians to remain indefinitely if they renew their visas every 90 days. </li></ul>Kazakhstan is ending a program which is expected to make it more difficult for Russians fleeing conscription and the fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine to stay in the Central Asian country indefinitely. Under the new rules, people from Russia and other neighboring nations will no longer be able to reset the 90-day period for visa-free stay by leaving then coming straight back. More than 100,000 Russians, <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-mobilization-some-drafted-dead-less-than-month-2022-10?r=US&amp;IR=T">many of them men fleeing conscription to fight in Ukraine</a>, fled to Kazakhstan, <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/almost-100-000-russians-have-crossed-into-kazakhstan-since-putins-mobilization-order-11664292051" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to reports</a>. The nation shares a large border with Russia and Russian is widely spoken there.The move signals that the Kazakh government is seeking a tighter grip over immigration, with the surge in entries from Russian contributing to soaring inflation, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/kazakhstan-ends-unlimited-stay-russians-2023-01-17/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reuters reported. </a>Many Russians have used Kazakhstan as a staging post to move on to other countries, and the rule change means that those who remain will have to apply for a residency visa and meet its criteria. The government in Kazakhstan <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/putin-snubbed-by-allies-since-russia-invaded-ukraine-2022-12">has refused to back Russia's invasion of Ukraine, straining ties with the Kremlin</a>. Many Russians have also fled to countries in Europe, where some have claimed asylum, and places including Turkey and the United Arab Emirates.Russia <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2022/10/28/world/europe/russia-draft-war.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said in October</a> that its initial draft of 300,000 men to fight in Ukraine was complete, with no more planned. Ukraine <a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/russia-to-mobilize-500k-soldiers-as-putin-regime-risks-collapsing-says-kyiv-2023-1">has alleged that another wave is coming,</a> though its prediction that this would begin on January 15 did not come true.

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