Bolivia has, after much delay, implemented stiff new visa requirements, as described in this blog and this blog. Included will be a hefty fee as well as some onerous requirements such a background check.

Up until this point, it’s been much harder for a Bolivian to travel to the U.S. than the other way around, and so it’s easy to understand the popular support for stiffening the travel requirements. But, as both of the bloggers above point out, Bolivia could find the new rules counterproductive — they could cut down on tourism and inconvenience Bolivians with dual citizenship.

LEAMIS hasn’t firmed up its 2008 trip schedule, but the last word I had from Debra did not include Bolivia among the possibilities. So I don’t guess I’ll be affected by the new requirements.