Revised US travel ban starts
Applicants from six mainly Muslim countries face new visa criteria
WASHINGTON: The Trump administration has set new criteria for visa applicants from six mainly Muslim nations and all refugees that require a “close” family or business tie to the United States. The move came after the Supreme Court partially restored President Donald Trump’s executive order that was widely criticised as a ban on Muslims.
Visas that have already been approved will not be revoked, but instructions issued by the State Department Wednesday said that new applicants from Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Libya, Iran and Yemen must prove a relationship with a parent, spouse, child, adult son or daughter, son-in-law, daughter-inlaw or sibling already in the United States to be eligible.
The same requirement, with some exceptions, holds for wouldbe refugees from all nations that are still awaiting approval for admission to the United States.
Grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers-in-law and sistersin-law, fiancees or other extended family members are not considered to be close relationships, according to the guidelines that were issued in a cable sent to all US embassies and consulates on Wednesday.
The new rules took effect yesterday. As far as business or professional links are concerned, the State Department said a legitimate relationship must be “formal, documented and formed in the ordinary course rather than for the purpose of evading” the ban.
Journalists, students, workers or lecturers who have valid invitations or employment contracts in the United States would be exempt from the ban.
The exemption does not apply to those who seek a relationship with an American business or educational institution purely for the purpose of avoiding the rules, the cable said.
A hotel reservation or car rental contract, even if it was pre-paid, would also not count, it said.
Consular officers may grant other exemptions to applicants from the six nations if they have “previously established significant contacts with the United States”; “significant business or professional obligations” in the United States; if they are an infant, adopted child or in need of urgent medical care; if they are travelling for business with a recognised international organisation or the US government or if they are a legal resident of Canada who applies for a visa in Canada, according to the cable.
Meanwhile, the Middle East’s biggest airline says its flights to the United States are operating as normal as new travel guidelines come into effect for travellers for six mainly Muslim nations. Dubaibased Emirates said in response to questions on the travel ban Thursday that it “remains guided by the US Customs and Border Protection on this matter”.