Urgent Alert regarding Executive Order Suspending Entry of Nationals from Certain Designated Countries and Suspending Visa Interview Waivers
- Bar to Entry of Individuals from Certain Designated Countries
It is expected that President Trump will sign an Executive Order today or early next week relating to visa issuance, entry screening and visa issuance procedures, and other immigration related topics. We have reviewed the draft order that has not yet been signed.
Once signed, the Order would deny entry to nationals from designated countries for 30 days from the date of the order. This bar to entry and visa issuance would not be lifted unless these and other countries provide requested information within 60 days. If the information is not provided or the Trump Administration is not satisfied with the information, the travel ban could become indefinite.
The designated countries are likely to include Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen. Additional countries could be included.
What you should do:
- Refrain from traveling outside of the United States if currently present in the US
- Try to return to the United States as soon as possible (today) if currently outside of the country.
It is not clear what it means to be “from” a designated country. This means that the bar could include passport holders, citizens, nationals and dual nationals. Measures adopted by previous administrations focused on place of birth.
- Suspension of Visa Interview Waiver Program
The draft Executive Order also immediately suspends the Visa Interview Waiver Program. The Visa Interview Waiver Program allowed individuals to avoid attending an interview as part of the application for a non-immigrant (temporary travel purpose) visa. All visa applicants will now be required to attend a visa interview. If you are applying for a visa, you will no longer be permitted to apply by mail.
It is unclear at this time how this order will be implemented.
If you were planning on using the Visa Interview Waiver Program to apply for a visa by mail, we recommend that you immediately schedule an appointment for an interview.
This does not impact the ESTA / Waiver Traveler program that allows individuals from designated countries to travel to the US without a visa.
If you have any other questions, please contact us at 415.765.5111 or info@emvisa.com. Thank you. |
