Donald Trump travel ban: US issues new visa criteria for 6 Muslim nations

DN Bureau

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.

US President Donald Trump (File Photo)
US President Donald Trump (File Photo)


Washington D.C: 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 comes after the Supreme Court partially restored President Donald Trump’s executive order that was widely criticised as a ban on Muslims.

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Protesters at Columbus Circle in New York City prior to a march to Trump Tower to denounce the Supreme Court's reinstatement of large parts of the Trump travel ban

The new guidelines sent to US embassies and consulates on Wednesday say that applicants from the six countries must prove a relationship with a parent, spouse, child, adult son or daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law or sibling in the US.

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Grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers-laws and sisters-in-law, fiancees or other extended family members are not considered to be close relationships.

Senior officials from the departments of State, Justice and Homeland Security are finalising criteria that visitors from six mostly Muslim must meet to avoid the Trump administration’s revived travel ban.

White House 

The White House deliberations come as US embassies and consulates await instructions later on Wednesday on how to implement this week’s Supreme Court order that partially reinstated the ban after it was blocked by lower courts. The new measures are expected to be implemented on Thursday.

Also Read: Trump holds first Cabinet meeting minus four members, alleges 'partisan obstruction'

The justices’ opinion exempts applicants from the ban if they can prove a “bona fide relationship” with a US person or entity.

Government lawyers must determine how to define such a relationship. The court offered only broad guidelines suggesting it would include a relative, job offer or invitation to lecture in the US.










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