Travel Ban 3.0 – Who Can Come and Who Has Been Left Out.
On September 24, 2017, President Trump announced new travel restrictions following his initial travel ban earlier this year through the Presidential Proclamation, “Enhancing Vetting Capabilities and Processes for Detecting Attempted Entry Into the United States by Terrorists or Other Public-Safety Threats.” President Trump sources these new restrictions in the inadequacies of information-sharing and identify-management protocols and procedures of the name countries. The restrictions and limitations are to take effect on October 18, 2017. We break down the country list and corresponding restrictions below:
Country | Restrictions |
North Korea | Immigrant and nonimmigrant entry suspended indefinitely. |
Chad | Immigrant and non-immigrant entry on B-1 and B-2 visas suspended. |
Iran | Immigrant and nonimmigrant entry suspended except for F,M, and J nonimmigrants. Enhance screening and vetting for exempted nonimmigrants. |
Libya | Immigrant and non-immigrant entry on B-1 and B-2 visas suspended. |
Syria | Immigrant and nonimmigrant entry suspended indefinitely. |
Venezuela | Entry of government officials and their immediate family members as nonimmigrants on B-1 or B2 visas are suspended. Enhanced screening and vetting for exempted persons. |
Yemen | Immigrant and non-immigrant entry on B-1 and B-2 visas suspended. |
Somalia | Immigrant entry suspended indefinitely. Enhanced screening and vetting for all nonimmigrants at the consulate and upon entry in the US. |
Sudan, which was listed in the initial travel ban, has been removed from this list. Those restrictions will be lifted on October 18th.
We note that green card holders, foreign nationals paroled in the US, dual nationals of a country traveling on a passport issued by a non-designated country, asylees, refugees already in the US, individuals granted withholding of removal, advance parole, or protection under the Convention Against Torture, are not affected by the new travel ban.
The government has yet to release guidance on how pending immigrant petitions for nationals from the above countries in the queue will be affected. It remains to be seen how the revised travel ban will affect the pending case against the government’s initial travel ban that is currently before the US Supreme Court.
MPLG is actively following these developments. If you or a family member will be affected by the new travel ban, please reach out to our office for a case specific analysis.