As part of the Donald Trump administration’s larger initiative to tighten immigration and limit possible asylum seekers, the United States has added a new criteria for visa applicants: they must affirm that they do not fear persecution in their home countries.
CNN reports that all US embassies and consulates received the directive in a diplomatic cable this week. This occurs in the midst of a broader series of reforms to immigration laws that have greatly raised scrutiny of visitors wishing to enter the United States.
Tourists, students, and temporary employees are among the nonimmigrant visa categories covered by the new regulation. It expands on the administration’s previous actions, which included stepping up the scrutiny of applicants for student visas and temporarily suspending some immigration decisions in order to conform to revised security guidelines.
As part of a broader review of entry procedures, the US also halted processing of immigrant visas for citizens of 75 countries in January. “Consular officers must prevent abuse of the immigration system by visa applicants who misrepresent their purpose of travel, including those who attempt to obtain nonimmigrant visas for the purpose of claiming asylum upon arrival in the United States,” the directive stated, adding that applicants must answer “no” to both questions in order for their visa processing to proceed.
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