Visa Issuance Made Possible for Those Banned from Traveling to America

Nationals of countries whose entry applications to America had been rejected can now reapply for visas. This applies to 13 predominantly Muslim countries including Iran and several African countries whose nationals were banned from visa issuance by Trump.

Nationals of 13 Muslim and African countries whose visa applications had been rejected by the United States due to the Trump administration’s visa ban regulations can now reapply for visas. The U.S. State Department announced this news on Monday, March 8.

Joe Biden, President of the United States, revoked the visa ban for predominantly Muslim countries that had been signed by Trump on his first day of work on January 20.

Ned Price, spokesman of the U.S. State Department, said that nationals of these countries whose entry applications to America were rejected by January 20 can reapply, but must pay the visa fee again. Those whose visa applications were rejected on January 20 or after can request reconsideration and do not need to pay the visa fee again.

The U.S. State Department spokesman said that those who participated in the green card lottery before the legal ban and have not yet received their visas will receive U.S. visas. Trump had also suspended the issuance of lottery visas. This type of visa is mainly for those who would not normally be able to obtain a U.S. visa.

Since December 2017, after the modified version of the travel ban to America was approved by the country’s Supreme Court, approximately 40,000 people have been prevented from entering the country.

The countries whose nationals were subject to this law changed multiple times, and ultimately nationals of Iran, Myanmar, Eritrea, Kazakhstan, Libya, Nigeria, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Venezuela, and Yemen were banned from entering America.

Source: DW