Visas now available for those banned from traveling to the United States

Citizens of countries whose applications for entry to the United States were denied can reapply for visas. This includes 13 predominantly Muslim countries, including Iran, and several African countries whose citizens Trump had banned from issuing visas.

Citizens of 13 Muslim and African countries whose visa applications were denied by the United States due to the Trump administration's visa ban will be able to reapply for visas, the U.S. State Department announced Monday, March 8.

On his first day in office on January 20, US President Joe Biden repealed the visa ban on predominantly Muslim countries that had been signed by Trump.

Nationals of these countries whose applications for entry into the United States were denied by Jan. 20 can reapply, but must pay the visa fee again, said Ned Price, a spokesman for the U.S. State Department. Those whose visa applications were denied on or after Jan. 20 can request reconsideration and do not have to pay the visa fee again.

A 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 their U.S. visas. Trump had also suspended the issuance of lottery visas. This type of visa is mostly for those who would not normally be able to obtain a U.S. visa.

Since December 2017, about 40,000 people have been barred from entering the United States after a modified version of the travel ban was upheld by the country's Supreme Court.

The countries whose nationals were subject to this law were increased and decreased several times, and finally, nationals of Iran, Myanmar, Eritrea, Kazakhstan, Libya, Nigeria, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, Tanzania, Venezuela, and Yemen were banned from entering the United States.

Source: DW