For the next 90 days, nearly all travelers, except U.S. citizens, traveling on passports from Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Iran, Somalia, Libya, and Yemen will be temporarily suspended from entry to the United States.

Green Card (Permanent Resident Card) holders of the United States traveling on  the above passports will be allowed to board U.S. bound aircraft and will be assessed for security at arrival ports of entry.  They may be taken to Secondary Inspection and this might take time, upon arrival

DHS and the Department of State have the authority, on a case-by-case basis, to issue visas or allow the entry of nationals of these countries into the United States when it serves the national interest. These seven countries were designated by Congress  as posing a significant enough security risk to warrant additional scrutiny in the visa waiver context.

The Refugee Admissions Program will be temporarily suspended for the next 120 days while the “Government” review screening procedures to ensure refugees admitted in the future do not pose a security risk to citizens of the United States.

The Executive Order does not prohibit entry of, or visa issuance to, travelers with diplomatic visas, North Atlantic Treaty Organization visas, C-2 visas for travel to the United Nations, and G-1, G-2, G-3, and G-4 visas. All other visa applicants are advised not to make applications to US Consulates or attend visa interviews abroad, because the chances of getting a visa will be slim

Upon resumption of the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program, refugee admissions to the United States will not exceed 50,000 for fiscal year 2017.

The Secretary of Homeland Security will expedite the completion and implementation of a biometric entry-exit tracking system of all travelers into the United States.

If you meet the requirement to become a Citizen, do so as soon as possible.

For more information contact Banerjee & Associates

1. Go dressed well for the interview
2. If you get a 221 G –con tact your attorney. Consulate decisions are final, and if you are denied, you will not be able to reenter
3. After you submit your answer for a 221G, please have patience.
4. The posts tell you to wait at least 60 days before inquiring. We actually advise 90 days. The posts are busy, so if you make yourself or your attorney a pest, the post will simply deny the visa.
5. Once you get your visa, you buy your tickets. We advise that you enter during working hours on week days, even if those tickets cost a bit more. This is because on week days and working hours the Customs and Border Patrol personnel are more senior, hass more experience and has seen your type of case before
6. Please note that if you do get into Secondary Inspection, this is not an adversarial encounter. Yes, it is difficult to wait hours after arriving from an International destination. However the visa officer is simply doing her job.
Also please note that Canadians are given I-94s. Please check your I-94 status here. Please do not overstay your visa.

Please contact Annie Banerjee at Banerjee & Associates for more information.