US State Department Denies Reports of New Visa Restrictions List
Official Clarification on Visa Policy Review
The US State Department has dismissed reports suggesting that the government is preparing a list to impose new visa restrictions on several countries. Reaffirming its commitment to resettling Afghans who assisted the US mission in Afghanistan, the department clarified that no such list exists.
State Department’s Position
During a recent news briefing, State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce acknowledged that the Trump administration is conducting a broader security review of visa policies, following an executive order issued on January 20. However, Bruce refuted claims that Afghanistan was on a list of nations facing a full suspension of visa issuance.
“There is no list. What people are looking at over these last several days is not a list that exists here that is being acted on,” she stated. She further explained that the review is part of an ongoing process to evaluate visa policies and enhance US security.
Emergence of Draft Memo on Visa Restrictions
The spokesperson’s response follows the circulation of a draft memo reportedly listing 41 countries under different levels of proposed travel restrictions. The document, seen by Reuters, categorizes the countries into three groups:
- Full Visa Suspension: Countries such as Afghanistan, Iran, Syria, Cuba, and North Korea are listed as facing a complete halt to visa issuance.
- Partial Suspension: Five countries could face restrictions on tourist, student, and certain immigrant visas, with some exceptions.
- Conditional Partial Suspension: A third group of 26 countries, including Belarus, Pakistan, and Turkmenistan, could see visa restrictions if their governments fail to address identified deficiencies within 60 days.
Despite speculation surrounding visa restrictions, the US State Department maintains that no official list has been created or implemented. While a broad visa policy review is underway, the claims regarding a finalized list remain unverified, and no immediate changes to visa issuance have been announced.
