US Travel Ban Executive Order FAQs
These Frequently Asked Questions are based on executive order, titled 'Protecting the Nation from Terrorist Attack into the United States' that was signed Jan. 27
These FAQs are based on the executive order, titled "Protecting the Nation from Terrorist Attack into the United States" that was signed on Jan. 27, 2017. Some information comes from a voluntary traveler database. The president has suspended issuing visas for people from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria or Yemen for 90 days. During that time, screening procedures will be toughened and the secretary of Homeland Security, working with other Cabinet officials, will determine what information is needed from other countries to determine whether the individual seeking entry to the U.S. is not a security risk. Should countries be unable or refuse to comply, the order says they may end up on a future list. Green card holders are being admitted, but usually after some delay and negotiation. Reported delays range from one hour to six hours. Visa holders from the specified countries are most often being turned back at the port of entry before boarding. This is true of immigrant visas and non-immigrant visas. There are reports of visas being stamped "cancelled." Visa holders who are allowed to board planes are meeting with mixed success in being admitted. People who hold passports in the seven countries and countries that are not restricted appear to be gaining entry with the latter passports. Delays have been reported. Family members of green card holders are being admitted. A new list of countries will be drawn up based on the determination of information needed to ensure visitors are not a threat, and on which countries are providing that information. Exceptions are being made for diplomats, people with NATO visas or those traveling to work at the United Nations. All refugee admissions are suspended for 120 days. After that, you will have to undergo additional screening no matter where you are in the process. However, the order says the United States will prioritize claims made on the basis of religious-based persecution provided "the religion of the individual is a minority religion in the individual's home country." Exceptions along these lines can also be made during the 120-day moratorium. No. Syrian refugees will not be processed or admitted until the United States decides it is in the national interest. However, the secretaries of state and defense are directed to identify a plan for a safe zone in Syria. No. The executive order calls for 50,000 refugees this year. Roughly 32,000 refugees have already been admitted in FY 2017. About 5,000 are Syrians.