Business Immigration Insights

We have learned that, as of the evening of January 27, 2017, all U.S. embassies and consular posts have been instructed to immediately suspend the issuance of both nonimmigrant and immigrant visas and cancel currently scheduled visa interviews for nationals of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. Some diplomatic visa categories are exempt.

Refugees and others from these countries who already have valid visas are being denied boarding on U.S.-bound flights. Those who arrived at U.S. airports after the Executive Order was signed are being denied admission to the country. It would not be surprising to see the Trump Administration next revoking the validity of those visas after the fact.

We have seen and received reports that individuals from these countries who hold U.S. green cards are being treated inconsistently at various U.S. ports of entry by agents of U.S. Customs & Border Protection, with some being admitted smoothly and some being denied admission.

These executive and administrative actions have questionable legality under U.S. immigration law and numerous legal challenges to them are being lodged.