US tells visa applicants to deny fear of return or risk visa refusal
Summary
The U.S. State Department now requires visa applicants to state that they have not been harmed and do not fear returning to their home country. Answering yes or not responding to these questions greatly increases the chance of visa denial. This new rule aims to better identify those who might seek asylum after entering the U.S.Key Facts
- Visa applicants must answer two new questions about harm or fear of harm in their home country.
- Saying yes or refusing to answer these questions likely leads to visa refusal.
- The change is intended to reduce people who misrepresent their reason for visiting the U.S. to seek asylum.
- The policy applies to all temporary visas, including for tourists, students, workers, and business people.
- U.S. law and an international refugee agreement allow people to seek asylum regardless of how they entered the country.
- This rule may prevent some victims of persecution from even reaching U.S. soil to apply for asylum.
- Giving a false answer to these questions can lead to criminal charges and a permanent ban from the U.S.
- The directive is linked to President Trump’s executive order to improve immigration screening and restrict entry from certain countries.
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