US Issues New Visa Rules Targeting Six Muslim-Majority Countries

Days after the United States Supreme Court allowed a partial version of President Donald Trump’s signature Muslim ban to stay, Washington has issued a new set of visa rules that will require travellers from the six Muslim-majority countries affected by Trump's travel ban to disclose close family connections or business ties in order to enter the US. Muslim-majority countries – Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Libya, Iran and Yemen – will be affected by the new rules and restrictions issued by the White House.

The US State Department narrowly defines close family ties as: parent, spouse, child, son or daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law or sibling already in the US. The same requirement will also apply to refugees trying to enter the country.

Grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins or other extended family members are not considered to be close relationships.

On Monday, the US Supreme Court had partially lifted lower court injunctions against Trump's executive order that had temporarily banned visas for citizens of the six countries. The apex court’s ruling exempted applicants from the ban if they could prove a "bona fide relationship" with a person based in the US.

With Inputs From ANI.