US outlines criteria for visa applicants from six Muslim nations

The Trump administration has set new criteria for visa applicants from six mainly Muslim nations and all refugees, requiring them to have a “close” family or business tie to the United States.

The move came after the Supreme Court partially restored President Donald Trump's executive order that was widely criticised as a ban on Muslims.

Visas that have already been approved will not be revoked, but instructions issued by the State Department define a close familial relationship as being a parent, spouse, child, adult son or daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law or sibling, including step siblings and other step family relations, according to a copy of a cable distributed to all US diplomatic posts and seen by Reuters news agency.

Grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, fiancees or other extended family members are not considered to be close relationships, according to the guidelines that were issued in a cable sent to all US embassies and consulates late on Wednesday.

The new rules take effect at 8 pm EDT on Thursday (1am CET on Friday), according to the cable, which was obtained by The Associated Press.

The cable also specified that any relationship with a US entity "must be formal, documented, and formed in the ordinary course, rather than for the purpose of evading the E.O.," a reference to US President Donald Trump's 6 March executive order barring most US travel by citizens of the six nations for 90 days.

 Journalists, students, workers or lecturers who have valid invitations or employment contracts in the US would be exempt from the ban. The exemption does not apply to those who seek a relationship with an American business or educational institution purely for the purpose of avoiding the rules, the cable said. A hotel reservation or car rental contract, even if it was pre-paid, would also not count, it said. 

Consular officers may grant other exemptions to applicants from the six nations if they have “previously established significant contacts with the United States;” ''significant business or professional obligations“ in the US; if they are an infant, adopted child or in need of urgent medical care; if they are travelling for business with a recognised international organisation or the US government or if they are a legal resident of Canada who applies for a visa in Canada, according to the cable. 

The six nations whose citizens are covered by the executive order are Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen.