Published December 9, 2015
At present there are 38 countries whose citizens are generally relieved of the requirement of obtaining a visa to visit the U.S. for up to 90 days. But in the wake of recent terrorist acts in Europe and the U.S., and where the terrorism advocacy engine is primarily operated by Islamic extremists in the Middle East, Congress is set to finalize legislation to significantly tighten up this visa waiver program – especially for those who have visited certain Middle Eastern nations. Specifically, if a citizen of one of the visa waiver nations has visited Iraq, Iran, Syria or Sudan, within 5 years of an intended visit to the U.S., he/she will be required to apply for a visitor visa and undergo what will likely be a much more thorough vetting process. The legislation has overwhelming bipartisan support and I would expect that the President will sign this legislation into law in the immediate future.
PUBLISHED December 9, 2015– “IMMIGRATION LAW FORUM” Copyright © 2015, By Law Offices of Richard Hanus, Chicago, Illinois