MEGATHREAD- What does a Trump Presidency mean for visas? (merged)

[Transborderwife 4,666]

I also found this quote very interesting:

 

"As we've looked at the executive order in just the last hour or two, I want to let the people of New York City know that there is less here than meets the eye," de Blasio said. "The executive order is written in a very vague fashion. We believe that not only will it be susceptible to many legal challenges but that it will meet with tremendous public resistance all over the nation."

 

The emperor appears to have no clothes again 

[KierenHby 897]

$7B is peanuts, overall, for NYC. It's the Dems vs Trump back and forth that's intriguing. 

[agripa 100]

I think this article from Vox most cleanly outlines what these executive orders are going to do. He hasn't signed the Visa/Refugee ban order yet, but the text has been leaked and it is likely to be accurate. Highlights important to VisaJourney members :

• Suspends entry into the United States from Iran, Sudan, Syria, Lybia, Somalia, and Yemen starting 30 days after the executive order's issuance. This will apply to all immigration and as such will include K1 and IR1/CR1 visas. People with applications from these countries will almost certainly be delayed for the foreseeable future.
• The Secretary of State and Director of National Intelligence will evaluate all countries to see if the provide sufficient information to vet visa applicants for terrorist risks. They will then tell Trump which countries provide insufficient evidence and at that time the country has 60 days to fix this problem. If they don't fix it within 60 days, nationals from that country will be prohibited from entering that country.

 

Edited January 26, 2017 by agripa

[jerni 24]

Some news outlets are reporting that the order will suspend the entire visa waiver program 

Edited January 26, 2017 by jerni

[Dutchster 1,106]

Nothing is happening to VWP. Calm down - it's the Visa INTERVIEW waiver program.

 

http://reason.com/blog/2017/01/25/trump-mulls-suspending-the-visa-waiver-p

 

UPDATE: I (like the L.A. Times above) got this story wrong: It's not the Visa Waiver Program, it's the Visa Waiver Interview Program, which is an entirely different, and smaller, kettle of fish. It's a waiver from having to come in for an interview to renew a current visa, not a waiver from having to obtain a visa in the first place. I apologize for the error. The rest of the original post can be found after the jump:

The Visa Wavier program is by definition reciprocal—my French in-laws have been able to come here for three months any time they want to, and in return I have been able to visit Europe for the (considerable!) price of a ticket. If the U.S. was to begin requiring in-person interviews to the roughly 22 million people a year who currently enter this country through Visa Wavier, then the favor would likely soon be returned to the more than 12 million of us who travel to Europe. If you make a good more costly, whether in price, compliance, or time, people will purchase less of it.

 

Edited January 26, 2017 by Dutchster

[KierenHby 897]

Let's hold off on the gossip and innuendo here..

[MrChamploo 45]

39 minutes ago, KierenHby said:

Let's hold off on the gossip and innuendo here..

Kinda what this thread is about.

[MrChamploo 45]

To be honest IMO,We should be a little more worried about the banning of any kind of visa from middle east countries then any VWP. Even if the VWP or the VWP interview program were to be taken away we can still visit just maybe less..

 

I feel bad for the honest ones from the middle east countries that will be affected by the suspension then the ban.

[KierenHby 897]

31 minutes ago, MrChamploo said:

Kinda what this thread is about.

Undoubtedly.. reference was about an Executive Order coming out less than 24 hrs away

[Dutchster 1,106]

I was almost sure it was coming out today. Guess we'll have to wait until tomorrow apparently.

[KierenHby 897]

There were two (EOs) today; about a border wall, and one about increasing CBP\ICE personnel. 

[amoooooor 26]

9 hours ago, Dutchster said:

What bothers me the most is people here (as in where I live) telling me, "Calm down. You're white, no need to worry!" Excuse me? So because I am a white catholic human I have all the right but an islamic, light colored/dark colored human who shares the same values as me, just believes in another God, have to worry? White privilege at it's best. Sigh.

 

This. Yes. Religion is a personal journey and personal choice. And it scares the hell outta me that our president can dictate our future based on the nationality of our spouses and/or their religion... even when they share the same values and do the same things as everyone else. SMH.

[amoooooor 26]

9 hours ago, sparkles_ said:

Someone clue me in.....which countries are being spoken of in terms of pausing visas and applications? I see a list, and then in the EO itself I don't see any listed in specific.

They haven't released the exact list but I've seen many reports saying 6 or 7 countries (all Muslim majority)

Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Iraq, Iran, Libya and Yemen

[agripa 100]

4 minutes ago, amoooooor said:

They haven't released the exact list but I've seen many reports saying 6 or 7 countries (all Muslim majority)

Syria, Sudan, Somalia, Iraq, Iran, Libya and Yemen

The leaked executive order (which I believe will be accurate) references an Act passed a year or two ago. It's simply using a list of countries specified in a previous law. These 7 countries are correct.

[Patient 57]

7 hours ago, Dutchster said:

 

No, VWP is not getting suspended. Only several European countries are able to use that.

VWP not suspended correct, affected yes and countries like France, Australia, Germany, UK to be affected. Trump reportedly asked for Department of Homeland Security to review the visa issuing process to get more information on those who travel.

 

The move would put restrictions on visitors coming from 38 countries using the visa waiver program (VWP), including others like Japan, South Korea and Spain.

 

Citizens of these countries are now expected or required to submit their biographical information to a screening check before entering the U.S., the new policy would require in-person interviews. It is not known when the new policy starts.

 

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) has been under review since the November 2015 Paris terrorist attacks that left 130 dead, changes had been made to the program by Congress and signed by Obama. According to the new law, those who have traveled to terror-listed countries, including Iran, may not enter the country using the VWP.

 

Then Obama changed the VWP using a provision in the 2015 law. The law provided that the President could waive the new visa requirements where it was “in the law enforcement interest or national security interest of the United States.” Obama used this narrow exception to make exception for those coming from Iran for “legitimate business-related purposes.” Congress had rejected this very exception when debating the bill.

Edited January 26, 2017 by Patient