Presidential Executive Order for Travel Restrictions and effect on K-1 Visas

[SalishSea 18,459]

4 hours ago, Crazy Cat said:

I will add that to my list.  I just read the EO, and I don't see any exemptions for K-1s, either.

This, and the fact that during the global pandemic, K-1s were very low priority are big reasons in my mind not to choose that visa.  

[Ban Hammer 14,164]

one post removed that is a duplicate of a thread.  

[SomethingCreative 0]

Just to be clear: are we talking about the countries with a partial ban or complete ban? 

 

My beneficiary is from a partial ban country (Venezuela). My understanding of the order was that since the K-1 is technically a non-immigrant visa, and it's not in the list of banned non-immigrant visas, we're okay as it currently stands.

 

Am I misunderstanding it maybe?

[S2N 185]

2 minutes ago, SomethingCreative said:

Just to be clear: are we talking about the countries with a partial ban or complete ban? 

 

My beneficiary is from a partial ban country (Venezuela). My understanding of the order was that since the K-1 is technically a non-immigrant visa, and it's not in the list of banned non-immigrant visas, we're okay as it currently stands.

 

Am I misunderstanding it maybe?

The wording of the EO for Venezuela is:

 

The entry into the United States of nationals of Venezuela as immigrants, and as nonimmigrants on B‑1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas is hereby suspended.

 

I would read that as allowing K entries from Venezuela for now. Though how it’s implemented and if there are further changes is anyone’s guess. Not trying to say that to stoke fear, there’s just a lot of unknowns. 

[Crazy Cat 44,053]

2 minutes ago, S2N said:

The wording of the EO for Venezuela is:

 

The entry into the United States of nationals of Venezuela as immigrants, and as nonimmigrants on B‑1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas is hereby suspended.

 

I would read that as allowing K entries from Venezuela for now. Though how it’s implemented and if there are further changes is anyone’s guess. Not trying to say that to stoke fear, there’s just a lot of unknowns. 

"Consular officers shall reduce the validity for any other nonimmigrant visa issued to nationals of Venezuela to the extent permitted by law."

[S2N 185]

2 minutes ago, Crazy Cat said:

"Consular officers shall reduce the validity for any other nonimmigrant visa issued to nationals of Venezuela to the extent permitted by law."

Correct. Like you mentioned earlier it’s unclear if new ones will even be issued. My reading is that existing K entry from Venezuela would be permitted under the strict wording of the order, but CBP always retains discretion to deny entry.

[SomethingCreative 0]

28 minutes ago, S2N said:

Correct. Like you mentioned earlier it’s unclear if new ones will even be issued. My reading is that existing K entry from Venezuela would be permitted under the strict wording of the order, but CBP always retains discretion to deny entry.

Got it. Duly noted/understood; that makes sense. Thank you for the feedback.

[GS 2 0]

Title: Why Is No One Talking About the K-1 Ban?

I’m surprised how many K-1 applicants from travel ban countries (like Somalia, Yemen, etc.) are acting like the 2025 ban doesn’t affect them.

The truth is: K-1 is not exempt, and new visas won’t be processed unless you qualify for a rare exception.

Why is no one talking about this? Are people just ignoring it?
Is there any real hope or are we just waiting for nothing?

Let’s be real and share what we know.

[Crazy Cat 44,053]

3 hours ago, GS 2 said:

Title: Why Is No One Talking About the K-1 Ban?

I’m surprised how many K-1 applicants from travel ban countries (like Somalia, Yemen, etc.) are acting like the 2025 ban doesn’t affect them.

The truth is: K-1 is not exempt, and new visas won’t be processed unless you qualify for a rare exception.

Why is no one talking about this? Are people just ignoring it?
Is there any real hope or are we just waiting for nothing?

Let’s be real and share what we know.

Your post has been added to the existing forum discussion.

[Gi0logy 0]

On 6/9/2025 at 4:02 PM, SomethingCreative said:

Just to be clear: are we talking about the countries with a partial ban or complete ban? 

 

My beneficiary is from a partial ban country (Venezuela). My understanding of the order was that since the K-1 is technically a non-immigrant visa, and it's not in the list of banned non-immigrant visas, we're okay as it currently stands.

 

Am I misunderstanding it maybe?

My fiancée is Venezuelan and we had our interview at the Bogota embassy yesterday. 
 

Consular office informed us we did nothing wrong and this has nothing to do with us…however, they have to refuse our visa. They informed us we can’t appeal and to talk our lawyer. 
 

Hearing similar reports as well about other countries denying K1 applicants from travel ban countries (even partial). 

[SomethingCreative 0]

3 hours ago, Gi0logy said:

My fiancée is Venezuelan and we had our interview at the Bogota embassy yesterday. 
 

Consular office informed us we did nothing wrong and this has nothing to do with us…however, they have to refuse our visa. They informed us we can’t appeal and to talk our lawyer. 
 

Hearing similar reports as well about other countries denying K1 applicants from travel ban countries (even partial). 

Jeez, that really rough. I'm so sorry to hear that. We've been hearing the same from other people. Are you going to move forward with a marriage based visa instead?

 

I think it's based on what Crazy Cat mentioned earlier: "Consular officers shall reduce the validity for any other nonimmigrant visa issued to nationals of Venezuela to the extent permitted by law."

 

We're expecting NOA2 sometime late June/early July. We're going to keep an eye on things and see if it continues like that. Assuming it does, we'll explore other visas and other countries.

[Gi0logy 0]

6 minutes ago, SomethingCreative said:

Jeez, that really rough. I'm so sorry to hear that. We've been hearing the same from other people. Are you going to move forward with a marriage based visa instead?

 

I think it's based on what Crazy Cat mentioned earlier: "Consular officers shall reduce the validity for any other nonimmigrant visa issued to nationals of Venezuela to the extent permitted by law."

 

We're expecting NOA2 sometime late June/early July. We're going to keep an eye on things and see if it continues like that. Assuming it does, we'll explore other visas and other countries.

We're emailing the embassy on the grounds that K1 is not apart of the travel ban but really not sure what the chances are there (seems low). 

 

If we don't make progress over the next month and if there's no indication that Trump will reverse anything, we'll likely move forward and file CR1. Waiting 2 more years is brutal. But honestly not sure what other choice we have.

[S2N 185]

5 minutes ago, Gi0logy said:

We're emailing the embassy on the grounds that K1 is not apart of the travel ban but really not sure what the chances are there (seems low). 

 

If we don't make progress over the next month and if there's no indication that Trump will reverse anything, we'll likely move forward and file CR1. Waiting 2 more years is brutal. But honestly not sure what other choice we have.

I’ll also mention what I said above — CBP retains the discretion to refuse to admit someone even if they have a valid visa. K-1 is permission to ask CBP to let you into the country to get married and adjust status. It’s not permission to actually do it. Usually the distinction doesn’t matter, but we’re dealing with a new situation.

 

There’s a lot of unknowns here and the easiest way to reunite for K-1 applicants impacted is going to be CR-1/IR-1.

[SomethingCreative 0]

7 hours ago, S2N said:

I’ll also mention what I said above — CBP retains the discretion to refuse to admit someone even if they have a valid visa. K-1 is permission to ask CBP to let you into the country to get married and adjust status. It’s not permission to actually do it. Usually the distinction doesn’t matter, but we’re dealing with a new situation.

 

There’s a lot of unknowns here and the easiest way to reunite for K-1 applicants impacted is going to be CR-1/IR-1.

You're clarifying that a beneficiary could still be turned away at the port of entry, even with a valid K-1, right?

 

(assuming so, that's a brutal but important reminder)

[S2N 185]

4 minutes ago, SomethingCreative said:

You're clarifying that a beneficiary could still be turned away at the port of entry, even with a valid K-1, right?

 

(assuming so, that's a brutal but important reminder)

CBP can deny admission even if someone has a valid K-1, correct. Visas do not give right of entry to the United States. That’s the case with or without the travel ban in place. It’ll be interesting to see how they and the airlines handle pre-existing K-1s from partial ban countries or if consulates move to revoke.