The Travel Ban – A Quick Update

The Supreme Court's decision on June 26 to take up the travel ban cases this fall, and in the meantime partially lift the injunction on the President's travel ban, has created renewed uncertainty for certain travelers. Statements by the Departments of State and Homeland Security have brought some clarity, though many remain confused.

Here is what you need to know if you are an affected traveler, or are working to help affected travelers:

Nationals of six countries - Affected travelers include nationals of Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen. Dual nationals (e.g., British Iranians) are exempt, as are U.S. Citizens and permanent residents. Moreover, travelers with a bona fide relationship to the U.S. will also be admitted (more on the meaning of bona fide below).

Refugees - In addition to nationals of the six countries, admission of all refugees, regardless of their origin, has been suspended, unless the applicant has a bona fide relationship to the U.S.

Prospective Ban - The implementation of the travel ban is prospective only. Those who were issued visas or were approved for refugee admission prior to June 29 may enter the U.S. regardless. Similarly, those who are already in the U.S. face no threat of removal as a result of the order.

For those seeking to apply for a new visa, the following would apply:

The meaning of Bona Fide Relationship - A lot of confusion has been expressed about the meaning of having a "bona fide" relationship with the U.S., which is the Supreme Court's criterion for obtaining an exception to the ban. Essentially, the Court and the Trump Administration have made clear that there are two types of such bona fide relationships - professional and personal.

On the professional side, travelers otherwise subject to the ban may enter the U.S. if they have a documented professional reason to do so. These include an F-1 student visa, a work visa for U.S. employment, an invitation to speak at a professional conference, or other legitimate professional reasons to come to the U.S.

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