Washington – The State Department on Friday directed US embassies and consulates not to revoke visas previously issued to people in 12 countries, primarily in Africa and the Middle East, under President Donald Trump's new travel ban.
On cables sent to all US diplomatic missions, the department said “no action should be taken on issued visas that are already outside the consular department,” and “visa issued before it comes into effect should not be revoked in accordance with this declaration.”
However, according to Cable, signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, visa applicants from affected countries whose applications have been approved but have not yet received their visas will be denied.
Additionally, applications will be denied from Monday unless the applicant meets the narrow criteria for the ban exemption.
Still, the cable, which was obtained by the Associated Press, suggests that there should be no issues with current visa holders in affected countries who entered the US after restrictions were effective on Midnight ET on June 9th.
During Trump's first term, the hastily written executive orders denying entry to citizens of primarily Muslim countries has caused chaos at many airports and other ports of entry, successfully completing legal agendas and massive revisions of the policy.
The new declaration, signed by Trump on Wednesday, appears to be designed to beat the court's challenges by focusing on the visa application process.
According to Rubio's Cable, the only people outside the US who should be denied entry into the US are those who do not have a visa valid on the effective date.
Despite Rubio's cable, physical entry into the United States at ports of entry is not controlled by the State Department. It is up to the discretion of the Department of Homeland Security and individual customs and border patrol agents to determine whether a visa holder is permitted or separated.
The visa ban applies to people in Afghanistan, Myanmar, Chad, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea, Haiti, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen. Other visa restrictions apply to people in Burundi, Cuba, Laos, Sierra Leone, Togo, Turkmenistan and Venezuela.
Some exceptions apply only to certain countries, such as Afghanistan. Others are more common and unclear whether they are most countries on the list, like the policy of foreign visitors planning to come to the US for the 2026 Ward Cup and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
Rubio's Cable said the exemption criteria under the national security exemption will soon be issued.
