US to impose visas on 'some' Europeans
US to impose visas on 'some' Europeans
US officials said the Obama administration will phase in a new rule that would impose visa requirements on European travellers who are dual nationals of Iraq, Iran, Syria or Sudan.
2 min read
The new US visa rule targets Syria and Iraq specifically [AFP]
European travellers who are dual nationals of Iran, Iraq, Sudan or Syria, or who have visited any of these countries in the last five years will need a visa to enter the US, the Obama administration will announce as early as Thursday.
US officials and congressional aides involved in discussions say the Homeland Security Department will outline how it will phase in the new rule, designed to make it harder for Europeans who have fought for the Islamic State to enter the United States.
The law passed by Congress in December only affects a minority of Europeans, but it has prompted great concern in countries whose citizens generally enjoy visa-free travel to the United States. And it has drawn Iranian charges that the US is violating last summer's nuclear accord by penalising legitimate business travel to the Islamic Republic.
EU ambassadors to the US threatened on 14 December last year to make US citizens require visas to enter the EU should the US move ahead with plans to scrap visa-free travel for select EU citizens.
The US visa Waiver Programme allowed all citizens from 23 of the EU's 28 member states to enter the US without needing to pass through interviews or doing the paperwork required to obtain a visa.
The new US rule targets Iraq and Syria specifically because the Islamic State group has seized significant territory in each country for its would-be caliphate. Iran and Sudan, like Syria, are designated by the US as state sponsors of terrorism.
The officials and aides were not authorised to speak publicly on the matter and demanded anonymity.
There is a question mark concerning groups of individuals that could be exempted from the law, allowing them to continue travelling to the US under the Visa Waiver Program.
According to a congressional aide, the administration will create exceptions for those who travelled to any of the four countries for government or United Nations work, or for humanitarian or journalistic reasons. Legitimate business with Iran also would not be punished. No waivers appear to apply to dual nationals.
Administration officials wouldn't comment.
It is unclear if such carve-outs would be supported by Congress; Republican aides say the bipartisan legislation was not intended to provide such wide discretion to the executive branch. President Barack Obama signed the bill into law in December.
US officials and congressional aides involved in discussions say the Homeland Security Department will outline how it will phase in the new rule, designed to make it harder for Europeans who have fought for the Islamic State to enter the United States.
The law passed by Congress in December only affects a minority of Europeans, but it has prompted great concern in countries whose citizens generally enjoy visa-free travel to the United States. And it has drawn Iranian charges that the US is violating last summer's nuclear accord by penalising legitimate business travel to the Islamic Republic.
EU ambassadors to the US threatened on 14 December last year to make US citizens require visas to enter the EU should the US move ahead with plans to scrap visa-free travel for select EU citizens.
The US visa Waiver Programme allowed all citizens from 23 of the EU's 28 member states to enter the US without needing to pass through interviews or doing the paperwork required to obtain a visa.
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The new US rule targets Iraq and Syria specifically |  |
The new US rule targets Iraq and Syria specifically because the Islamic State group has seized significant territory in each country for its would-be caliphate. Iran and Sudan, like Syria, are designated by the US as state sponsors of terrorism.
The officials and aides were not authorised to speak publicly on the matter and demanded anonymity.
There is a question mark concerning groups of individuals that could be exempted from the law, allowing them to continue travelling to the US under the Visa Waiver Program.
According to a congressional aide, the administration will create exceptions for those who travelled to any of the four countries for government or United Nations work, or for humanitarian or journalistic reasons. Legitimate business with Iran also would not be punished. No waivers appear to apply to dual nationals.
Administration officials wouldn't comment.
It is unclear if such carve-outs would be supported by Congress; Republican aides say the bipartisan legislation was not intended to provide such wide discretion to the executive branch. President Barack Obama signed the bill into law in December.
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