Watered down travel ban now in force
US President Donald Trump’s new ‘travel ban’ has come into effect.
In a watered down version of the original, visitors from six mainly Muslim countries and all refugees must have ‘close’ family or business ties in the US to qualify for a new visa.
The new rules will apply to people from Iran, Libya, Syria, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen.
The US Supreme Court partially restored Trump’s travel ban on Monday. The executive order had been blocked by lower courts in the US since February.
The new rules will apply for the next 90 days. Travelers from the six listed countries and all refugees will only qualify for a new visa if they have a parent, spouse, child, son or daughter-in-law, sibling – including step- or half-siblings – already living in the US.
Those with only grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, in-laws or extended family and grandchildren will not qualify.
However the Administration reversed a decision to now allow fiancés be included as ‘close family members.’
Dual nationals who travel on their passport from the unaffected country will be allowed entry, as will those who can prove they have a genuine business relationship in the US.
The Supreme Court said it will make a final ruling on the travel ban in October.
The state of Hawaii has again called into question the government’s interpretation and said its refusal to allow grandparents and other relatives as an acceptable family relationship is ‘a plain violation of the Supreme Court’s command.’
Asked how banning grandparents would make America safer, a US official declined to comment.
TravelMole Editorial Team
Editor for TravelMole North America and Asia pacific regions. Ray is a highly experienced (15+ years) skilled journalist and editor predominantly in travel, hospitality and lifestyle working with a huge number of major market-leading brands. He has also cover in-depth news, interviews and features in general business, finance, tech and geopolitical issues for a select few major news outlets and publishers.
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
TAP Air Portugal to operate 29 flights due to strike on December 11
Qatar Airways offers flexible payment options for European travellers
Airlines suspend Madagascar services following unrest and army revolt
Strike action set to cause travel chaos at Brussels airports
Digital Travel Reporter of the Mirror totally seduced by HotelPlanner AI Travel Agent