Changes in Visa Rules Could Impact Travel to the US and From Here to Abroad

Anyone seeking to visit the United States typically seeks a visa long before their projected travel date. However, in recent years the United States has had better relations with a great number of countries and visa rules, as a result, were a bit relaxed. Residents holding a passport from at least 38 countries, most of which are in Europe, could get a Visa Waver under certain conditions and travelling here was made that much easier. Unfortunately, with tighter rules in response to terrorism and potential threats, President Obama signed tighter rules into legislation and this is cause for concern giving rise to several questions.

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1. What Does the Legislation Say?

What the legislation boils down to is that there are now tighter visa controls on residents of countries with known terrorist ties such as Iraq, Iran, Syria and Sudan. Also, the legislation is aimed at citizens with dual citizenship from any other country and those with known terrorist ties. Without going into legal jargon, it’s sufficient to simply say that it will be more difficult now to obtain a visa for residents of and those with dual citizenship with those countries.

2. Who Will Be Impacted?

Now the, here is the real crux of the matter. Exactly who will be impacted is hard to say. For sure those countries mentioned above will feel the crunch when trying to obtain a visa to visit the United States but this may have an impact on many Europeans as well. This would primarily be those with dual citizenship with any country specifically mentioned as being a terroristic threat.

3. Will They Reciprocate?

Here is the question on everyone’s mind. Will those countries, especially those in Europe reciprocate, making it harder for Americans to travel there? This is yet to happen but if controls tighten on too many citizens of Europe, country and diplomatic relations are strained as a result, it just might happen at some point in the future.

4. Will This Affect the Visa Waver Program?

One of the major concerns which many potential travelers to the United States is whether or not these tighter regulations will affect the Visa Waver Program. Although many throughout the world aren’t even aware of the fact that we indeed have such a program, those who are aware of ESTA (Electronic System for Travel Authorization) are concerned that their waiver may be affected. Will they still be able to get one in lieu of a visa which typically takes much longer to receive?

5. What Should Anyone Do Who Is Seeking a Visa Waiver through ESTA?

Although it sounds pretty straightforward submitting an electronic request for a visa waiver, there are times when an application may be denied for purposes you hadn’t foreseen. While you can always submit the form online and receive an answer often within just minutes, there are times when your request is a bit more complicated. It is suggested that if you have any doubts as to your eligibility you should contact professionals who make it their job to help you submit a form that will be accepted. In other words, they know the ropes. They know what they are doing in terms of legalities and any extenuating circumstances.

It just could be that the tighter visa regulations put into play this year could impact diplomatic relations with some countries, but to date, it is unclear whether there has been much backlash due to President Obama signing those tighter visa rules into law. If you are a citizen of one of the 38 countries the United States has a Visa Waiver agreement with, then there may be no issues. However, if you have dual citizenship with any countries with questionable links to terrorist activity, it would be a huge benefit to get professional help processing your request for a visa waiver.