Khaberni - The US State Department's decision to stop issuing visas to citizens of 75 countries, including Egypt, has raised widespread questions among those wishing to immigrate, especially with the increasing demand for "family reunification" and "lottery" programs in recent years.
In this context, diplomatic sources, according to American and Egyptian media, clarified that the decision does not mean closing the doors to travel to the United States, as it only applies to permanent immigration visas, while other types of visas continue unaffected.
For tourism or education or temporary work
The sources confirmed that the categories not included in the freeze are those wishing to travel for tourism, education, temporary work, or international employees, where the available visas include: tourism, study, temporary work visas, those who obtained valid visas before the decision was issued, and accredited international employees, as well as cases that have obtained official prior approvals from Washington to enter US territories.
In the same context, the US State Department pointed to a set of accompanying regulatory observations of the decision, the most notable of which is the freezing of immigration applications related to family reunification, whether for a spouse, children, or parents, even if the applicant has obtained American citizenship and resides within the United States.
It is expected that the US State Department will announce a new assessment of the decision in the coming period, amidst the anticipation of thousands of Egyptian families and applicants to learn the fate of their applications.
Starting from January 21
It is worth noting that the US State Department announced on Wednesday the suspension of all procedures for granting immigration visas to applicants from 75 countries around the world. It also directed its embassies around the world to deny visas under current law.
It also mentioned that the suspension will start from January 21st of the current year. The cable, which was sent to the US missions, indicated that there are indications that citizens from these countries have sought to obtain public benefits in the United States.
Undesirable elements
In his part, the former Assistant Egyptian Foreign Minister, Ambassador Salah Halima, explained in special statements to "Al Arabiya.net / Al Hadath.net" that this American approach may target undesirable elements due to their current activities or future activities to be rid of them under the guise of their non-entitlement to the social and health care provided by Washington to those residing on its territory.
Halima expected that the decision is mostly linked to developments in America, which recently experienced some anxiety and violent disturbances, in addition to the fact that the American administration recently issued decisions related to organizing the Muslim Brotherhood in some countries by branding them terrorist organizations, as well as imposing sanctions on elements and leaders in some militias branded with the same accusation, and there may be connections between them and presence in the United States or some of them may intend to visit America and frequent it during the upcoming period.
He also added that the American administration is currently carefully identifying and understanding the identity and orientations of the elements that disrupt security and stability, or elements that may come from abroad so that the country does not bear the financial, social, and security burdens should they reside there.
