For Immediate Release
The U.S. State Department has announced its 45-day policy review following the mandate in President Biden’s executive action ending the Trump era Muslim Travel Ban.
The State Department’s spokesperson, Ned Price, said in a statement on Monday that “[t]hose whose immigrant visa applications received a final refusal on or after January 20, 2020 due to the proclamations may seek re-adjudication without resubmitting their application forms or paying any additional fees, provided the underlying visa petitions remain valid.”
People whose visa applications were denied under the Muslim Travel Ban before President Biden’s election could also submit their applications for reconsideration, but they would have to file new documents and pay application fees again.
The State Department is taking measures to ensure that people who were refused or denied visas under the Muslim Ban would not be penalized in future visa applications.
However, Price said the department’s hands were tied with regards to applicants for the diversity visa program (green card lottery), who were denied during the Trump administration:
“FY 2017-FY 2020 diversity visa applicants who were not issued visas are statutorily barred from being issued visas based on their selection as diversity visa applicants in those fiscal years, as the deadlines for visa issuance in those fiscal years have expired.”
Please note that appointments remain limited at most U.S. consulates due to COVID-19 restrictions.