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Trump travel ban: US sets out criteria for visa applicants Trump travel ban: US sets out visa criteria
(35 minutes later)
The White House has set new criteria for visa applicants from six mainly Muslim countries and all refugees, requiring them to have a "close" family or business tie to the US.The White House has set new criteria for visa applicants from six mainly Muslim countries and all refugees, requiring them to have a "close" family or business tie to the US.
The new guidelines were issued in response to the Supreme Court's ruling partially restoring President Donald Trump's controversial travel ban. The rules, affecting people from Iran, Libya, Syria, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, come into force on Thursday night.
Those with valid visas will not be affected. They were issued after the Supreme Court partially restored President Donald Trump's travel ban.
New applicants will be subject to the new requirements from Thursday night. The controversial executive order had been blocked by lower courts.
The move comes after the US Supreme Court partially restored an executive order issued by President Trump that was widely criticised as a ban on Muslims. According to the new rules, confirmed to the BBC, for the next 90 days those without a close relationship - defined as a parent, spouse, child, son or daughter-in-law, or sibling - will not be able to enter the US.
The new guidelines define a close relationship as a parent, spouse, child, son or daughter-in-law, or sibling. The definition of "close" relationships excludes grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, in-laws, extended family and grandchildren.
US holds off expanding laptop ban Also exempt from the new rules are those with business or educational ties to the United States.
However, grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, in laws or extended family or grandchildren do not meet the criteria. However, the guidelines specifically state that the relationship must be formal, documented and formed in ordinary course, rather than for the purpose of evading the executive order.
The six countries named are Iran, Libya, Syria, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen Those who already hold valid visas are not affected. Dual nationals who travel on their passport from the unaffected country will also be allowed entry.
However, lawyers both for and against the ban have warned that the new restrictions - which will remain in place until the Supreme Court issues a final ruling - could open the door to a flood of legal challenges.
But the Supreme Court will not be reviewing the case until October - which will mean the 90-day period will be largely done.
The court also approved the 120-day ban on refugees entering the United States. However, Mr Trump's administration has put a cap on the number of refugees it is willing to accept at 50,000, which the State Department said would be reached in the next two weeks.
More on Trump's travel ban
Rights groups have been fighting President Trump's executive order for the last five months.
He said the order was needed to stop terrorists entering the US, but critics said it was s a ban on Muslims.
It was first signed in February, but was blocked by the courts. A revised order was halted by a judge in Hawaii just hours before it was supposed to go into force in March.
President Trump called the court's decision a "victory for our national security".