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Trump travel ban: US sets out visa criteria Trump travel ban: US sets out visa criteria
(about 2 hours 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 rules, affecting people from Iran, Libya, Syria, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, come into force on Thursday. The rules, affecting people from Iran, Libya, Syria, Somalia, Sudan and Yemen, are coming into force on Thursday.
They were issued after the Supreme Court partially restored President Donald Trump's travel ban. They were issued after the Supreme Court partially restored President Donald Trump's travel ban on Monday.
The controversial executive order had been blocked by lower courts. The executive order had been blocked by lower courts since February.
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 revised rules - taking conditions laid out in the Supreme Court ruling - come into effect at 20:00 Washington time (00:00 GMT).
Who can come in?
According to the new rules, confirmed to the BBC, for the next 90 days those from the seven countries 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 definition of "close" relationships excludes grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, in-laws, extended family and grandchildren.The definition of "close" relationships excludes grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, in-laws, extended family and grandchildren.
Also exempt from the new rules are those with business or educational ties to the United States. Also exempt from the new rules are those with business or educational ties to the US.
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. However, the guidelines specifically state that the relationship must be formal, documented and not formed for the purpose of evading the order.
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.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.
The rules come into effect at 20:00 Washington time (00:00 GMT).
More on Trump's travel banMore on Trump's travel ban
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. What exactly does the Supreme Court ruling say?
But the Supreme Court will not be reviewing the case until October - which will mean the 90-day period will be largely done. The Supreme Court said in Monday's decision that it would make a final ruling on the executive order in October.
But in the meantime, it added, the order "may not be enforced against foreign nationals who have a credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States".
The court also approved the 120-day ban on refugees entering the United States, allowing the government to bar entry to refugee claimants who do not have any "bona fide relationship" with an American individual or entity.The court also approved the 120-day ban on refugees entering the United States, allowing the government to bar entry to refugee claimants who do not have any "bona fide relationship" with an American individual or entity.
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. What has the reaction been?
What does the Supreme Court ruling say? President Trump called the court's decision a "victory for our national security. He said the order was needed to stop terrorists entering the US, but critics said it was a ban on Muslims.
The Supreme Court said in Monday's decision: "In practical terms, this means that [the executive order] may not be enforced against foreign nationals who have a credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States. Lawyers on both sides of the argument have warned that the new restrictions could open the door to a flood of legal challenges.
"All other foreign nationals are subject to the provisions of [the executive order]." In particular, the exact meaning of the phrase "bona fide" was expected to come under scrutiny.
Rights groups have been fighting President Trump's executive order for the last five months. Meanwhile, a number of activist groups have promised to help people caught up in the ban. The New York Immigration Coalition says it plans to be at the city's John F Kennedy International Airport to "monitor the effects of Trump's revised Muslim and refugee ban".
He said the order was needed to stop terrorists entering the US, but critics said it was a ban on Muslims. But so far, the order does not appear to have had a big impact travellers too much.
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. A spokesman form Emirates, the Middle East's largest airline, said on Thursday: "Our flights to the US are operating as per normal. All passengers must possess the appropriate travel documents, including a valid US entry visa, in order to travel."
President Trump called the court's decision a "victory for our national security.
Will you be affected by the travel ban? Are you due to travel to or from the US in the next few days? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.ukWill you be affected by the travel ban? Are you due to travel to or from the US in the next few days? Email us at haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk
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