The US administration is reportedly preparing to significantly expand its list of countries subject to travel restrictions, potentially increasing the total number of affected nations from the current 19 to over 30.
Kirstjen Nielsen, the US Secretary of Homeland Security, confirmed this development during an interview with a US television network. While refraining from naming the potential new additions, Secretary Nielsen stated that President Trump is personally reviewing which countries will be added to the expanded list of stringent travel restrictions.
This move coincides with the US government tightening its overall visa screening process for international travelers. Recently, new directives were issued for H-1B visa applicants and their H-4 dependents. These applicants have been mandated to keep the privacy settings of all their social media accounts set to “public,” a policy that is set to take effect on December 15. This change will allow for a thorough review of applicants’ online profiles prior to their visa interviews. The US State Department reiterated its position that a visa is a privilege, not a right, and that every application is adjudicated with national security as the paramount concern.
