U.S sets new visa rules as security for U.S-bound flights 'toughens'

Trump’s administration has set new measures for new visa applications from six Muslim-dominated countries. The new requirements are that any new visa applicant from the six Muslim-dominated nations should have a close family member or business connection to the U.S.

New visa requirements for citizens from six Muslim dominated nations

The new visa requirements were issued on Wednesday, a few days after the Supreme Court partially reinstated President Trump’s executive orders, banning Muslims from the six Muslim-dominated states from entering America.

The new rules define a close family member as a parent, child, son or daughter-in-law, spouse, or sibling already residing in the U.S. However, aunts, grandparents, grandchildren, nephews, nieces, cousins, fiancées, brother-in-laws and sister-in-laws are not considered close family members and do not meet the threshold requirement for Exemption.

For a business connection, there must be an official documentation. Students, workers, lecturers, and journalists who are validly invited or with valid employment contracts traveling from the six Muslim-dominated states are exempt from the restrictions.

However, consular officials, at their own volition, may award other exemptions apart from family or business ties.

Consular officers may award exemptions to an infant, adopted child or to a person in need of imperative medical attention.

The US tightens security for US-bound flights

On Wednesday, the US authorities issued tough security measures for international flights in a bid to combat terrorism. Homeland Security Department directed US airlines to upgrade their security surveillance for "US bound flights or face total electronics ban."

Homeland Security said that: “It would now require boosted screening of individual electronic gadgets, travelers and explosive detection for the approximately 2,000 commercial flights landing every day in the U.S from 280 airports in 105 countries.”

The Secretary of Homeland Security John Kelly said that: “Safety is my number one alarm.

Our adversaries are adaptive and we have to adjust as well.” Kelly said that airlines that fail to conform or delay to comply with the new regulations “could be barred from carrying large electronics” and risked losing “authorization to fly into the United States.”

According to Aljazeera, foreign carriers flying to the U.S from 10 cities are affected by the current ban, which permits travelers to travel with larger electronics packed in the checked package.

Electronics and laptop ban came into effect in March, due to “sophisticated threat.”

The ban is applicable to flights to the U.S from Kuwait City, Jordan, Cairo, Istanbul, Jeddah, Amman, Casablanca, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, and Doha. According to Aljazeera, the government was considering expanding the laptop ban to some European airports.