State Department Announces New Security Measures - Imminent Delays for Arab Men Applying for Nonimmigrant Visas

Effective November 12, 2001, the State Department will implement new security screening measures for all male nonimmigrant visa applicants between ages 16 and 45 from certain Arab and Muslim countries. It is anticipated that these new measures, which involve cross-checking applicants’ names with the FBI’s terrorism databases, will cause delays of up to 20 days for visa issuance. Additionally, these nonimmigrant visa applicants will be required to complete an additional questionnaire that requests disclosure of any previous military service, weapons training, prior travels and formerly held passports.

Specifically, male applicants will be required to complete the questionnaire and must wait for the new cross-checks to be completed before a final decision regarding their eligibility for a visa will be made from the following countries:

Afghanistan; Algeria; Bahrain; Djibouti; Egypt; Eritrea; Indonesia; Iran; Iraq; Jordan; Kuwait; Lebanon; Libya; Malaysia; Morocco; Oman; Pakistan; Qatar; Saudi Arabia; Somalia; Sudan; Syria; Tunisia; Turkey; the United Arab Emirates; and Yemen.

Greenberg Traurig Business Immigration Group will provide updates as additional information is available.