New US Visa Rule: Tougher Screening, Potential Hurdles

0:00On April 28th, U.S. Embassy's worldwide just got a new directive from the State Department. Starting now, anyone applying for a temporary visa has to answer two key questions up front. Have you faced harm or mistreatment back home? And do you fear it if you return? Say yes or skip answering and your visa odds drop hard. This moved targets what they call a flood of folks misusing visas to claim asylum later. Officials say too many people hide their real plans during interviews or at the border. In fiscal year 2024, they issued nearly 11 million non-immigrant visas from tourists to tech workers. The human cost hits hard. This could block real victims like abuse survivors or threatened journalists before they even land stateside. Plus, lying no to get in risks, perjury charges and a lifetime U.S. ban. Critics worry it clashes with asylum laws and refugee rights. It ties back to President Trump's executive order on day one of his 2025 term,

1:01Pushing Tupper Screening. That led to bans on folks from 12 countries and limits on seven more. This follows a court smackdown on his border invasion claim, reopening asylum paths. Meanwhile, the full details stay classified inside the department and they haven't commented yet. Expect pushback from mites groups as this rolls out globally.