The Supreme Court has upheld the travel ban. They were split 5-4 on “party lines”, meaning Justice Gorsuch (appointed by Trump) delivered him his victory. That is the final verdict and means the terms of the travel ban as currently in place will continue as long as this administration wants, or Congress changes the law. That is a blow to people from the banned countries, and effectively destroys the hopes of thousands of DV selectees in DV2018 and DV2019.
So – if you are affected by the travel ban (and do not have dual citizenship) you should not even interview unless you feel you have some sort of exception that applies to you.
June 26, 2018 at 16:12
Oh my god, it’s really sad.
June 26, 2018 at 16:16
This is really sad .. I can’t imagine winning the lottery and not being able to travel.
but does this mean there will be a second draw? to makeup up the number?
June 26, 2018 at 19:10
No. People from banned countries still have possibilities in some circumstances – so they cannot be “replaced” so simply.
June 26, 2018 at 16:16
What happens to DV 2018 applicants who have been issued A VISA but has not entered the US
June 26, 2018 at 19:10
If they have a valid immigrant visa they can still enter.
June 26, 2018 at 16:18
Does that mean people who were not selected should check their status again? Maybe they will get lucky and be selected in place of others who are from the banned countries ?
And if this is the case when should we recheck our status?
June 26, 2018 at 19:11
No it doesn’t mean that.
June 26, 2018 at 16:18
Hi Brit!
Am a 2018dv winner andi had my interview on february 8th, and my status on ceac is still ready and am from morocco
is there any chance to get my visa
Thank you
June 26, 2018 at 19:11
I don’t know.
June 26, 2018 at 16:18
Which African countries are faced with travel ban sir,?
June 26, 2018 at 16:23
hi simon, iam from Indonesia (Winner of DV 2018) married to iranian. we got interview scheduled for this august. will the travel ban affect us? really need your info for this
June 26, 2018 at 19:13
I don’t know how they will treat that scenario.
June 26, 2018 at 19:31
Your spouse may qualify for a waiver, but they are rare.
The official FAQ says this:
“What if my spouse or child is a national of one of the countries listed, but I am not?
KCC will continue to schedule new DV interview appointments for nationals of the affected countries. A national of any of those countries applying as a principal or derivative DV applicant should disclose during the visa interview any information that might qualify the individual for a waiver/exception. Note that DV 2018 visas, including derivative visas, can only be issued during the program year, which ends September 30, 2018, and only if visa numbers remain available. There is no guarantee a visa will be available in the future for your derivative spouse or child.”
June 27, 2018 at 00:53
What kind of information that qualify as a waiver
June 27, 2018 at 04:16
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/presidential-proclamation-archive/RevisionatoPresidentialProclamation9645.html
June 27, 2018 at 05:22
This give me headache ? recently we both stay outside our country but doesnโt have dual nationality. Now im confused whether to go for interviews or not since ive to go back to my country to obtain criminal records. Any second thought will be appreciated. Thanks simon
June 27, 2018 at 14:47
Unless you have dual nationality, you would probably just be wasting your money.
June 26, 2018 at 16:23
Which countries are affected by the travel ban? Kindly share.
June 26, 2018 at 16:36
These Banned countries should ask themselves maybe its the time to finally stop supporting terrorism.
Unfortunately, the candidates for visa are the victim in this case.
Do not get it wrong, I do not support the travel ban but just think about it.
June 26, 2018 at 19:15
That would be a realistic view *IF* the ban was applied to the countries that are sponsoring terrorism. However, it is not structured like that. It missed several countries that are the problem – it misses the mark.
June 27, 2018 at 05:25
Agree. Why they didnt banned another countries which is mostly having thread?
June 27, 2018 at 14:47
Because it is NOT about security, it’s moronic.
June 26, 2018 at 16:47
Will this ban make it possible to redistribute visas to other regions – especially Europe?
June 26, 2018 at 19:17
The impact of the ban is already evident. AS region is badly impacted – so they won’t use all their visa quota – it remains to be seen whether the unused visas are being distributed – I have written several articles about that recently.
June 26, 2018 at 16:50
Here are the countries that effected by the travel ban:
Iran, LIbya, Somalia, Syria, Yeman, North Korea , Venezuela
June 26, 2018 at 16:59
iran somalia libya syria yemen north korea and vensuela.
June 26, 2018 at 17:09
Sorry guys
June 26, 2018 at 17:12
Wich countries are affected by the travell ban?
June 26, 2018 at 17:27
“The current ban, announced in September, prohibits entry into the United States of most people from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Syria and Yemen. The Supreme Court allowed it to go largely into effect in December while the legal challenge continued.”
Source: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-court-immigration/supreme-court-backs-trump-on-travel-ban-targeting-muslim-majority-nations-idUSKBN1JM1U9
June 26, 2018 at 18:01
Maybe i found you a hack for this
If you were the applicnt both of your visa approved you can travel before her and get your Green Card than let her come to you so she pass the ban through you because the ban does not include people who have firts relatevs as hasbent wich is you.
What do you think Brit?
June 26, 2018 at 19:29
Well a spouse might qualify for a waiver anyway…
June 26, 2018 at 18:11
Its sad but hopefully we will get now a redistribution for EU. Whats your thoughts atm Brit not a big jump but 26k+ for EU? Thanks for insights by the way.
June 26, 2018 at 19:37
Wait and see.
June 26, 2018 at 18:18
Very bad news. This people have paid money for visas?
June 26, 2018 at 19:36
Only if they already went through an interview.
June 26, 2018 at 19:05
I am Somali and I have been through the interview in November of 2017, and my consular has approved me, but I have been restricted to travel ban.1.I have the right to obtain a second passport other thanmy own Somalia passport or my other citizenship if I bring that second passport do you think i have have a an opportunity to get my visa.2.Is it possible a person haas already been interviewed but informed the embassy he has second citizenship to obtain a visa
June 26, 2018 at 19:33
That might be possible if you are refused under 221(g)
June 26, 2018 at 19:10
Hi Brit,
1.Is this related to EU?
2.Does this have a good impact on EU and how?
3.Does this mean that more EU case numbers will be interviewed? My CN is 30***
Thank you!
June 26, 2018 at 19:32
1. No
2. Already factored in.
3. No
June 26, 2018 at 21:50
Are we certain it was already factored in? Is it reasonable to assume that the high number of refused cases in AS so far was due to the travel ban being in effect? If the ban had been lifted, wouldn’t those cases have become approved de facto? If so, it would have made sense to hold on to any redistribution until the ban was 100% certain for those cases, right? So it’s possible redistribution from AS hasn’t really happened yet (maybe it will on the last VB). Still, not sure it makes that much a difference for EU (maybe around 1,000 more visas available). What would make a big difference is if they figured some redistribution from AF was needed. It’s certainly a little late in the game, but it seems hardly possible they can schedule 4000 interviews in AF region in September even with all embassies going full throttle. Making AF current was necessary to give as many people as possible a chance (especially in smaller countries with less applicants). But I’m sure that with the data they have so far they can project AF will not hit its quota by any stretch of the imagination. If they wanted they could give EU as many as 21,000 visas (and SA and OC 2,500 combined) and they would still probably end up with 48,000 global quota at the most. That is sad too.
June 27, 2018 at 04:07
You are mixing things a bit. What is factored in is that AS will not hit the quota. That does not mean the distribution is confirmed.
June 27, 2018 at 04:34
Right. That’s what I mean. So far, it seems it hasn’t been confirmed (or “activated”) or EU would have gotten a higher VB number. My point is that redistribution from AS could only happen (if they do indeed decide for it to happen) now that the ban won’t be lifted. I think the real question is whether or not they want to get as close as possible to the 50,000 global quota or not. At the end of June with 3 months to go, the total number of visas issued will be around 33,000. AS will get around 1,000 more until the end, so will OC and SA combined. So that means there are theoretically still 14,000 visas left available (having taken out around 1,000 for AOS cases). Even if they managed to interview most people in AF (who actually want an interview), and taking into consideration the high refusal rate and slow processing, it seems hardly possible AF can get more than 7,000 visas. That means that again, if their aim was to get close to the overall quota, EU could still take 7,000 more visas and get to around 22,000. Of course, I’m not saying this will happen. All I’m saying is that’s the only way at this point to get close to the global quota, if that is indeed their main priority… It’s defintely sad and terrible that a lot of innocent people from AS are getting their hopes crushed. If on top of that they leave out tons of EU selectees (tons more than in any other year in history!), with thousands of visas left unused, that is sad too, and kinda cruel, because they may not have a choice with AS, but they certainly have a choice with EU.
June 27, 2018 at 05:04
Well – let’s wait and see what happens.
June 26, 2018 at 20:05
Sorry guyz
June 26, 2018 at 20:48
Fiancee visas affected? US citizen bringing Iranian Fiance?
June 26, 2018 at 23:02
I only answer DV lottery questions.
June 26, 2018 at 20:57
I had my interview in March 2018, but I have not arrived in the USA yet. Does this decision affect me? I’m 2018SA (venezuela)
June 26, 2018 at 23:03
You have a visa right? In that case no problem.
June 28, 2018 at 02:50
No Problem. For Venezuelan only the government people (CICPC, SAIME,PODER JUDICIAL, ETC) are banned not for normal citizen.
June 26, 2018 at 21:24
What about the people who already in USA by students visa and theythey they gonna do the interview with out Visa ?
June 27, 2018 at 04:03
This ruling doesn’t change the terms already in place. People who were already in the USA have a chance to process.
June 26, 2018 at 22:57
so, if a winner from affected countries has a relative in the US still cannot travel to the US or even interview?
June 27, 2018 at 04:11
Only VERY close relatives (spouse)
June 27, 2018 at 04:20
But the Travel Ban 3.0 included aunts, uncles, etc, too? If the winner’s Aunt is in the US – does not that qualify as bona-fide-relationship?
June 27, 2018 at 05:03
No – those extended relationships are not included.
June 27, 2018 at 05:43
I think your information is not accurate based on the exact information from Travel Ban 3.0. Bona-fide relationship definition: “Individuals who have a close familial relationship in the U.S. This includes parents (including in-laws and stepparents), spouses, fiancรฉes, children (including in-laws), siblings (including in-laws), half-siblings, grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins”
June 27, 2018 at 14:55
You are welcome to read the text here:
https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/presidential-proclamation-enhancing-vetting-capabilities-processes-detecting-attempted-entry-united-states-terrorists-public-safety-threats/
And an explanation here about the enhanced limitations on family relationships
https://qz.com/1147121/trump-travel-ban-update-closest-relatives-from-banned-countries-can-now-be-barred/
June 27, 2018 at 01:05
Hello Brit, I’m winner of dv 2019 of SA Venezuela, this decision hikaffects all Venezuelans or only people who work for the Venezuelan government, can this decision take away the opportunity to get my green card? I do not work for the government and never had problems obtaining my tourist visas.This leaves me very distressed, should I worry? thanks Brit
June 27, 2018 at 04:15
No. The restrictions on Venezuelans affect very few people.
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/presidential-proclamation-archive/RevisionatoPresidentialProclamation9645.html
June 27, 2018 at 10:27
Brit Thank you so much
June 28, 2018 at 03:07
Only for: No B-1, B-2 or B-1/B-2 visas of any kind for officials of the following government agencies Ministry of Interior, Justice, and Peace; the Administrative Service of Identification, Migration, and Immigration; the Corps of Scientific Investigations, Judicial and Criminal; the Bolivarian Intelligence Service; and the Peopleโs Power Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and their immediate family members.
June 27, 2018 at 02:46
Hi brit,
Iam from Afghanistan and my country is not listed in banned countries.
1. Do you think ban will affect my case, as I have not yet been schadualed but got current on august.
2. Most of winners from afghanistan got current but did not receive 2NL yet what would be the reason.
3. Do still have chance.
Thanks dear brit.
June 27, 2018 at 04:14
1. No
2. I don’t know that this assertion is correct.
3. Slow processing for Afghans means it is unlikely you have enough time to get approved now – you are of course free to try.
June 27, 2018 at 03:04
For example what exception can be if the travel ban affeceted you. ?
June 27, 2018 at 04:12
https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/visa-information-resources/presidential-proclamation-archive/RevisionatoPresidentialProclamation9645.html
June 27, 2018 at 06:39
Hullo Simon thanks for the good work I was denied a visa because the embassy stated they where multiple enteries of my name in the system but I only entered my name once during submission how ever another person with the same names as mine and date of birth but with a diff email though I once had the same email but had stoped using it as my primary email address. However this person applied for the 2019 dvlottery that was long after I had known that I had been randomly selected for 2018 so we are not the same person.. please how do i go about this. Thank you
June 27, 2018 at 15:01
So let me get this right.
This other person has the same name as you.
Same birthdate as you.
And an email address that you USED to use, but don’t anymore.
But it’s not you.
OK.
June 27, 2018 at 22:46
Yes exactly that.. she even applied for 2019 dvlottery but did go through… I tried to write to the embassy showing them her 2019 entries which I couldn’t have filled coz I had already known that I had been selected in May but they said a decision had already been made.
June 27, 2018 at 22:49
OK – well I am not shocked they refused the case – what you are saying sounds suspicious.
But in any case there is nothing more that can be done.
June 29, 2018 at 04:44
So if I try to contact this other person and just in case they get back to mi and they r totally different from me is there anything that I can do to get my visa.
June 29, 2018 at 14:02
I think you would be digging yourself into a hole of lies and facing a charge of immigration fraud. Time to move on.
June 27, 2018 at 06:56
Am sorry for that, but then how could you have been selected if u had multiple entries? Because multiple entries is an Automatic cancellation right?
June 27, 2018 at 15:03
They cancel some cases, and others are flagged as suspicious but not duplicate for certain – so then the CO decides at interview.
June 27, 2018 at 07:02
If you won the 2018 DV and while waiting for your interview you apply for the 2019 DV, can you be disqualified?
June 27, 2018 at 15:04
No
June 27, 2018 at 07:06
No
June 27, 2018 at 09:36
DV2018 is definitely an emotionnal rollercoster. You just don’t know what to expect from it. I am from Togo, and my cn is AF401XX. I am looking forward to getting my 1st NL. When I saw that AF went current I was so happy then I realised it just created a terrible mess. I just wait and see as Brit always says. Thank you for your efforts Brit.
June 27, 2018 at 11:33
If travel ban for iran. Those who got high number in Asia region. can they get interview soon . can number decrease from higher
June 27, 2018 at 15:15
All of AS region is current already!
June 27, 2018 at 14:17
Hello Brit,
do you think banned countries does not effect Asia or EU related to redistirubition?
June 27, 2018 at 14:45
THis has affected AS region. Whether EU will benefit or not remains to be seen.
June 27, 2018 at 15:25
This is not “new”. The ban is already in force – has been for the whole of DV2018
June 27, 2018 at 14:17
i am DVD selected as i am travel ban effected countries,so i have another passport(Ethiopian one) so can i go head for my case? or i am banned yet?
June 27, 2018 at 14:45
You can proceed as you are a dual national.
June 27, 2018 at 15:25
You can proceed.
June 27, 2018 at 16:30
Hi sir what meaning of current
June 27, 2018 at 17:21
Every case can be interviewed.
June 27, 2018 at 17:34
Brit why not say all the cases below the cut off numbers will be interviewed as it has been in the previous years but you still put it in a conditional way ?
June 27, 2018 at 21:54
I just wrote an explanation of why I am putting things as conditional.
https://britsimonsays.com/scheduling-concerns-in-af-region-for-dv2018/
June 27, 2018 at 16:32
You write all of as region is current is already
June 27, 2018 at 17:34
Sorry but where i can check my case status? To know my case is current or its at nvc
June 27, 2018 at 21:53
https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx
June 27, 2018 at 17:38
Sir only dv2018winner can be intre
June 27, 2018 at 21:55
What do you mean?
June 27, 2018 at 17:38
Can be interviewed
June 27, 2018 at 17:40
Im very sorry for all of you guys who have been affected. It’s really, really sad. I hope other things will work for every of us who for one or another reason was not able to get it. <3
June 27, 2018 at 18:36
Hello Brit :
according to travel ban problem..what are the effective countries from travel ban? If that countries not obtaining that visas other Asian countries obtaining that chances form banned countries ?
for the example
:
Iran have 100 visas and if they not allow to get their 100 visas then automatically distributes to other not-banned countries
June 27, 2018 at 22:16
AS region has gone current because of the travel ban. Whether other regions benefit or not remains to be seen.
June 28, 2018 at 04:25
This was a question i think i had too. What @wordpress4hemantha is asking is if there are countries banned in a region, will the holes generated be distributed among the countries of the same region that hasn’t reached their 7% quota? Which could also give a hope to the unselected from this region of a second draw in DV2018…..or DV2019?
June 28, 2018 at 04:50
This would not lead to a second draw in DV2018. DV2019 is too soon to know.
June 28, 2018 at 03:21
Hi Brit
What about if I am a citizen from one of those countries baned and also a dual national of that same country as a region but not internationally recognised and also not appear in the baned list.
For example, I am from Taiwan and China is in the banned list can i use my Taiwanese passport as a dual citizen which also appear in the d260 form as China?
June 28, 2018 at 04:05
This has nothing to do with the travel ban. If you were BORN in Taiwan, you are eligible.
June 28, 2018 at 14:44
U didint get my point Let me give you better example,
what about about the case of Somalila if I am from somaliland which seems politically the case of China and Taiwan respectively. Thanks in advance
June 28, 2018 at 15:13
Somaliland is not internationally recognized, and therefore is treated as part of Somalia.
June 28, 2018 at 17:06
Thank you very much for your clear reply.
I have seen points that concerning exception and waiver…”qualified applicants may be eligible for exception or waiver “……
my question is who is the qualified applicant?
Does that mean a level of education? If yes, upto which level will be considered for qualified? Thanks
June 28, 2018 at 21:42
No it is nothing to do with education level. In reality is is extremely unlikely to qualify for a waiver.
June 28, 2018 at 06:23
Dear Brit,
I’m from Somalia, one of the banned list… my CN is 2018AF00049xxx and I haven’t received Second 2dLN yet, even my case hasn’t turned to current until now…. By the way I’m under process to get Other citizenship from another country-not in the list- but I’m not sure how long this will take but I wish it will be finish at least in one month.
My question is :
1) For the time being Can I unlock my ds260 to change my info-to put in my second citizenship- or
2) What else I need to do …..
June 28, 2018 at 15:15
Your case is current. However, you may change your DS260 *IF* you HAVE the second citizenship. If you interview before you have that other citizenship, you will be wasting your money.
June 28, 2018 at 07:47
Hello brit im AF region(morocco) and it goes current as you know and my case is 35*** and i haven’t received any email yet and i’m supposed to have interview this month could plz give any explanation about this late process?? We sincerely get anxious about that!!! Knowing that there are some who were interviewed months ago and still don’t have a visa ???!!!!!
June 28, 2018 at 13:25
Could you suggest me a link to take a look at case status?
June 28, 2018 at 15:40
https://ceac.state.gov/CEACStatTracker/Status.aspx
June 28, 2018 at 15:21
I just wrote an article about this. Bottom line – be patient.
June 28, 2018 at 10:02
Hey brit…during entry of the DV application if the photo is too small and cant be resized does the website reject it or rather the application goes thru and one obtains a confirmation number?
June 28, 2018 at 15:27
If the photo doesn’t meet size requirements the case is disqualified.
June 28, 2018 at 15:18
Hi guys
Since I am from the banned country, I am offering my case number for sale to the highest bidder. Let’s see how much we can reach. ๐ start
June 28, 2018 at 15:43
It’s worthless because it cannot be transferred.
June 28, 2018 at 18:20
hi britsimon my visa has approved today but when I chec my statu i see administrative prossessing can you explin to me please
June 28, 2018 at 21:48
Reading the FAQ would have showed you this:
https://britsimonsays.com/faq/interview-went-well-now-ceac-shows-ap-happening/
June 29, 2018 at 13:54
Hello Brit,
this is really annoying. I’m sure many europeans will not prefer to go USA via banned countries visas. How unused visas affect EU region ? Do you think can we see EU visas to be 22-23K in the end of fiscal year ?
June 29, 2018 at 14:39
In about two weeks we will have our answer…