Tighter visa rules for US

TRAVEL agents in South
Africa have reported that
it has become increasingly
difficult to obtain US visas
for their clients, particularly
young clients.
Angela Roberts, owner of
Four Seasons Travel, said
her client had applied for
his visa with a return air
ticket, proof of employment
stating that he would return
to South Africa and resume
his job, valid bookings and
itinerary. However, his visa
application was immediately
denied and he was told not
to reapply within the first
90 days.
Recently the US
announced that it would
further tighten its visa rules.
US Secretary of State,
Rex Tillerson, also advised
embassies around the world
that visitors who required
a visa must follow through
on their stated plans for at
least three months. If during
the first three months after
applying for visas, travellers
did something that they
failed to mention in their
visa interview – such as get
a job, go to school or
marry an American citizen –
it would be presumed that
they had deliberately lied.
The consequences would
be that it would become
difficult for them to renew
a visa or get a new one.
And if the visitors remained
in the US, they would be
eligible for deportation.
If any of these things
happened after the initial
three months, this would
still be problematic, but
wouldn’t be considered
‘wilful misrepresentation’.