US PRESIDENT Donald
Trump’s 90-day ban on
travellers from Iran, Iraq,
Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria
and Yemen stops travellers
entering the US‚ even with
valid visas.
The measure also freezes all
refugee admissions to the US
for 120 days.
The executive order sparked
major protests around the
world and led to numerous
delays at US airports.
Hundreds of people were also
detained or denied entry in the
United States.
Here’s what travel agents
need to know:
Affected South Africans
Even though almost
1 000 travellers have been
denied boarding, according to
officials from the US Customs
and Border Protection last
week, no problems for South
Africans have been reported
so far.
The DHA said it did not
know of any incidents involving
South Africans. Megan D’Arcy,
product manager of kulula
holidays, says: “We have
not had any reports of our
passengers being affected by
delays at the airports or border
control.”
Dual nationality
According to Kevin McAleenan,
acting Customs and Border
Protection commissioner of
Department of Homeland
Security, dual nationals who
hold a passport from one of
the seven restricted countries
and a non-restricted country,
will be assessed at the US
border based on the passport
they present, not any dualnational
status. “So if you’re a
citizen of the UK, you present
your United Kingdom passport
and the executive order does
not apply to you upon arrival,”
he said.
Dual nationals, who hold the
passport of an unrestricted
country and possess a valid
US visa may resume travel to
the United States, a US State
Department official said.
At the time of publishing,
the US Embassy in Pretoria
could not confirm that South
Africans with dual citizenship
and who are in possession
of a passport from one of
the affected countries, could
apply for a visa for the next 90
days or whether they would be
allowed to enter the US.
Airline refunds
Airlines say they will comply
with the US executive order
and will deny boarding to
passengers from the affected
nationalities. However, most
airlines say they will adjust
their re-booking options and
refund policies.
Delta said it would contact
affected customers with
flexible rebooking options,
including refunds.
Etihad said, where permitted,
the airline had already offered
affected passengers changes
or refunds. The airline has
also rebooked passengers, as
per its updated policy.
British Airways is offering
affected customers a refund
for their travel to the US, or
the opportunity to rebook their
flight.
In future, the Trump
administration will also
discuss the possibility of
asking all foreigners to
disclose which websites
and social media sites
they frequent and to share
their cellphone contacts. If
travellers decline to share
this information, they could be
denied entry into the US.
