The updated policies will deny entry to individuals identified as having participated in the censorship of American citizens on social media platforms, as part of initiatives to combat extremist speech across Europe and beyond.
In a series of communications sent this week to all US diplomatic missions, acquired by The Associated Press, the State Department indicated that visa applications from businesspeople considering “substantial investments” in the United States should be prioritized alongside those wishing to travel “for major sporting events that highlight American excellence.”
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This marks the latest attempt by President Donald Trump’s administration to tighten restrictions on migrants and visitors entering the US. However, with major sporting events forthcoming in the United States, the administration aims to ensure that fans can attend these competitions.
The new policies have garnered increased attention ahead of Friday’s World Cup draw.
As part of a wider initiative to manage the entry of foreigners into the U.S., the State Department has mandated that everyone requiring visas must undergo an in-person interview and screening to assess potential national security risks.
This has resulted in extended wait times at many embassies and consulates for interviews related to the “B1” and “B2” visas, despite an increase in consular staffing.
Last month, Trump unveiled a new initiative named “FIFA Pass” for foreigners traveling to the U.S. for the World Cup, allowing them faster interview appointments for visa applications. Nonetheless, he still urged applicants to seek their visas “immediately.” Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that over 400 additional consular officers have been deployed globally to meet the demand for World Cup visas, and in approximately 80% of the world, travelers to the U.S. can secure a visa appointment within 60 days, as noted in the cable.
The latest measures detailed in the cable extend beyond the FIFA Pass initiative, facilitating applications for those traveling to the United States for the Olympics and other prominent sporting events.
Diplomatic posts “should ensure sufficient appointment capacity to accommodate spectators and other fans attending events associated with the (World Cup) tournament,” stated one of the cables sent on Tuesday.
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“These should take precedence over all other B1/B2 applications, except those relating to American re-industrialization.” Additional priorities include foreign diplomats, government officials on official business, temporary agricultural workers, religious workers, healthcare providers, and students at institutions with less than 15% foreign enrollment.
“Posts should ensure that applicants from higher-ranked groups receive priority over those from lower-ranked groups, regardless of demand from lower-ranked applicants,” the cable indicates.
“Posts may considerably reduce the number of appointment slots available to lower-ranked groups to accommodate demand from higher-ranked groups.” New visa guidelines for highly skilled workers
A second cable dispatched on December 3 to all embassies and consulates outlined new criteria for evaluating H-1B visa applications, instructing diplomats to “be vigilant” regarding those who may have been or are “responsible for or complicit in the censorship of Americans” online and elsewhere.
These visas enable American companies to employ individuals with specialized skills that are scarce in the United States, and President Donald Trump has proposed imposing a $100,000 annual fee on them.
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The department cautioned that evidence of such involvement could lead to visa denial. It defined such evidence as adopting global content moderation policies inconsistent with freedom of expression, complying with global content moderation or censorship demands from foreign entities, and granting access to private data on American citizens concerning content moderation. This proof could be derived from an applicant’s resume, work history, social media profiles and posts, and any public statements or writings, as a cable indicated, noting that the State Department is developing tools to facilitate these screenings.
It emphasized that all visa applicants are subject to these criteria, but H-1B applicants should be scrutinized most closely “as many work or have worked in sectors like technology, which include social media or financial services companies involved in censoring protected expression.” “You must thoroughly investigate their employment histories to ensure no involvement in such activities,” the cable urged, adding that “if you find evidence that an applicant has been responsible for or complicit in censorship of protected expression in the United States, you should determine that the applicant is ineligible” for a visa.
