Residents of countries that fall in the restricted list of the current White house administration, received two times fewer visas to enter the United States compared to last year. Such statistics leads Reuters, citing government data. In addition, the total number of visas in the US this year 15% less compared to average rate, 2016.
However, residents of Iran, Iraq, Yemen, Syria, Somalia, Sudan and Libya received about 2800 non-immigrant visas in April. Although, it is much less than the 5700 visas, which was in 2016.
«The demand for visas is cyclical, irregular and fluctuates in the course of the year. It is influenced by various factors, both international and internal character,» said William Cox, an employee of the consular Bureau of the state Department.
A presidential decree signed on 27 January 2017, imposed restrictions on entry for residents of the above countries. This document has caused ambiguous reaction and civil activists challenged it in Federal court, but the White house has issued a new decree, which expelled Iraq. But it too was blocked.
