Significant Impacts of Biden’s Travel Ban Reversal for Immigrants Seeking U.S. Citizenship

2 min read

US President Biden has issued a presidential proclamation revoking the travel bans imposed by the Trump Administration. If you have previously been affected by this ban and are planning to apply for an immigrant or nonimmigrant entry into the United States, make sure to consult with a citizenship attorney in NY before hand.

What you need to know about the travel ban reversal

The travel ban imposed by former president Trump primarily targeted African and Muslim-majority countries, preventing them from processing their visa applications. This includes countries such as Iran, Libya, Syria, and Nigeria.

Different countries may have had different restrictions in place during the time of the travel ban. With the ban now lifted, the following are no longer subject to specific limitations:

  • Iranian, North Korean, and Syrian nationals may apply for nonimmigrant and immigrant visas
  • Libyan and Yemeni nationals may apply for B-1, B-2, or B1/B-2 visitor visas and immigrant visas
  • Somali nationals may apply for immigrant visas
  • Venezuelan government officials may apply for B-1, B-2, or B1/B-2 visas

Additionally, nationals of Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Myanmar, and Nigeria have had restrictions lifted on all immigrant visas. Meanwhile, nationals of Sudan and Tanzania are no longer restricted from diversity lottery immigrant visas.​

What does this mean for the United States? While many may argue that immigrants increase economic inequality and take jobs away from Americans, the opposite is true. In fact, lifting the travel ban offers numerous benefits for the country, including:

  • A more productive economy

Immigrants increase the productive capacity of the economy when they enter the labor force. As a result, the GDP rises. In 2016, for example, immigrants were able to add $2 trillion to the US GDP, while in 2018, they contributed $458.7 billion to state, local, and federal taxes.

  • Improve the labor market.

Immigrants also tend to flow into industries that require the most workers. This, in turn, relieves bottlenecks due to labor shortages, allowing the market to grow.

Does the travel ban reversal affect you? To ensure that you enter the US legally, consider contacting us at Berd & Klauss. We are trusted and experienced citizenship attorneys in NY, offering legal advice on immigration cases in the United States.

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