Travel Ban

[magicsana]

So with this crazy travel ban thing, I was wondering if this directly impacted anyone on here. While I wait to hear back from some American universities, I can't help but think if this will be an issue for me later on. I am a Canadian citizen, so I technically shouldn't, but I was born in Pakistan so if Pakistan gets added to the list....it might be an issue. 

[Coffee Snob]

15 minutes ago, magicsana said:

So with this crazy travel ban thing, I was wondering if this directly impacted anyone on here. While I wait to hear back from some American universities, I can't help but think if this will be an issue for me later on. I am a Canadian citizen, so I technically shouldn't, but I was born in Pakistan so if Pakistan gets added to the list....it might be an issue. 

I'm worried too. My country is not on the ban list, but it has the largest Muslim population in the world, so... 

Edited February 2, 2017 by SEAsianInternational

[DBear]

3 hours ago, magicsana said:

So with this crazy travel ban thing, I was wondering if this directly impacted anyone on here. While I wait to hear back from some American universities, I can't help but think if this will be an issue for me later on. I am a Canadian citizen, so I technically shouldn't, but I was born in Pakistan so if Pakistan gets added to the list....it might be an issue. 

Okay.. not to worry you, but I just went through immigration at SFO yesterday, and the immigration officer asked about my visa to Pakistan (I went to Lahore on business). So, though I don't think you need to worry about getting in, you might want to prepare for some questions when you get to the airport. 

[DogsArePeopleToo]

3 hours ago, magicsana said:

So with this crazy travel ban thing, I was wondering if this directly impacted anyone on here. While I wait to hear back from some American universities, I can't help but think if this will be an issue for me later on. I am a Canadian citizen, so I technically shouldn't, but I was born in Pakistan so if Pakistan gets added to the list....it might be an issue. 

You've probably seen the news already, but the Trump administration has reassured the Canadian government that Canadian dual nationals from one of the seven countries will be allowed to enter the US. The British also took this up with the Trump admin and came up with this clarification, which is the same that the Canadians got. The only possible hang-up, according to the British:

The only dual nationals who might have extra checks are those coming form one of the 7 countries themselves -- for example a UK-Libya dual national coming from Lybia to they US.

So if Pakistan gets added to the list, it's reasonable that you can expect the same treatment dual Canadian nationals of these other seven countries get. So, no biggie. Unless Trump decides to add Pakistan and impose stricter rules on dual Pakistani-Canadian nationals. Then it's a biggie.

Edited February 2, 2017 by DogsArePeopleToo
Correct grammar

[TakeruK]

12 hours ago, magicsana said:

So with this crazy travel ban thing, I was wondering if this directly impacted anyone on here. While I wait to hear back from some American universities, I can't help but think if this will be an issue for me later on. I am a Canadian citizen, so I technically shouldn't, but I was born in Pakistan so if Pakistan gets added to the list....it might be an issue. 

I was going to write something similar to what @DogsArePeopleToo wrote, with an additional note.

I don't want to be alarmist so this shouldn't be read as something we need to constantly worry about but I think it's important to consider less favourable possibilities. I think one of the most worrisome aspects to this for those who aren't from one of the seven countries is the unpredictability of the administration. I'm not confident that policies and agreements in place now will always be in place.

In addition, some US government institutions have weird rules that affect foreign-born Canadians or dual citizen Canadians. Right now, these rules mostly affect Chinese-born Canadians. For one reason or another, some senator is really against any government funding towards China, and in my field, NASA is a big source of government funding. There were issues with conferences/workshops funded by NASA money where one of my friends, a Canadian (only Canadian not dual citizen) born in China originally had their participation banned until they successfully appealed. Another one of my friends, also a Canadian but born in China, is currently working at a NASA site and they are required to have their supervisor escort them around the premises at all times (they can't even enter work without an escort). Typically, all foreign nationals have a probation period where an escort is required but after they conduct extensive background checks, this restriction is lifted. However, this is a permanent thing for my Canadian friend because they were born in China. I mention this to highlight that maybe more countries could be added and that dual citizenship or being born in a country where the US does not have good relationships with could lead to issues if you hope to work at a US government site.

[magicsana]

@DBear, @DogsArePeopleToo, @TakeruK Thanks for the info. I'll be going to California next month for a conference, so I guess  will find out then. Doesn't help that my passport photo clearly identifies me as a Muslim since I'm wearing a hijab in it.  

[DogsArePeopleToo]

2 hours ago, magicsana said:

Doesn't help that my passport photo clearly identifies me as a Muslim since I'm wearing a hijab in it.

Hope you face no problems. Good luck!

 

2 hours ago, TakeruK said:

I think one of the most worrisome aspects to this for those who aren't from one of the seven countries is the unpredictability of the administration. I'm not confident that policies and agreements in place now will always be in place.

Yup. I'm from one of the countries in the vicinity of Pakistan, a country that, like Pakistan, everyone expected to be on the original 7 list but wasn't. So we're all freaking out about what might happen now. I'm part of a contingent of about 80 Fulbright exchange students supposed to go to grad school this fall. We've had visa rejections during the "normal" years - we can only imagine what Trump's "extreme vetting" might look like for us. And we're not even dual nationals, so we can't enjoy the protections of Canada or the UK, etc.  *Shudder*

[Coffee Snob]

9 hours ago, DogsArePeopleToo said:

We've had visa rejections during the "normal" years - we can only imagine what Trump's "extreme vetting" might look like for us. And we're not even dual nationals, so we can't enjoy the protections of Canada or the UK, etc.  *Shudder*

I applied my J1 visa as a Fulbrighter before Trump era and I've had 1 visa rejection too. But it went okay and my J1 visa was approved.

[GeorgeC07]

Chinese here, so I can't help you on this one. Just some opinions of mine on this:

I don't think they gonna put too much pressure on a Canadian citizen, but maybe your visa could take more time to be approved since the recent terrorist attack in Quebec.

Recent orders from Trump administration seem to reform the system so as to provide more visas to educated and skilled intellectuals, so visas for students shouldn't be affected that much.

[DBear]

I agree with @TakeruK

As a foreign national though, even if one is not from a restricted country, there definitely is a lot more anxiety when it comes to obtaining a visa and gaining entry. As it is so early on in the administration, it's really uncertain what policy changes will be enacted and how they will affect people at the actual border. Like my incident with having my visa from Pakistan pointed out- it obviously is not a reason to detain me, but no one at border control even batted an eye at the different stamps in my passport before now. This is the third time I entered the U.S. with that passport. Also, even though I'm from a country that is not implicated in any of these policy changes, there is a fear that somehow, the political climate will change and that I can potentially be impacted. Apart from the people that are directly impacted, the level of uncertainty is worrisome for most foreigners. Hopefully, as time passes, things will stabilize and there will be more certainty.

I hope everyone here (and everyone pursuing a higher education in the U.S.) is able to get into a school they are happy with, without incident. 

 

[DogsArePeopleToo]

7 hours ago, SEAsianInternational said:

I applied my J1 visa as a Fulbrighter before Trump era and I've had 1 visa rejection too. But it went okay and my J1 visa was approved.

That sounds hopeful. Then again, that was before Trump's EOs.

[Coffee Snob]

5 hours ago, DogsArePeopleToo said:

That sounds hopeful. Then again, that was before Trump's EOs.

I know. I'm nervous too right now because next week I'm having a visa interview for a short business trip. I'll update here. 

[magicsana]

14 hours ago, GeorgeC07 said:

I don't think they gonna put too much pressure on a Canadian citizen, but maybe your visa could take more time to be approved since the recent terrorist attack in Quebec.

In most cases, they give the Visa on the spot, so we will see what happens. I go next month! 

On 2/2/2017 at 1:10 PM, DogsArePeopleToo said:

Hope you face no problems. Good luck!

Thank you! I will update here.

[Coffee Snob]

Quick update:

I just did an interview yesterday for a B1/B2 (business/tourism) US visa. After 2 hours of queuing and 2 minutes of interview (haha!), my visa is approved.

[DogsArePeopleToo]

16 minutes ago, Coffee Snob said:

Quick update:

I just did an interview yesterday for a B1/B2 (business/tourism) US visa. After 2 hours of queuing and 2 minutes of interview (haha!), my visa is approved.

That's great. Good to know the US is still issuing visas  Hope the travel is also a good experience.

[redikulus]

Yeah, I guess not everyone heard that homeland security emergency revoked it or whatever last Saturday and airports reported they instantly went back to regular behavior, almost like, happily so.

[ak547]

On 2/3/2017 at 5:59 AM, DBear said:

I agree with @TakeruK

As a foreign national though, even if one is not from a restricted country, there definitely is a lot more anxiety when it comes to obtaining a visa and gaining entry. As it is so early on in the administration, it's really uncertain what policy changes will be enacted and how they will affect people at the actual border. Like my incident with having my visa from Pakistan pointed out- it obviously is not a reason to detain me, but no one at border control even batted an eye at the different stamps in my passport before now. This is the third time I entered the U.S. with that passport. Also, even though I'm from a country that is not implicated in any of these policy changes, there is a fear that somehow, the political climate will change and that I can potentially be impacted. Apart from the people that are directly impacted, the level of uncertainty is worrisome for most foreigners. Hopefully, as time passes, things will stabilize and there will be more certainty.

I hope everyone here (and everyone pursuing a higher education in the U.S.) is able to get into a school they are happy with, without incident. 

 

I totally get this. I recently got accepted to Purdue and I asked what the deadline to accept the decision is. While I got the deadline (June 1), I was also advised to expedite my decision and visa process (I-20 request), as this year's visa process may take "significantly longer". They say that this is why they have decided to speed up their admission process as well. I'm from India BTW, so (apparently) I'm not supposed to be affected by the travel ban. :/

Edited February 9, 2017 by ak547