US: Iranians no longer eligible for trade, investment visas
The US Citizenship and Immigration Services agency has announced that Iranian nationals will no longer be eligible for E-1 and E-2 trade and investment visas.
According to a statement released on Wednesday by USCIS, the decision was made following the termination of the 1955 Treaty of Amity, Economic Relations and Consular Rights with Iran.
"E-1 and E-2 non-immigrant visas are based on trade and investment treaties or specific legislation providing for reciprocal treatment of the respective countries’ nationals. The existence of a qualifying treaty or authorizing legislation is therefore a threshold requirement for issuing an E visa," USCIS said.
"Due to the termination of the treaty, USCIS will send Notices of Intent to Deny to affected applicants who filed applications after the Department of State’s Oct. 3, 2018, announcement. Iranians currently holding and properly maintaining E-1 or E-2 status may remain in the US until their current status expires," it added.
The administration of US President Donald Trump put a travel ban on Iranian citizens and those of six other nations shortly after inauguration in 2017.
During the 2016 presidential race, Trump called for "a total and complete shutdown" of Muslims entering the United States allegedly on the pretext of preventing terrorist attacks.
Although the new development was somehow expected, it comes at a time of tension between Washington and Tehran.
In recent days, the tensions between the the two countries have reached a boiling point following the US assassination of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani and Iran's missile attack on US bases in Iraq in response.
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