Background: On January 27, 2017, President Trump signed a highly controversial Executive Order banning
citizens of 7 designated countries from entering the United States for a period of 90 days. Due to the vagueness of the wording, citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, and Yemen were detained for questioning even if they held a valid visa, Green Card, or dual citizenship from an unlisted country. Visa issuance for citizens of affected countries has been halted for 120 days, and indefinitely for Syrian citizens.
Changes: In the days immediately following the issuance of the Order, additional guidance was published to help manage the chaos at airports and land border crossings across the country and abroad.
- Citizens of the designated countries who hold Canadian dual citizenship or a US Green Card are not affected
- Canadian Permanent Residents from designated countries who have existing US visas may enter the US at a land border crossing or from a pre-clearance center in Canada with their PR card and passport
- Canadian Permanent Residents from designated countries may apply for a US visa at a US Consulate in Canada
Analysis: Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has confirmed its commitment to issuing
temporary visas to affected citizens stranded outside the US. However, Canada will not increase its intake of
refugees for 2017.
BDO's Immigration Services team is closely monitoring the situation and encourages clients to seek professional immigration advice prior to traveling to the US.
For additional information and details of the Executive Order, please contact BDO Immigration Services.
Contact:
Mark Chow, Partner
Doreen Buksner, Senior Manager
BDO Canada Immigration Services, a subsidiary of BDO Canada LLP, a Canadian limited liability partnership, is a member of BDO International Limited, a UK company limited by guarantee, and forms part of the international BDO network of independent member firms.
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