“If someone comes to the US as a tourist, falls in love and gets married within 90 days and then applies for a green card, this means the applica tion would be denied,“ said Diane Rish, associate director of government relations at the American Immigration Lawyers Association.
In 2016, the US issued 10 million visas, helping to support the tourism industry. But the new rule does not generally apply to citizens of 38 countries -most of Europe and allies like Australia, New Zealand and Japan -who do not need a visa or an explicit travel, business or educational plan before coming to the US.
Most people from West Asia, Africa and much of Asia do need a visa, however, and consular decisions about who gets the precious documents are among the greatest source of tensions between the US and these nations. Travelers from six predominantly Muslim countries who have been banned from entry to the US under an order that the Supreme Court partially allowed to go into effect in June will not be affected since they cannot receive a visa under almost any circumstances.
The new rules are part of a broad push by the Trump administration to crack down not only on illegal immigration but also to tighten restrictions on legal immigration.
Ira Mehlman, spokesman for Federation for American Immigration Reform, said, “It’s an effort to prevent people from abusing the legal immigration process. The burden of proof should be on the people who say their plans have changed.“