New State Department rules would deny visas to those who fear returning home

The State Department has reportedly begun directing consular officers to ask nonimmigrant visa applicants whether they fear harm or mistreatment if returned to their home country, and to deny the visa if they answer yes.

The Washington Post reported on April 28 that the cable tells officers to ask two questions and to require a no answer to both for the visa process to continue. The Guardian independently reported the same directive and said it had reviewed the cable.

The move would mark a significant tightening of visa screening, with potential implications for people who may later seek protection in the United States. It also appears to extend a broader effort by the administration to intensify vetting of visa applicants.

That effort was outlined publicly in March, when the State Department announced expanded screening and vetting for visa applicants, including broader online presence review for multiple nonimmigrant categories. In that earlier announcement, the department said visa adjudication is a national security decision and that a U.S. visa is a privilege, not a right.

The latest reporting raises questions about how consular officers will apply the new instruction in practice, and what it could mean for applicants who have credible fears about return but are seeking nonimmigrant visas rather than asylum.

The State Department had not publicly explained the April 28 cable in the materials reviewed. The immediate issue is whether the department will confirm the reporting and clarify which visa categories are covered.