Consular Officers May Revoke Visas Any Time

WASHINGTON (CN) - Officials at United States embassies and consulates around the world can revoke travel visas to the U.S. on their own discretion at any time, according to new rules adopted by the State Department.

This new discretion means that a foreign national traveling in the U.S. could have their visa revoked without prior notice if a consular officer questions the right of the holder to the visa. Because notification is not required, a visa holder may not know the visa is revoked until the holder arrives at a U.S. port of entry.

Under the new rule, foreign nationals can not appeal the revocation of their visa, and the Department of State does not have to explain why the visa has been revoked.

Previously, consular officials could only revoke a non-immigrant travel visa if it had been physically removed from the passport of the individual to whom it was issued or the individual to whom it was issued was deported or asked to voluntarily leave the U.S. by the Department of Homeland Security, or if the visa had been issued along with border crossing agreements for residents of Mexico and Canada and the visa holder was no longer a legal resident of either country.

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