Trump's travel ban 2.0 set to take effect

After months of winding through the courts, a "watered down," revised version of President Donald Trump's fiercely litigated travel ban will finally go into effect from Thursday evening.

The White House on Wednesday set new guidelines for visa applicants from six Muslim-majority countries -- Libya, Syria, Iran, Somalia, Yemen and Sudan -- and all refugees, requiring them to have a "close" family or business tie to the US, CNN reported.

The new guidelines were issued in response to the Supreme Court's ruling partially restoring Trump's controversial travel ban.

The new guidelines, sent to US embassies and consulates, said that applicants must prove a relationship with a parent, spouse, child, adult son or daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law or sibling in the US in order to enter the country.

The cable obtained by CNN further said that other family members -- including fiancees, grandparents, grandchildren, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, and any other "extended" family members will not be considered "close family" under the executive order.

The State Department criteria also applies to all refugees currently awaiting approval for admission to the US, the report said.

If the applicant can't sufficiently establish such a close relationship, he or she will be banned for 90 days if they belong to the countries under the travel ban, and 120 days if one is a refugee from any country.

The guidelines have not yet been posted by the State Department or the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and could be subject to change, a US official said.

Advocacy groups such as Amnesty International plan to send researchers to US airports, such as the Washington Dulles International Airport and New York's John F. Kennedy Airport on Thursday, to monitor developments and observe implementation of the ban in case any disputes arise.

DHS spokesperson David Lapan confirmed to CNN on Wednesday that the President's revised executive order "would not affect persons who arrive at our ports of entry with legitimate travel documents".

Before the executive order was halted by the courts, the categories of travellers who were excluded from the travel ban comprised US citizens, legal permanent residents or green card holders, current visa holders, dual nationals, and foreign nationals with "bona fide" family, educational or business ties to the US. - IANS