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This post updates our post from Jan. 22, 2016, concerning guidance released by the U.S. Department of State about implementation of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP) Improvement and Terrorist Travel Prevention Act. We have updated the post to provide a summary and link to additional information published by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) concerning the implementation and operation of the new VWP law.  The CBP document can be accessed here.

In its FAQs, CBP reiterates the two new barriers to VWP participation based on travel and dual nationality.  CBP reports that ESTA travelers who are “known” to be included in the dual national category will be notified in late January that their ESTA is no longer valid.  CBP also reports that it is working on notification to ESTA travelers who have traveled to Iran, Iraq, Syria, or Sudan.

CBP recommends that travelers who received an ESTA revocation apply for a nonimmigrant U.S. visa well in advance of travel.  CBP notes that U.S. Embassies and Consulates will process visa applications and will expedite visa interviews for travelers with “urgent business, medical, or humanitarian travel.”  Further, CBP recommends that travelers who have not received an ESTA revocation, but who have traveled to Iran, Iraq, Syria, or Sudan, should also apply for a visa in advance of planned travel.

In its previous press release, the Department of State outlined a variety of situations that may permit an individual otherwise precluded from VWP travel based on the travel restrictions (but not the dual national restrictions) to continue to use the VWP. CBP references those situations in the FAQs and notes further that “whether ESTA applicants will receive a waiver will be determined on a case-by-case basis.” CBP advises that it will determine, at some time in the future, whether waivers may be used by individuals otherwise barred from the VWP on the dual nationality grounds. CBP notes that the new ESTA application form, expected to be available in late February, will contain questions to determine whether a traveler is eligible for one of the exceptions (for military or government-related travel to one of the four named countries) from the travel-based restrictions.

Finally, the CBP’s FAQ covers situations where a traveler has had an ESTA revoked but has not received a notification, where a traveler who entered the United States on a valid ESTA, which is subsequently revoked, and what travelers may do if they believe an ESTA was revoked in error. We encourage potentially affected individuals to read CBPs FAQs and check back at Inside Business Immigration for additional information as it becomes available.

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Photo of Laura Foote Reiff ‡ Laura Foote Reiff ‡

Laura Foote Reiff has more than 32 years of experience representing businesses and organizations in the business immigration and compliance field. She is also a business immigration advocate and has long chaired prominent business immigration coalitions. Laura is Co-Founder of GT’s Business and

Laura Foote Reiff has more than 32 years of experience representing businesses and organizations in the business immigration and compliance field. She is also a business immigration advocate and has long chaired prominent business immigration coalitions. Laura is Co-Founder of GT’s Business and Immigration and Compliance Group which she co-led since 1999. She currently chairs the Northern Virginia/Washington D.C. Immigration and Compliance Practice. Laura is also Co-Managing Shareholder of the Northern Virginia Office of GT, a position she has held since 2010. As a global leader in the business immigration community, Laura has served on the Boards of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, the American Immigration Council, the National Immigration Forum and is currently the Chair of the America is Better Board.

Laura advises corporations on a variety of compliance-related issues, particularly related to Form I-9 eligibility employment verification matters. Laura has been involved in audits and internal investigations and has successfully minimized monetary exposure as well as civil and criminal liabilities on behalf of her clients. She develops immigration compliance strategies and programs for both small and large companies. Laura performs I-9, H-1B and H-2B compliance inspections during routine internal reviews, while performing due diligence (in the context of a merger, acquisition or sale) or while defending a company against a government investigation.

Laura represents many businesses in creating, managing and using “Regional Centers” that can create indirect jobs toward the 10 new U.S. jobs whose creation can give rise to EB-5 permanent residence for investment. She coordinates this work with attorneys practicing in securities law compliance, with economists identifying “targeted employment areas” and projecting indirect job creation, and with licensed securities brokers coordinating offerings. She also represents individual investors in obtaining conditional permanent residence and in removing conditions from permanent residence.

Laura’s practice also consists of managing business immigration matters and providing immigration counsel to address the visa and work authorization needs of U.S. and global personnel including professionals, managers and executives, treaty investors/ traders, essential workers, persons of extraordinary ability, corporate trainees, and students. She is an immigration policy advocacy expert and works on immigration reform policies.

 Admitted in the District of Columbia and Maryland. Not admitted in Virginia. Practice limited to federal immigration practice.