The United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced on Wednesday that they will no longer accept visa applications from Iranian nationals for E-1, E-2 and Investor visas. This decision comes after current USA – Iran tensions starting in 2018 after the Trump Administration terminated the 1955 Treaty of Amity, Economic Relations and Consular Rights with Iran. Further crisis arose after Iran admitted to firing two missiles at Ukranian International Flight 752 on January 8, 2020, killing all 176 people on board.

The E-1 and E-2 Treaty Investor visa is a non-immigrant visa that allows nationals of Treaty countries to come to the U.S. to carry on trade, or to invest capital in U.S. businesses.

With the USCIS’s recent announcement, all applications for granting, or extending E-1 / E-2 visas have been suspended. Iran Nationals no longer have the ability to use the EB-1 / E-2 visa to apply, extend, or change their non-immigrant status. Accordingly, all applicants who filed applications after October 3rd will receive “Notices of Intent to Deny” (NOID) and those who are currently in E-1 / E-2 visa status, will only be eligible to remain in the U.S. until their visa expires.

On the positive side, Iran Nationals will not be precluded from applying for admission to the U.S. under other non-immigrant visa classifications.

For further information, please email faryal@poonahimmigrationlaw.com.