Some groups of foreign nationals are not eligible for visas – but who are they, and why can’t they visit or work in the U.S.?
3 Reasons Some People Aren’t Eligible for Visas
While individual visa applications are evaluated on a case-by-case basis, there are some groups of foreign nationals who are ineligible for U.S. visas, including those who:
- Have health-related issues
- Have been involved in criminal activity
- Present security concerns
When someone wants a U.S. visa, they first visit the U.S. Consulate in their home country. The officer there determines whether the person is eligible for a visa, and if so, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services conduct a screening when the person arrives in the U.S.
Individuals With Health-Related Issues
People who have health-related issues that could put the public at risk aren’t eligible for visas. This group includes those who:
- Have a communicable disease that poses a public health risk
- Can’t prove vaccination against some diseases
- Has a physical or mental disorder that might pose, or has posed, a threat to the person’s own safety or welfare, or to others
- Is an addict or someone who abuses illicit drugs
Individuals Involved in Criminal Activity
People who have been involved in criminal activity are ineligible for visas, such as those who:
- Have been convicted of a crime of moral turpitude
- Has been determined to be a drug trafficker (or the spouse or child of a trafficker who benefited from the trafficking)
- Has been determined to be a firearm trafficker
- Has been convicted of two or more offenses (except purely political ones) that involved a total penalty of five years or more in prison
- Has been involved in prostitution within the past ten years
- Has committed a serious criminal offense in the U.S.
- Has been involved in or knowingly benefited from human trafficking
- Has been involved in money laundering
People Who Present Security Concerns
People who present security concerns include those that the USCIS believes are:
- Engaged in terrorism
- Entering the U.S. to overthrow the government or participate in espionage or sabotage, or to steal sensitive information or technology
Do You Need to Talk to a Milwaukee Immigration Attorney About a U.S. Visa?
If you’re considering applying for a U.S. visa, you may want to talk to a Milwaukee immigration attorney about your options.
Call us at 414-383-6700 for a consultation with an immigration lawyer today.
