US President Donald Trump and his administration has introduced new screening rules for non-immigrant visa applicants, requiring them to confirm during interviews that they do not fear returning to their home country. Under the updated policy, applicants who say they have suffered harm in their country or express fear about going back may be denied a temporary US visa. Refusing to answer the questions could also lead to rejection.

Under the updated policy, applicants who say they have suffered harm in their country or express fear about going back may be denied a temporary US visa. Refusing to answer the questions could also lead to rejection.

The new interview process reportedly adds two key questions for applicants: whether they have experienced harm or mistreatment in their home country, and whether they fear facing harm or mistreatment if they return.

The policy applies across all non-immigrant visa categories, including tourist visas, student visas, temporary work visas, seasonal labor permits, and business travel. US authorities issued around 11 million such visas in 2024.

Officials say the change is aimed at addressing a rise in asylum claims by people who initially enter the United States on temporary visas. The updated guidance suggests the government wants to identify applicants who may later seek asylum after arrival.

However, immigration and legal experts have raised concerns over the move, warning that it could block genuine victims of persecution before they even reach US territory. They say the policy may affect people fleeing domestic abuse, religious discrimination, political threats, or other serious risks in their home countries.

Critics also argue that the rule undermines long-standing asylum protections. Under both US law and international refugee protections, a person’s right to seek asylum does not depend on how they entered the country or what they said during a visa interview.

The new policy is therefore likely to trigger wider legal and human rights debate, as questions grow over whether visa screening is being used to shut out potential asylum seekers before they get the chance to present their case.

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