Contents
- Introduction: Defining a “Green Card Travel Ban”
- The United States’ Green Card Travel Ban
- Canada’s Green Card Travel Ban
- Mexico’s Green Card Travel Ban
- Australia’s Green Card Travel Ban
- New Zealand’s Green Card Travel Ban
- The United Kingdom’s Green Card Travel Ban
- The European Union’s Green Card Travel Ban
- India’s Green Card Travel Ban
- South Africa’s Green Card Travel Ban
The United States is not the only country that has a travel ban in place. Here is a list of other countries that have a green card travel ban.
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Introduction: Defining a “Green Card Travel Ban”
There is no legal definition of a “Green Card travel ban.” For our purposes, we will define a Green Card travel ban as a policy that prevents green card holders from traveling to a particular country.
Some countries have imposed Green Card travel bans as a way to prevent the spread of COVID-19. As of May 2020, the countries that have imposed Green Card travel bans are Australia, Canada, China, and the United Kingdom.
Australia’s Green Card travel ban applies to all non-Australian citizens, including Green Card holders. The ban was put in place on March 20, 2020, and is currently scheduled to last until at least June 14, 2020.
Canada’s Green Card travel ban applies to all non-Canadian citizens, including Green Card holders. The ban was put in place on March 18, 2020, and is currently scheduled to last until at least May 31, 2020.
China’s Green Card travel ban applies to all non-Chinese citizens, including Green Card holders. The ban was put in place on February 2, 2020, and is currently scheduled to last until further notice.
The United Kingdom’s Green Card travel ban applies to all non-British citizens, including Green Card holders. The ban was put in place on March 23, 2020, and is currently scheduled to last until at least June 30, 2020.
The United States’ Green Card Travel Ban
The United States has a travel ban in place that prevents certain foreigners from entering the country if they have a green card. The ban applies to citizens of Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, and Yemen.
The ban was originally put in place in 2017, but has been expanded and extended several times. It is currently set to expire on March 31, 2021.
Other countries have similar travel bans in place for citizens of the United States. These countries include:
-Australia
-Canada
-Denmark
-France
-Germany
-Iran
-Iraq
-Ireland
-Italy
-Japan
-Kuwait
-New Zealand
-Norway
-Poland
-Russia
-South Korea
-Spain
-Sweden
Syria
Turkey
Canada’s Green Card Travel Ban
As of October 31, 2016, Canada has implemented a Green Card travel ban for individuals from Mexico and the Czech Republic. This ban means that these individuals are not allowed to enter Canada without a valid visa.
The Canadian government has said that this ban is in place because they want to ensure that all individuals who come to Canada have the proper documentation and are not a risk to public safety. They also want to ensure that those who do come to Canada will be able to contribute to the economy and integration into Canadian society.
This ban is similar to the one that is currently in place in the United States. However, it is important to note that this ban is not permanent and could be lifted at any time.
Mexico’s Green Card Travel Ban
Mexico is the only country included in Trump’s travel ban that also has a green card travel ban. Mexico’s green card travel ban was put into effect in August of 2012 and is still in effect today. The ban prohibits green card holders from traveling to Mexico for tourist or business purposes. Green card holders who violate the ban may be subject to a fine of up to $100,000, imprisonment for up to 10 years, or both.
Australia’s Green Card Travel Ban
Australia has a green card travel ban in place for citizens of Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria. The ban was implemented in 2015 in response to the terrorist attacks in Paris.
New Zealand’s Green Card Travel Ban
In early 2019, the New Zealand government began instituting a new policy that required all visitors from visa-waiver countries to obtain a travel authorization (known as an Electronic Travel Authority, or ETA) prior to their arrival in the country. The ETA costs $12NZD and is valid for two years or until the traveler’s passport expires, whichever comes first.
The policy was implemented in phases, with first requiring ETAs for visitors from Australia (who do not need a visa to enter New Zealand), and then extending the requirement to all other visa-waiver countries in October 2019.
The policy has been controversial, with some arguing that it is too costly and difficult to obtain an ETA and that it deters tourism. Others have praised the policy as a way to increase security and reduce immigration fraud.
As of October 2019, New Zealand is the only country to have a green card travel ban in place.
The United Kingdom’s Green Card Travel Ban
In addition to the United States, the United Kingdom has also implemented a Green Card travel ban. The ban was put into effect in 2008, and it prohibits individuals from high-risk countries from entering the UK unless they have a special visa. The countries included in the ban are Afghanistan, Algeria, Iraq, Iran, Libya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Somalia, Sudan and Syria.
The European Union’s Green Card Travel Ban
The European Union has a green card travel ban in place for citizens of certain countries. The ban is in place for citizens of Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Poland, and Romania. These countries are not in compliance with the EU’s criteria for Schengen area membership. The Schengen area is a group of 26 European countries that have abolished passport and border controls at their mutual borders.
India’s Green Card Travel Ban
India has been one of the main countries to receive the green card, also known as the employment-based immigrant visa. In order to work in the United States, highly skilled workers from other countries must obtain this card.
Although India has been a top recipient of the green card, recent changes in U.S. immigration policy have led to a travel ban for Indian citizens who hold this card. The ban was first announced in April of 2017 and was put into effect in May of that year.
The Trump administration has said that the travel ban is necessary in order to protect U.S. workers from being replaced by foreign workers. India has strongly condemned the travel ban, saying that it is discriminatory and goes against the principle of non-discrimination that is enshrined in U.S. law.
The travel ban has had a significant impact on Indian citizens who hold green cards and who were planning to travel to the United States for work or for pleasure. Many have had to cancel their plans and some have even lost their jobs as a result of the ban.
South Africa’s Green Card Travel Ban
As of May 19, 2014, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has issued a travel ban for all South African nationals seeking to enter the United States on the basis of their green cards. This ban was put in place after the U.S. government learned that a significant number of South African nationals had been using their green cards to enter the United States illegally and then remaining in the country unlawfully.
The travel ban applies to all South African nationals who currently hold valid green cards. If you are a South African national and you have a green card, you will not be able to use it to travel to the United States unless you obtain a waiver from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. The waiver process is currently very difficult, and it is unclear how many waivers will be granted.
If you are a South African national and you do not have a green card, you will not be able to apply for one until the travel ban is lifted. It is unclear how long the ban will remain in place, but it is possible that it could become permanent.