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3d ago

U.S. Orders Consulates to Refuse Most Visas for Palestinian Authority Passport Holders

The State Department is using INA 221(g) to halt most nonimmigrant visas tied to PA passports, a move now facing EU pushback under the UN host‑country agreement.

Palestinian passports are displayed in Obour City, Egypt, on July 15, 2025.
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks alongside President Donald Trump during a cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House on August 26, 2025, in Washington, DC.

Overview

  • An August 18 State Department cable, reported by multiple outlets, directed embassies and consulates to refuse nonimmigrant visas presented with Palestinian Authority passports, effective immediately.
  • The order covers students, tourists, business travelers, professors and patients seeking medical treatment, expanding an earlier pause on visitor visas for residents of Gaza.
  • Exemptions include immigrant visas, applicants using a different passport or holding dual nationality, and travelers with existing valid U.S. visas, with waivers maintained for the PA mission under UN rules.
  • U.S. officials also confirmed visa denials and revocations for PLO and PA figures ahead of the UN General Assembly, including barring Mahmoud Abbas, citing national security and accountability.
  • Palestinian authorities condemned the restrictions as violating the 1947 UN Headquarters Agreement, and the European Union publicly urged Washington to reconsider the policy.