US to review visa policy for Nigerians, may revoke others
By Agency Reporter, Published: Wednesday, 27 Jan 2010



THE United States may soon begin rejection of Visa applications by some categories of Nigerians.

Although a statement by the US State Department did not mention the categories that would be affected, it added that visas already issued to some people might be revoked.

The plan, according to Empowered Newswire, a US-based Nigerian news agency, follows a directive by President Barrack Obama.

The US State Department supervises American embassies worldwide.

Empowered Newswire said on Tuesday that the embassies were advised to “review visa issuance and revocation criteria and processes with special emphasis on counter terrorism’.

It is believed that this directive would be actively implemented in Nigeria and other 13 countries on the US terror watch list.

Alongside the presidential directive, a US senator is also proposing that multiple visas be eradicated for Nigerians and the other countries on the terror watch list.

However, the US Embassy in Nigeria, has been absolved of any wrongdoing in the handling of the Umar Farouk AbdulMutallab, the 23-year-old Nigerian that attempted to blow up a US-bound aircraft.

According to Ian Kelly, US State Department Spokesman, Embassy in Nigeria did everything they were supposed to do.”

It was gathered that Obama’s directive was addressed to several US departments and agencies with different specific instructions and policy directions.

But the State department instruction on visa is deemed one of the most crucial directives in the memo as it came first in a long line of departments and agencies.

According to the presidential memo, Obama stated that those actions including the new visa restrictions and revocation which must take place immediately ”must be taken to enhance the security of the American people.

The statement said, “The actions are necessary given inherent systemic weaknesses and human errors revealed by the review of events leading up to December 25th.

“They also are required to ensure that the standards, practices, and business processes that have been in place since the aftermath of 9/11 are appropriately robust to address the evolving terrorist threat facing our Nation in the coming years.”



http://www.punchontheweb.com/Articl.aspx?theartic=Art20100127424356

Hardtalk:



THE United States may soon begin rejection of Visa applications by some categories of Nigerians.

Although a statement by the US State Department did not mention the categories that would be affected, it added that visas already issued to some people might be revoked.

The plan, according to Empowered Newswire, a US-based Nigerian news agency, follows a directive by President Barrack Obama.

The US State Department supervises American embassies worldwide.

Empowered Newswire said on Tuesday that the embassies were advised to “review visa issuance and revocation criteria and processes with special emphasis on counter terrorism’.

It is believed that this directive would be actively implemented in Nigeria and other 13 countries on the US terror watch list.

Alongside the presidential directive, a US senator is also proposing that multiple visas be eradicated for Nigerians and the other countries on the terror watch list.

Imagine all these punishment, just because of one useless Islamist!.

Abdulmuttalab has caused us more problems.

So what? Maybe our legislators will now stay home and do what they are 'selected' to do.

one nigeria ;d

Mutallab just happened to be the straw that broke a camel's back. . .US had blacklisted Nigeria for over 20yrs. Dating back to our notoriety with drug trafficking. Then we started renting cars and shipping them offshore. After that we went into 419. Now terrorism. . .State Dept has had enough of us. They tolerated our nonsense longer than they ordinarily would allow for most other countries at par with Nigeria.

Don't place blame. . .accept responsibility for the bad name.

now some well deserved nigerian who may be coming to U.S. to improve upon him/herself will be denied of the opportunity. The U.S. needs to find a way to punish the politicians more rather than punishing the average nigerian traveler.

there's nuthin us can do to our politicians.
I really dont blame them,like a nairalander posted earlier,they've been seeking ways to black out nigeria 4 sometime and abd' muttalab was the exact round peg.
If Nigeria were in their shoes I'd expect the sa

They will most likely target Nigerians with Muslim names. I feel sorry for the Muslim Yorubas, they are not radical like the Muslim Hausa-Fulani.   

trueword:

now some well deserved nigerian who may be coming to U.S. to improve upon him/herself will be denied of the opportunity. The U.S. needs to find a way to punish the politicians more rather than punishing the average nigerian traveler.

The masses always suffer the brunt!.

DL:

there's nuthin us can do to our politicians.
I really dont blame them,like a nairalander posted earlier,they've been seeking ways to black out nigeria 4 sometime and abd' muttalab was the exact round peg.
If Nigeria were in their shoes I'd expect the sa

Yes, they have been seeking ways to blacklist Nigeria, and now is the time.

who cares,

Nigerians will take their 'hard earned' and 'hard stolen' monies to Dubai.

And we should also limit VISA to americans working in our 'oil sector'

otawa:

who cares,

Nigerians will take their 'hard earned' and 'hard stolen' monies to Dubai.

And we should also limit VISA to americans working in our 'oil sector'

That is the implication of the above.

otawa:

who cares,

Nigerians will take their 'hard earned' and 'hard stolen' monies to Dubai.

And we should also limit VISA to americans working in our 'oil sector'

That is where it is happening now. All our corrupt government officials, have houses there.