Sudanese Citizens Need Visa Approval to Enter the US

Misbar discovered that in January 2017, the Trump administration banned Sudanese people from coming to the U.S. This was part of a larger travel ban that included anyone from Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen, according to the BBC.

Just after being sworn in, President Biden reversed the ban.

According to the White House, “The previous administration enacted a number of Executive Orders and Presidential Proclamations that prevented certain individuals from entering the United States — first from primarily Muslim countries, and later, from largely African countries. Those actions are a stain on our national conscience and are inconsistent with our long history of welcoming people of all faiths and no faith at all.”

While the ban is indeed lifted, those wishing to travel to the U.S. from Sudan will still need to apply for a visa.

Upon announcing the reversal, President Biden said, “While the U.S. will apply a rigorous, individualized vetting system" for visa applications, "we will not turn our backs on our values with discriminatory bans on entry into the United States." In addition, as part of his executive order, anyone who had their visa application denied because of the ban may have their application reconsidered. 

The news was met with hope and relief in many African countries. Sudanese citizen Marwa Jumaa told Africa News, "The entry of the Sudanese to the U.S. while using a normal visa, as non-refugees and with their full rights without struggling like before, is good and will have an effect on the economy of Sudan, and will help the country move forward."

The visa process can take anywhere from a couple of weeks to over a year.