State Department Offers Last-Minute Reversal on Travel-Ban Policy on Fiancés

The U.S. State Department has changed its definition of “close family member” eligible for travel to the U.S. under President Trump’s revised travel ban. The ban, which restricts travel from Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen, took effect late Thursday. Only immediate family members of those living in the U.S. would be able to obtain a U.S. visa during the 90-day travel ban. The State Department had initially defined a close family member as a parent, spouse, child, adult son or daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, or sibling. But just as the ban took effect, a State Department official was cited by Reuters as saying the policy had been changed. “Upon further review, fiancés would now be included as close family members,” the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity, was quoted as saying.