US State Department mandates fear-of-return screening in visa interviews
Visa interviews halt if applicants affirm fear of return or refuse to answer
Change
US State Department directed consular officers to ask harm-and-fear screening questions and stop interviews if applicants affirm fear or decline to respond.
Why it matters
Consular officers globally must integrate harm-and-fear screening into temporary visa interviews. Applicants who confirm fear of harm or refuse to answer face sharply increased refusal risk and perjury exposure for false answers.
Implications
- — Consular officers must include both harm-and-fear questions in all visa interviews — omission breaches mandated process
- — Visa applicants must answer both screening questions to proceed — refusal or affirmative responses halt interview processing
- — Visa applicants must avoid false denials of fear — misrepresentation risks permanent inadmissibility and criminal penalties
Who is affected
- — Consular officers at US embassies and consulates
- — Non-immigrant visa applicants