July 10, 2018: The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, in coordination with the U.S. Department of State, has announced the implementation of visa sanctions against two countries due to lack of cooperation in accepting their citizens who have been ordered removed from the U.S. Please see https://www.dhs.gov/news/2018/07/10/dhs-announces-implementation-visa-sanctions for the full announcement.

BURMA: As of July 9, 2018, the U.S. Embassy in Rangoon, Burma has discontinued the issuance of all B1 and B2 nonimmigrant visas for current officials at the Director General level and above from the Burmese Ministries of Labor, Immigration, and Population (MOLIP) and Home Affairs (MOHA), and their immediate family members, with limited exceptions.

LAOS: As of July 9, 2018, the U.S. Embassy in Vientiane, Laos, has discontinued the issuance of all B1, B2, and B1/B2 nonimmigrant visas for current officials at the Director General level and above from the Lao Ministry of Public Security (MPS) as well as their immediate families; and all A3 and G5 nonimmigrant visas to individuals employed by Lao government officials, with limited exceptions.

The Department of State may change the covered visa applicants or visa categories at any time.  Visa suspensions may include any categories of visa or visa applicants, as determined by the Department.