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US tightens visa interviews with new asylum screening questions that can trigger outright denials
International
Published on 30 April 2026
A simple yes could end your visa chance
The US has introduced new screening questions for non-immigrant visa applicants tied to asylum risk. Applicants are asked whether they have experienced harm or fear returning to their home country, and refusal to answer is also treated as a negative signal. A “yes” to either question or not answering can lead to visa denial as part of tighter interview scrutiny.
- New asylum-related questions added to visa screening
- Applicants are asked about harm and fear of return
- Refusal to answer is treated the same as a “yes”
- Yes responses or non-response can result in visa denial
Read the full story at The Economic Times
This summarization was done by Beige for a story published on 
The Economic Times