YEREVAN. – Armenia has not been directly affected by the recent executive order on issuing visas that was introduced by the White House in January 2017.

The process of issuing visas goes as usual, with interviews being granted for both the Armenian and Iranian nationals at the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan, one of four designated processing posts for the Iranian nationals.

Overall, 2,402 Armenian citizens got immigrant visas in Fiscal year 2016. The number of non-immigrant visas issued to Armenian citizens in the same period reached 13,875, according to statistics on the U.S. State Department website.

The U.S. administration recently proposed new measures to check eligibility of visa applicants. Under the new procedures, U.S. consular officials are able to request the five-year history of social media handles, email addresses and other information, if needed to judge a visa applicant’s eligibility. 

“Right now, we only collect additional information from visa applicants if additional administrative processing is required.  If an Armenian national applies for a visa and does not require any additional administrative processing, we process them, as we always have,” Consular Chief at U.S. Embassy Erin Eussen told Armenian News-NEWS.am

The Embassy said when it determines that additional administrative processing is required, it requests additional information to help facilitate legitimate travel to U.S.

“It is important to keep in mind that we look at each applicant as an individual applicant, as an individual case. We establish that applicant’s eligibility for the visa based on the information he/she has provided during the visa interview. Once we determine they are qualified for the visa, that’s when we go into possibly needing some administrative processing. We consider the need for further information on case-by-case basis. This does not depend on nationality, national origin, gender, race, religion,” the Consular Chief explained, adding that additional information is used to ensure U.S. security and facilitate the entry of legitimate travelers.

In general, entering the U.S. is a two-step process.  If a visa is issued by the embassy, this does not mean a person will be able to enter the United States. There is a second step, at the U.S. border, where the traveler talks to an immigration official and requests approval to physically enter the United States.

Even with the recent changes, the Embassy said there are still many Iranians -- especially students and those who have bona relationships with individuals in the U.S., schools, or businesses -- who are applying for and receiving visas from the U.S. Embassy in Yerevan.