People from countries such as Rwanda, Algeria, Guinea, Uzbekistan and Senegal are finding it hard to get US Visa from Dubai. A spike in refusals, fuelled by a shift towards exclusionary immigration laws during the second term of Donald Trump’s presidency in the US, has been revealed in a new report. For thousands of applicants, something that had been a bureaucratic impediment has now grown to what seems like an impossible challenge as a result of the new US visa requirements.

The study looked at the number of green cards issued per 100,000 residents, passport strength and search trends related to immigration, drawing on information from the US State Department and global indexes. The results suggest that the United States has been ratcheting up scrutiny of those applying from certain countries identified as risk-prone or economically volatile.

Number one on the list is Rwanda, according to the travel company, which is suffering one of the highest visa rejection rates anywhere in the world. Immigration lawyers say political friction, economic instability and weak repatriation guarantees result in a denial of these applications.

In Algeria, there are historical issues including US Tourist Visa overstays, and existing national security concerns shackling for the applicants. These applicants do not offer any documents to demonstrate strong home-country ties which is a leading cause of all the rejections.
Guinea and Burundi are also among those nations with very high rejection rates. In Guinea, limited economic prospects and bleak passport mobility prompt consular officers to question whether applicants will leave and return. Burundi is complicated by political instability and a lack of diplomatic ties to the United States.

Despite overall good diplomatic relations, Senegal has high refusal rates, mainly due to applicants giving unclear travel intentions or weak economic ties. This is part of a wider pattern that is showing the US's closest allies are themselves subject to greater US Visa inspection.

Uzbekistan is the single non-African country to dominate the list, with a refusal rate 64% or higher. While on typical terms with the US, a combination of economic circumstances and visa infractions influences refusals. Among the other targeted countries for which applications are being denied are The Gambia, Benin, Uganda and Kenya, where applicants often have a hard time meeting the more stringent criteria.

Long wait times, murky rejection notices and uneven judgement are leaving many feeling disillusioned and demoralized. Even cases filed with established US consulates, such as in Dubai, are delayed by months due to administrative processing.

This stricter approach to issuing visas has wider implications. Students are putting off education plans, professionals are absent from international conferences and families are delaying reunions. That could lead to a drop in foreign students’ participation and revenue for U.S. universities, companies and tourism sectors.

Strict US Visa policies can spark concerns over global mobility, economic impacts and family separation. This is affecting several nations worldwide.