WASHINGTON, D.C. — The United States has signaled a potential expansion of its travel restrictions, placing seven Caribbean countries that operate Citizenship by Investment (CBI) or Citizenship by Descent (CBD) programs under heightened scrutiny.
According to a recent internal memorandum issued by the U.S. Department of State, the countries in question have been flagged for failing to meet key U.S. security and immigration standards. These include concerns over passport security, inadequate identity verification systems, high U.S. visa overstay rates, and insufficient cooperation with U.S. immigration enforcement, particularly in repatriating nationals ordered deported.
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The memorandum gives the affected nations a 60-day window to implement corrective measures. Failure to act within this timeframe could result in the suspension or restriction of U.S. visa issuance to their citizens. This move could severely impact tourism, education, and investment-related travel.
Though the document did not publicly name the seven Caribbean countries, it aligns with Washington’s broader efforts to tighten travel access from nations deemed high-risk or uncooperative on immigration issues. This is part of a larger policy shift that has already seen full or partial bans imposed on countries like Haiti, Cuba, Sierra Leone, and Venezuela.
Critics have raised concerns about the policy’s potential to undermine the economies of small island nations that rely heavily on tourism and international investment. Others argue it reflects a more aggressive U.S. posture toward global citizenship programs, which some American officials see as vulnerable to misuse by individuals seeking to bypass stricter immigration routes.
The memo comes amid a wider review of visa and border policy as the United States continues to prioritize national security and immigration enforcement. As the deadline approaches, the affected Caribbean governments may need to reform their CBI frameworks and immigration protocols to avoid travel consequences for their citizens.
