UK travellers still affected by Muslim ban, US insists
Despite UK government assurances that British-Muslim dual nationals will not be affected by a US travel ban, Washington's embassy in London has issued a rebuttal.
2 min read
May and Trump met in Washington on Friday [Getty]
The US embassy in London insists travel ban restrictions on seven nationalities to American will also affect British dual nationals, just hours after White House officials assured the UK government of an exemption.
A statement issued by the US embassy said staff would not handle visa applications for dual nationals of the seven countries listed in a travel ban, which was signed by President Donald Trump on Friday night.
"Per US Presidential Executive Order signed on January 27, 2017, visa issuance to aliens from the countries of Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen has been suspended effective immediately until further notification," the embassy said, according to The Independent.
He insisted that the law would only apply to those travelling to the US from seven countries listed in the ban.
Protests against the so-called Muslim ban are being held in cities across the UK, including one outside the US embassy and another at Downing Street.
Prime Minister Theresa May - who visited the president in Washington on Friday - has come under increased pressure to speak out more forcibly against the new US laws after repeatedly refusing to condemn the move.
A petition urging the government to cancel a planned state visit by Donald Trump to the UK later this year has garnered 1.3 million signatures from British people.
The protest has been rejected by the government as a "populist gesture", and May insisted on Monday that Trump's visit to the UK will go ahead.
"The USA is one of this country's closest allies, and we look forward to hosting the president later this year," she said.
May has also met controversy after meeting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan this weekend.
Despite growing outrage from European partners about human rights abuses following a crackdown on alleged putschists after a coup attempt last year.
May signed a $100 million military deal with the president and said British arms companies would help manufacture 250 Turkish fighter jets over the next 20 years.
It comes as the UK looks to find new trading partners after the voters opted to leave the European Union last year.
A statement issued by the US embassy said staff would not handle visa applications for dual nationals of the seven countries listed in a travel ban, which was signed by President Donald Trump on Friday night.
"Per US Presidential Executive Order signed on January 27, 2017, visa issuance to aliens from the countries of Iraq, Iran, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen has been suspended effective immediately until further notification," the embassy said, according to The Independent.
"If you are a national - or dual national - of one of these countries, please do not schedule a visa appointment or pay any visa fees at this time."
It came after UK Foreign Minister Boris Johnson said on Sunday he had "won" an exemption for British nationals from the ban.He insisted that the law would only apply to those travelling to the US from seven countries listed in the ban.
Protests against the so-called Muslim ban are being held in cities across the UK, including one outside the US embassy and another at Downing Street.
Prime Minister Theresa May - who visited the president in Washington on Friday - has come under increased pressure to speak out more forcibly against the new US laws after repeatedly refusing to condemn the move.
A petition urging the government to cancel a planned state visit by Donald Trump to the UK later this year has garnered 1.3 million signatures from British people.
The protest has been rejected by the government as a "populist gesture", and May insisted on Monday that Trump's visit to the UK will go ahead.
"The USA is one of this country's closest allies, and we look forward to hosting the president later this year," she said.
May has also met controversy after meeting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan this weekend.
Despite growing outrage from European partners about human rights abuses following a crackdown on alleged putschists after a coup attempt last year.
May signed a $100 million military deal with the president and said British arms companies would help manufacture 250 Turkish fighter jets over the next 20 years.
It comes as the UK looks to find new trading partners after the voters opted to leave the European Union last year.
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