Antigua secures US agreement allowing entry for nationals with valid visas

(CNW) By Jovani Davis- The Antigua and Barbuda government says it has reached an agreement with the United States of America allowing Antiguan and Barbudan nationals who already hold valid U.S. visas to continue entering the country, despite new U.S. entry restrictions announced earlier this week.

Antigua and Barbuda’s Ambassador to the United States, Ronald Sanders, said the arrangement applies across all visa categories.

“This applies to all visa categories, including B-1, B-2, J, and M visas,” Sanders said, adding that “for the avoidance of doubt, this includes tourist, business, student, and other valid United States-issued visas.”

He further confirmed that “there will be no revocation of any existing visas issued to nationals of Antigua and Barbuda before 31 December 2025.”

The clarification follows concerns raised after U.S. President Donald Trump issued a proclamation on December 16 restricting or limiting the entry of nationals from several countries, including Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, and Haiti.

Earlier in the week, the government of Prime Minister Gaston Browne said it was actively engaged in discussions with U.S. authorities following the announcement, which placed Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica under partial entry restrictions.

In the proclamation, Trump cited concerns related to citizenship-by-investment (CBI) programmes, arguing that such schemes—particularly those that do not require residency—pose challenges for screening and vetting. Under CBI programmes, several Caribbean countries, including Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica, grant citizenship to foreign investors in exchange for significant economic contributions.

Trump said Antigua and Barbuda and Dominica have “historically had CBI without residency” and ordered the suspension of entry into the United States for their nationals as immigrants and as nonimmigrants on B-1, B-2, B-1/B-2, F, M, and J visas. The order also instructed U.S. consular officers to reduce the validity of other nonimmigrant visas issued to nationals of the two countries “to the extent permitted by law.”

The proclamation further argued that CBI programmes have been susceptible to misuse, including allowing individuals to conceal identity or assets and evade travel or financial restrictions.

In his statement, Sanders said he met with senior officials at the United States Department of State on the instructions of Prime Minister Browne to discuss the proclamation titled Restricting and Limiting the Entry of Foreign Nationals to Protect the Security of the United States.

“I met today with senior officials of the United States Department of State. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the Proclamation and its implications for Antigua and Barbuda,” he said, noting that several key matters were “confirmed and agreed” during the discussions.

Sanders explained that new visa applications submitted after January 1, 2026, will be subject to revised arrangements that are still being finalised between the United States and several Caribbean countries. These changes will focus on the collection of biometric information from Antigua and Barbuda passport holders to ensure compatibility with U.S. biometric systems.

He stressed that the process itself will not differ significantly from current requirements.

“The process of gathering the biometric information will be no different than now applies to all Antigua and Barbuda citizens; only the technology will change to align it with the U.S. system,” Sanders said, adding that the updated system will apply to all citizens, including those by birth, descent, naturalisation, or investment.

Sanders expressed appreciation to U.S. officials for what he described as constructive and good-faith engagement, while reaffirming Antigua and Barbuda’s respect for U.S. national security concerns.

“We are grateful for their commitment to continue working with us in furtherance of the cooperative relationship that our two countries have long enjoyed,” he said. “We have pledged—and we reaffirm—our commitment to continue working closely with United States authorities on all necessary measures to ensure that our systems present no risk to U.S. security, while preserving legitimate travel for our citizens.”

He added that the government of Antigua and Barbuda is satisfied that immediate concerns have been addressed and will continue working to maintain strong people-to-people ties between the two countries.