The travel ban instituted by the United States Government but opposed by the lower courts is going to see a limited version go through, thanks to a decision taken by the Supreme Court. A small triumph for Trump’s administration, the travel ban meant for visa holders and refugees entering the United States from six Islamic countries – Libya, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen and enforced for 120 days will now have a partial enforcement and go into effect 72 hours after receiving an approval from the courts.

According to Supreme Court’s ruling, the ban cannot be enforced on visitors from these countries who want to visit and live with a close familial relative or entity with whom there is legitimate work in the US. The definition of “close familial relationship” is to include grandparents, grandchildren, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, aunts and uncles, nephews and nieces and first cousins in addition to parents, spouses, fiancés, children, adult sons or daughters, sons-in-law, daughters-in-law and siblings in order to meet the criteria for applicants from the six countries to receive a U.S. visa.The ruling emphasis that “the relationship must be formal, documented, and formed in the ordinary course, rather than for the purpose of evading” the executive order. The burden of proving this bona fide relationship lies with the State executive officials.

Moreover, students who were admitted to a US university and individuals who previously had a valid visa to enter the US are also exempted from this travel ban. Previously, passengers were held up in airports despite of having legitimate paperwork.

Currently, courts in states of Maryland and Hawaii have instated a temporary block on the travel ban. The Supreme Court will rule on the remaining travel ban in October by which time the 90-day ban on visas and the 120-day suspension of the US refugee admittance program would have lapsed anyway. For more information on the details of the ban, please refer to US Bans People From Seven Countries.