U.S. VISA SANCTIONS UNDER SECTION 7031(C)

Under a recurring provision in annual U.S. appropriations laws, the U.S. government (USG) has the authority—often referred to as Section 7031(c)—to impose visa restrictions against foreign officials involved in “significant corruption” or “a gross violation of human rights” anywhere in the world.

These visa restrictions are in some ways more limited in scope and impact than the Global Magnitsky sanctions program. They do not impose an asset freeze or block financial transactions; they set slightly more restrictive standards for sanctionable abuse or corruption, are sometimes imposed confidentially, and directly cover only government officials. On the other hand, the State Department can use Section 7031(c) sanctions independently of other agencies, the sanctions can be used against the immediate family members of perpetrators, and there is no time limit within which the sanctionable offenses must have occurred. Additionally, the imposition of these sanctions by the USG is generally required, not just allowed, when sufficient evidence of sanctionable acts is presented.