US Ambassador Nicole Theriot says a visa being “under review” means US authorities have received information that causes them to reconsider whether its holder should continue to have it.
She did not confirm whether High Court Judge Gino Persaud’s visa is under review or has been revoked.
Theriot was questioned by reporters on the sidelines of the 27th INTERPOL Americas Regional Conference in Guyana amid reports that Justice Persaud had encountered difficulty travelling through the United States. Asked how many visa revocations or reviews there had been over the past two to three years, she said she did not have a figure. She explained that reviews take place within the US government and the embassy in Guyana is not necessarily informed before a decision is made.
And while not naming Justice Persaud she said: “On occasion we would submit that information, but in the case that I think you are talking about, we were not aware.”
Her explanation of what “under review” means was general. She did not identify any information relating to Justice Persaud, the status of his visa or the reason for his reported travel difficulty.
Theriot was also asked about a public allegation concerning screenshots of messages said to involve a US airport official and a social media commentator. She said she was unaware of the allegation.
Kiskadee Watch previously asked the US Embassy whether “under review” was an official status for an already issued visa and whether the account concerning Justice Persaud was accurate. Embassy Public Affairs Officer Jarrod Crockett declined to confirm or deny the report, saying visa information was confidential. Justice Persaud has not publicly addressed the matter.
US regulations allow an issued non-immigrant visa to be revoked provisionally while information relevant to the holder’s eligibility is considered. There has been no public confirmation that this provision has been applied to Justice Persaud.
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