Antigua and Barbuda’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Chet Greene
Foreign Affairs Minister E. P. Chet Greene has dismissed as false and misleading a report published in the Antigua Observer alleging that a student visa was cancelled as a result of United States Presidential Proclamation 10998.
In a press statement issued on Tuesday, Greene rejected the article, which appeared on page 14 of the newspaper’s January 5, 2026 edition. The report claimed the alleged cancellation contradicted assurances that visas issued prior to January 1, 2026, would be honoured.
According to the Minister, direct inquiries with United States authorities confirmed that the case referenced in the article had no connection to the Presidential Proclamation.
“The applicant did not qualify for a visa under Section 214(b) of U.S. immigration law,” the statement said, noting that an indication of approval at a visa interview does not constitute final issuance.
Greene explained that all visa applications are subject to mandatory post-interview vetting, including checks conducted in Washington, D.C., and that applications may be refused during this process if statutory requirements are not met. In this instance, he said, no visa was issued.
The Minister further noted that had the application been refused under Presidential Proclamation 10998, the applicant would have received a refusal notice explicitly citing that legal basis, which did not occur.
He also addressed the image published alongside the Observer article, stating that the photograph purporting to show a cancelled visa was examined and found to be unrelated.
According to the Ministry, the image depicts an application from India for an H-1B work visa, not a student visa, and bears no connection to the alleged Antiguan case.
Greene concluded that the article was constructed to suggest—incorrectly—that visas approved or issued prior to January 1, 2026, were not being honoured.
“Validly issued visas are respected,” the Minister stated, adding that the claims published were not supported by facts and should be treated accordingly.
It’s about time that the malicious misinformation being put out to the public be corrected. This is not an issue that my opposition party should try to score cheap political points. This is not just a national issue it’s a Caribbean issue and we are all in this together! Thank you Minister Greene for the correction.
Let us negotiate with the US not only to get our Visa privileges fully restored, but this is the perfect opportunity to push the case to get a US Embassy. We have historical and economic ties to the US. Let us continue to work closely with them as the government is presently doing.
So does anyone really know if any students visas were really cancelled?
Antigua News do your investigation
Media houses, including the Observer, need to fact-check properly before publishing stories that can cause unnecessary fear and confusion, especially on sensitive immigration issues.
Too many rumours are circulating about U.S. visas right now. Clear communication from both governments is critical
This situation highlights how quickly misinformation spreads, especially when immigration issues are involved.
Media houses must do better fact-checking before publishing sensitive immigration-related stories
Whether people like it or not, Section 214(b) refusals are common and have nothing to do with proclamations or politics
Good to see the Foreign Affairs Ministry responding promptly and checking directly with U.S. authorities.
Again the Laboratories paid prostitutes are out in numbers.
So what? The young lady is making this up Chet Green? She has the irrefutable proof, the DHL package with the stamped denial. What you clowns only believe the lies these ALP politicians spout?
Where the hell were you when Ron Saundes and the DAWG were kissing Trump’s ass, crawling on hands and knees like the dunces they are,trying to do damage control? How come you were silent, Chet,when your wife was fired? What you’re looking relevance?
This country must have stupidity as an inherent trait. Laboratories, you can’t be this stupid. Observer does not need to fact-check when the proof is there. I guess if they publish images of the denied visa you would believe? Then again, I doubt that.
Apparently I am supposed to believe that it is purely coincidence that her visa was denied following the White House edict even though they previously indicated that it would be approved. Seems fishy to me!