THE FOREIGN SERVICE JOURNAL | JULY-AUGUST 2026 15 the Declaration of Independence in July. According to a State Department rendering, an image of the president is surrounded by the text of the Declaration of Independence, the American flag, and the president’s signature in gold. An administration official told the BBC that the commemorative passports will continue as long as supplies last. The design will only be issued by the Washington Passport Agency. It is not yet clear whether applicants will be able to opt out of the design. Current U.S. passports depict scenes from U.S. history, including the 1969 moon landing, alongside national symbols such as the Statue of Liberty. The passport is the latest in a series of initiatives associating the president’s name and likeness with federal programs and public spaces, including a forthcoming commemorative gold coin from the U.S. Mint, Trump’s signature on U.S. banknotes, Trump’s name on the United States Institute of Peace and the Kennedy Center, along with the planned Triumph Arch (known as the “Arc de Trump”) and other monuments. New Questions for NIV Applicants A State Department cable issued April 28 directs consular officers at every U.S. embassy and consulate to ask two new questions of every nonimmigrant visa (NIV) applicant as part of the standard interview: “Have you experienced harm or mistreatment in your country of nationality or last habitual residence?” and “Do you fear harm or mistreatment in returning to your country of nationality or permanent residence?” Applicants must answer no verbally to both questions for the interview to proceed; an affirmative response or refusal to answer results in denial.
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