Mickoski: I would be happiest if the US tightened immigrant visas for North Macedonia
Mickoski said stricter immigrant visa rules in the U.S. would suit his government's aim to bring back emigrants, remarks he made after visiting the Hydrometeorological Service (UHMR).
Prime Minister Hristijan Mickoski said he would be "the happiest" if the United States tightened the conditions for immigrant visas issued to citizens of North Macedonia, replying to a reporter's question about whether the Government is doing anything to ease immigrant visas.
"If the Americans can tighten the conditions for immigrant visas for Macedonian citizens, I would be the happiest, because the policy of this Government is to bring back the emigrants. If we are talking about tourist visas that's different, but if we can tighten immigrant visas I would be the happiest," Mickoski said after visiting the Hydrometeorological Service (UHMR).
In his remarks Mickoski drew a line between tourist travel and long-term immigration: he presented stricter immigrant visa rules as aligned with his administration's declared goal of encouraging citizens who left the country to return.
The comments came amid a recent U.S. court development: a federal judge in the United States struck down the Trump administration's ban on issuing immigrant visas to citizens of 75 countries, among them North Macedonia, finding that the measure violated federal immigration law by discriminating on the basis of nationality.
Mickoski made the statements while visiting the Hydrometeorological Service, and framed visa policy as part of broader government efforts to influence migration flows rather than restrict short-term travel.
Observers say the prime minister's stance highlights a political emphasis on reversing emigration, even as legal and diplomatic decisions in the United States continue to shape access to immigrant visas for Macedonian citizens.
Photo: Vlada na RSM)
