Visa Review Is Not Visa Revocation: The Facts Behind Judge Gino Persaud Claims

The rush to declare that High Court Judge Gino Persaud’s United States visa has been revoked demonstrates how readily an unconfirmed development can be transformed into an accepted “fact.” Yet the information publicly available does not establish that the judge’s visa was revoked or cancelled.

What has been reported is that Persaud was told his U.S. visa was “under review” when he attempted to travel to Jamaica. That distinction is fundamental. A review is a process of examination; a revocation is a decision to cancel a visa. They are neither legally nor factually interchangeable.

The reported incident occurred on Saturday, September 19, 2026, when Persaud was preparing to travel to Kingston, Jamaica, via the United States to attend the Commonwealth Magistrates’ and Judges’ Association Annual Conference, scheduled for September 20–24. The CMJA says the conference brings judicial officers from throughout the Commonwealth together to address issues including judicial independence, access to justice and developments affecting the administration of justice.