*Trump Administration Halts Non-immigrant Entry*
In response to the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, President Trump signed a “nonimmigrant” proclamation suspending the entry of foreign nationals in the H-1B, L-1, H-2B, J-1 nonimmigrant visa categories, with some exceptions. The nonimmigrant ban also applies to dependents (spouses and children) of H-1B, L-1, H-2B, J-1 nonimmigrants. This ban takes effect on June 24, 2020 and will be in place until December 31, 2020, unless continued by the President.
The nonimmigrant ban means that if you or your dependent family members were outside the United States on June 24, 2020 without a valid H-1B, L-1, H-2B, J-1 or dependent travel visa, you will be unable to obtain a travel visa to enter the United States until the ban is lifted on December 31, 2020. This ban will also apply to beneficiaries of approved H-1B petitions filed with an October 1, 2020 start-date who were outside the United States on June 24, 2020.
The nonimmigrant ban does not apply to foreign nationals who already hold valid H-1B, L-1, H-2B, J-1 visas or other travel documents, or those already present in the United States as of the effective date of the ban.
The President’s proclamation also extended an existing ban suspending entry into the United States of certain immigrant who present risk to the U.S. labor market during the economic recovery following the COVID-19 outbreak. This “immigrant” proclamation was signed by President Trump on April 22, 2020. It was continued by President Trump and will expire on December 31, 2020, unless continued by the President.
The immigrant proclamation provides exceptions to its restrictions for certain categories of immigrants, including: certain healthcare professionals, aliens seeking to enter the United States pursuant to an EB-5 investor visa, spouses and children (categories IR2, CR2, IR3, IH3, IR4, IH4) of U.S. citizens, members of the United States Armed Forces and any spouse and children of a member of the United States Armed Forces, and aliens seeking to enter the United States pursuant to an Afghan and Iraqi Special Immigrant Visa. In addition, cases involving a child applicant who may age out may be considered for a national interest exception.
Contact our office to speak with an Immigration Attorney to determine how President Trump’s Proclamations may apply to you.
