Coronavirus News

DOS Secretary made a national interest determination regarding categories of travelers eligible for exceptions under regional COVID proclamations, including the April 30, 2021, proclamation restricting the entry of nonimmigrant travelers who have been physically present in India:
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On April 30, 2021, DOS announced U.S. embassies and consulates are using a tiered approach to triage immigrant visa applications and to address the backlog in the processing of immigrant visas. DOS identified four priority tiers listing the main categories of immigrant visas in each:
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Starting Tuesday, May 4th, The Biden administration will ban most travel from India amid a surge in coronavirus cases in the country.

"On the advice of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Administration will restrict travel from India starting immediately," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Friday.
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All visa and VAC appointments, both in-person and interview waiver, at U.S. Embassy New Delhi and the consulates in Chennai, Hyderabad, and Kolkata are cancelled until May 15. Emergency services for U.S. citizens will continue. U.S. Consulate will make every attempt to continue to honor approved emergency visa appointments; however, if you appear for a regularly scheduled appointment U.S. Consulate will not be able to accommodate you.
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The Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) will extend the guidance originally issued in March 2020 for the 2021-22 academic year. This guidance enables schools and students to engage in distance learning in excess of regulatory limits due to the continuing public health concerns created by COVID-19.
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Presidential Proclamation 10052, which temporarily suspended the entry of certain H-1B, H-2B, J (for certain categories within the Exchange Visitor Program), and L nonimmigrants, expired on March 31, 2021.
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Certain business travelers, investors, treaty traders, academics, students, and journalists may qualify for national interest exceptions under the Presidential Proclamation (PP) covering travelers from the Schengen Area, United Kingdom, and Ireland. Qualified travelers who are applying for or have valid visas or ESTA authorization may travel to the United States even as the PP remains in effect following the procedures below.
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On December 31, 2020, the President signed a Presidential Proclamation on Suspension of Entry of Immigrants and Nonimmigrants Who Continue to Present a Risk to the United States Labor Market. This proclamation extends Presidential Proclamations (P.P.)
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On December 31, 2020, the President signed a Presidential Proclamation on Suspension of Entry of Immigrants and Nonimmigrants Who Continue to Present a Risk to the United States Labor Market. This proclamation extends Presidential Proclamations (P.P.) 10014 and 10052 through March 31, 2021.
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The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced an extension of the flexibility in complying with requirements related to Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification, due to COVID-19.
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On the 12th of August, 2020, the U.S. State Department declared National Interest exceptions to Presidential Proclamation 10052, (the U.S. Travel Ban), due to COVID-19. As a result, people can travel as long as it’s determined to be in the National Interest of the country.
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