Coronavirus News

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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President Trump issued a Presidential Proclamation on April 22, 2020 suspending visa issuance to certain immigrant categories initially for 60 days, and then extended until December 31, 2020 as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic and its impact on the U.S. labor market. This Proclamation does not impact beneficiaries who were present in the United States on April 23, 2020, possessed a valid immigrant visa on April 23, 2020, or who applied for entry to the U.S. on a valid travel document.
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Effective August 28, as it becomes safe to resume more consular operations at each U.S. mission, posts are authorized to give K visa cases high priority. Applicants should check the website of their nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for updates on what services that post is currently able to offer. The I-129F Petition for Alien Fiancé(e) is typically valid for four months; however, consular officers may revalidate the I-129F petition in four month increments. For most cases impacted by the suspension of routine visa services or COVID-19 travel restrictions it will not be necessary to file a new I-129F petition.
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In response to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is extending the flexibilities it announced on March 30, 2020, to assist applicants, petitioners, and requestors who are responding to certain:
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On August 12, the U.S. Department of State issued updated guidance regarding the June 22, 2020 Presidential Proclamation. This Presidential Proclamation restricted issuance of visas for H, L, and certain J nonimmigrants. Almost two months later, the Department of State issued updated guidance regarding these restrictions.
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On April 22, 2020, President Trump issued a Presidential Proclamation that suspended the issuance of visas to certain immigrant categories until December 31, 2020, as a result of the COVID-19 Pandemic. This Proclamation does not impact those beneficiaries who are currently in the United States,
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On July 24, 2020, ICE issued an update on the Federal guidance for the Fall 2020 semester students which states that the F and M students and schools certified by SEVP should abide by guidance issued in March 2020.

The guidance enables schools and students to engage in distance learning in excess of regulatory limits due to the public health emergency generated by COVID-19. The March 2020 guidance applies to nonimmigrant students who were actively enrolled at a U.S. school on March 9 and are otherwise complying with the terms of their nonimmigrant status, whether from inside the U.S. or abroad. SEVP will not issue a temporary final rule impacting nonimmigrant students for the fall school term.
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