By: Jade Holmes
On April 22, 2020, the President issued a Presidential Proclamation suspending and limiting the entry of certain immigrants into the United States and many people have questions about how this affects them.
The President’s limitation on entry applies to visa applicants who: (a) are outside the United States on April 23, 2020; (b) do not possess an immigrant visa that is valid on April 23, 2020; and (c) do not have an official travel document other than a visa (such as a transportation letter, boarding foil, or advance parole document) that is valid on April 23, 2020 or issued on any date thereafter that permits him or her to travel to the United States and seek entry or admission.
So, if you are a lawful permanent resident of the United States or have a valid immigrant visa in your passport, you may still enter the United States. Please note that your visa is only valid until the expiration date listed.
If you fall into the categories below, the Proclamation does not apply to you:
- Applicants who are spouses of U.S. citizens;
- Applicants who are children of U.S. citizens and under 21yrs old, including adoptees and prospective adoptees seeking to finalize their adoption in the U.S.;
- Members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their spouses and children.
The proclamation went into effect on April 23, 2020, and expires on June 22, 2020, unless continued by the President. However, even if the Proclamation does not apply to you, the closure of all routine visa services due to COVID-19 still applies to all routine immigrant visa categories. Because of the nature of the pandemic, it is unclear when routine services will resume. For the full text of the Presidential Proclamation, please visit: www.whitehouse.gov.
