Fears of COVID-19, the coronavirus that has infected nearly 100,000 people worldwide, have fueled sweeping changes to the U.S. immigration system. These changes restrict travel for approximately 20% of the world population, and there may be more to come.
The first restriction came on January 31, 2020, when President Trump issued a proclamation suspending U.S. entry for most people present in the People’s Republic of China during the 14 days prior to entry. Given China’s 1.4 billion person population, this change has impacted a massive number of potential U.S. visitors and immigrants, causing people to cancel business trips, vacations, family visits, and other travel. This proclamation does not apply to U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (green card holders), certain relatives of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents, diplomats on A or G visas, and crew members on C, D, or C1/D visas.
On February 29, 2020, President Trump amended the January 31 proclamation to include most foreign nationals who were present in Iran during the 14 days prior to entry. The terms of this travel restriction are similar to those of the proclamation on China, with exceptions for U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and others. As noted in my recent blog post, Iran was already under a travel ban suspending entry to the United states for all immigrants and nonimmigrants, except for F, M, and J visa applicants.
Anyone who falls within one of these exceptions to these travel restrictions (including U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and others) must fly into one of eleven U.S. airports, where they will undergo enhanced screening and be quarantined, if needed. For more information, please click here.
CDC map of countries with known COVID-19 as of March 4, 2020. For details, click image.
Combined, China and Iran account for approximately 20% of the world population, leaving many people to wonder when they will be able to travel to the United States. The proclamation will remain in effect until it is terminated by the President. It is important to note that this proclamation only applies to those who have been present in China or Iran during the 14 days before attempted entry to the United States. This means that it may be possible to travel to another county for 14 days, then enter the United States on a valid visa.
As the virus spreads, it has become more active in other countries. In addition to Iran and China, the CDC has issued a Level 3 alert suggesting that people avoid nonessential travel to South Korea and Italy, and it is entirely possible that these immigration restrictions may ultimately be extended to other countries. Accordingly, those living in South Korea, Italy, and other countries with active cases of coronavirus may wish to explore their U.S. immigration options before local outbreaks become more severe.
Finally, if you feel that you may be sick, please seek medical attention. While immigration is important, your health and the health of others is paramount. For more tips on health and travel, please click here.
Without discussing the specifics of an individual’s case, it is impossible to give legal advice. For this reason, I recommend scheduling a consultation with an experienced immigration attorney. The information provided here is only intended as general information and is not a substitute for legal advice.
Photo credit: Panos13121 (Pixabay).