On January 22, 2022, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) began requiring all non-U.S. individuals entering the United States by land or ferry across the U.S./Mexico or U.S./Canada borders to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The new guidance applies to those non-U.S. individuals who are traveling for both essential and non-essential reasons but will not apply to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents, or U.S. nationals.
Any non-U.S. individual entering the United States through land point of entries or ferry must provide proof of a CDC-approved COVID-19 ...
The White House recently announced that travel restrictions for all international travelers entering the United States by air will change in early November 2021. Since 2020, several Presidential Proclamations have instituted regional COVID-19 travel bans by restricting travel to the United States for international travelers physically present in China, Iran, the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Brazil, South Africa, and India during the fourteen-day period prior to U.S. entry with limited exceptions. With holiday travel fast approaching, the White House will ...
Beginning October 1, 2021, United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (“USCIS”) will require COVID-19 vaccinations for all applicants applying for lawful permanent residence (i.e. green card) with some exceptions. Specifically, all green card applicants who receive their medical examination from a designated civil surgeon/panel physician (“Physician”) on or after October 1, 2021 must complete the COVID-19 vaccine series and provide documentation of vaccination. This change will impact applicants who have their Physician complete Form I-693 ...
Over the past year, several Presidential Proclamations have restricted travel to the United States by foreign nationals physically present in China, Iran, the Schengen Region, the United Kingdom, Ireland, Brazil, South Africa, and India during the fourteen-day period prior to U.S. entry. The travel restrictions were put into place as a measure to prevent further spread of COVID-19. Those subject to the regional travel restrictions were required to obtain a National Interest Exception ("NIE") from the Department of State ("DOS") each time they planned to enter the United States ...
While the United States has seen a drastic drop in COVID-19 cases as vaccinations become more prevalent, other countries continue to see significant infection rates. Travel restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of COVID-19 remain in place. Currently, foreign nationals who have been present in China, Iran, India, Brazil, South Africa, the Schengen region, the United Kingdom, or Ireland within fourteen days of attempting entry into the United States will generally be refused. In order to avoid disruptions, businesses employing foreign nationals on H, L, O, and other temporary ...
Last month, President Joe Biden (“President Biden”) wrapped up his first 100 days as President of the United States – focusing on a myriad of issues from the Coronavirus pandemic (“COVID-19”) to America’s immigration system. Inasmuch as immigration affairs remained at the forefront under the previous administration, America’s immigration system continues to be a pressing topic for the Biden administration. President Biden has taken various actions and positions on key immigration issues, many of which could significantly impact businesses that regularly ...
On June 22, 2020, the Trump Administration announced Presidential Proclamation 10052 (“PP 10052”), which suspended the issuance of many H, J, and L visas at U.S. Embassies and Consulates. The ban was originally set to expire on December 31, 2020, but the Trump Administration extended the effective date through March 31, 2021. PP 10052 was implemented as a measure to protect workers in the United States amid high unemployment rates caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, many foreign nationals were prevented from applying for a visa to enter and work in the United States ...