White House assistant press secretary, Kevin Munoz, has announced via Twitter that November 8, 2021 will mark the end date for the current country-specificCOVID-19 travel restrictions. The White House also confirmed the date applies to both international air travel and land travel.
Read MoreUSCIS Resumes International Entrepreneur Parole Program
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has announced that the Department of Homeland Security is withdrawing a 2018 notice of proposed rulemaking that sought to remove the International Entrepreneur (IE) program from DHS regulations. As a result, the IE parole program may serve as a viable option for certain foreign entrepreneurs.
Read MoreBiden Administration Expands COVID-19 Related Travel Restrictions to Travelers from India
President Biden issued a proclamation expanding the travel restrictions which suspend the of entry of certain travelers from the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Brazil, China, Iran, and South Africa, to include travelers from India. The President cited the “magnitude and scope of the COVID-19 pandemic” in the country and surging new cases and the need for “science-based public health measure[s]“ to be implemented.
As with the previous suspensions, U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents are not subject to the proclamations and certain other exemptions and exceptions still apply.
The expanded rule will become effective at 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on May 4, 2021.
D&S will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as they become available.
Biden Administration Lifts Immigrant Visa Ban
The White House announced today, February 24, 2021, that the ban on the issuance of certain Immigrant Visas has been rescinded by President Biden. The ban, which prevented the issuance of certain employment-based, family-based, and Diversity Lottery immigrant visas was put in place on April 23, 2020 by the prior administration and subsequently extended. In lifting the restrictions, President Biden indicated that the ban "does not advance the interests of the United States" citing the harmful impact in individuals, businesses, and families, and to the United States as a whole.
Other visa bans put in place by the prior administration remain in effect, including a ban on certain employment-based nonimmigrant visas, and it remains to be seen whether President Biden will rescind those through a separate Presidential Proclamation.
Biden Administration Expands COVID-19 Related Travel Restrictions
This week, President Biden signed a proclamation continuing the suspension of entry of certain travelers from the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, Brazil, China, and Iran, and expanding these restrictions to include travelers from South Africa.
As with the previous suspensions, U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents are not subject to the proclamations and certain other exemptions and exceptions still apply.
The expanded rule will become effective at 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on January 30, 2021.
D&S will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates as they become available.