On June 22, 2020, The President signed a Proclamation suspending and limiting the entry of any individual seeking entry pursuant to the following nonimmigrant visas:
- an H-1B or H-2B visa, and any individual accompanying or following to join such individual;
- a J visa, to the extent the individual is participating in an intern, trainee, teacher, camp counselor, au pair, or summer work travel program, and any individual accompanying or following to join such individual; and
- an L visa, and any individual accompanying or following to join such individual.
The proclamation applies only to any individual who:
- is outside the United States on the effective date of this proclamation;
- does not have a nonimmigrant visa that is valid on the effective date of this proclamation; and
- does not have an official travel document other than a visa (such as a transportation letter, an appropriate boarding foil, or an advance parole document) that is valid on the effective date of this proclamation or issued on any date thereafter that permits him or her to travel to the United States and seek entry or admission.
The suspension and limitation on entry pursuant to section 2 of this proclamation shall not apply to:
- any lawful permanent resident of the United States;
- any individual who is the spouse or child, as defined in section 101(b)(1) of the INA (8 U.S.C. 1101(b)(1)), of a United States citizen;
- any individual seeking to enter the United States to provide temporary labor or services essential to the United States food supply chain; and
- any individual whose entry would be in the national interest as determined by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or their respective designees.
The proclamation (effective June 24, 2020, at 12:01 am (ET)) will remain in effect through December 31, 2020, and may be continued or modified as necessary.
On Aril 22, 2020, President Trump signed Proclamation 10014 temporarily suspending the entry of certain immigrants into the United States in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.
We would like to provide this fact sheet from the American Immigration Council (AIC) that provides an overview of the H-1B visa category petition process and highlights the economic and social contributions of H-1B workers have brought to the United States.
Please contact immigrationinfo@cornerlaw.com if you have any questions regarding the Executive Order.