On Wednesday, April 22, the President signed a new proclamation suspending entry of immigrants to the U.S. for 60 days. The order affects only those individuals who are currently outside of the U.S. as of Thursday, April 23, 2020 and who subsequently seek to enter the U.S. as a lawful permanent resident (LPR) but don’t have a valid green card with an immigrant visa. It does not apply to individuals applying for LPR status through Adjustment of Status in the United States.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the State Department’s processing of new visas in these categories was already on hold due to COVID-19-related closures. Unites States consular offices and embassies had already suspended routine visa services and are currently processing visas for agricultural workers, medical personnel, and emergency visas only. Individuals seeking to enter the U.S. for employment as a health care worker, researcher related to COVID-19, or for a job “essential to combating, recovering from, or otherwise alleviating the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak” are still eligible to come to the U.S.
The Proclamation does not impact admission to the United States by those currently holding visas for temporary entry (i.e., F-1, J-1, H1-Bs). It also does not impact any foreign national wishing to extend non-immigrant visa status in the U.S. The bulk of foreign nationals who fall under the sponsorship of UC Santa Cruz will not be directly affected. The Proclamation does include a provision that such non-immigrant visas may be addressed within 30 days and we will continue to monitor any changes.
Please feel free to contact ISSS with any questions.