This article was prepared with the assistance of ABIL, the Alliance of Business Immigration Lawyers, of which Loan Huynh, Fredrikson Immigration Department Chair, is a member.
On December 31, 2020, President Trump signed a proclamation extending earlier proclamations suspending the entry of certain immigrant and nonimmigrant visa applicants through March 31, 2021, and stating that the proclamation “may be continued as necessary.” The nonimmigrant suspension applies to applicants for H-1B, H-2B and L-1 visas; J-1 visa applicants participating in the intern, trainee, teacher, camp counselor, au pair and summer work travel programs; and any spouses or children of covered applicants applying for H-4, L-2 or J-2 visas.
The President also extended a memorandum on visa sanctions to “continue in force until terminated by the President.” The memo states that “countries that deny or unreasonably delay the acceptance of their citizens, subjects, nationals or residents from the United States during the ongoing pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2 [the COVID-19 pandemic] create unacceptable public health risks for Americans.” The earlier memo on which it is based states that “visa sanctions” will be imposed on such countries.
