Search results for: Proclamation

This evening, February 24, 2021, President Biden posted his Proclamation on Ending Discriminatory Bans on Entry to The United States.  This new proclamation revokes the ones issued under the previous administration which suspended the travel and issuance of immigrant visas.  See the full text below.

“BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION
The United States was built on a foundation of religious freedom and tolerance, a principle enshrined in the United States Constitution.  Nevertheless, the previous administration enacted a number of Executive Orders and Presidential Proclamations that prevented certain individuals from entering the United States — first from primarily Muslim countries, and later, from largely African countries.  Those actions are a stain on our national conscience and are inconsistent with our long history of welcoming people of all faiths and no faith at all.Beyond contravening our values, these Executive Orders and Proclamations have undermined our national security.  They have jeopardized our global network of alliances and partnerships and are a moral blight that has dulled the power of our example the world over.  And they have separated loved ones, inflicting pain that will ripple for years to come.  They are just plain wrong.  Make no mistake, where there are threats to our Nation, we will address them.  Where there are opportunities to strengthen information-sharing with partners, we will pursue them.  And when visa applicants request entry to the United States, we will apply a rigorous, individualized vetting system.  But we will not turn our backs on our values with discriminatory bans on entry into the United States.NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States, by the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including sections 212(f) and 215(a) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. 1182(f) and 1185(a), hereby find that it is in the interests of the United States to revoke Executive Order 13780 of March 6, 2017 (Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States), Proclamation 9645 of September 24, 2017 (Enhancing Vetting Capabilities and Processes for Detecting Attempted Entry Into the United States by Terrorists or Other Public-Safety Threats), Proclamation 9723 of April 10, 2018 (Maintaining Enhanced Vetting Capabilities and Processes for Detecting Attempted Entry Into the United States by Terrorists or Other Public-Safety Threats), and Proclamation 9983 of January 31, 2020 (Improving Enhanced Vetting Capabilities and Processes for Detecting Attempted Entry Into the United States by Terrorists or Other Public-Safety Threats).  Our national security will be enhanced by revoking the Executive Order and Proclamations.  Accordingly, I hereby proclaim:
Section 1.  Revocations.  Executive Order 13780, and Proclamations 9645, 9723, and 9983 are hereby revoked.
Sec. 2.  Resumption of Visa Processing and Clearing the Backlog of Cases in Waiver Processing.  (a)  The Secretary of State shall direct all Embassies and Consulates, consistent with applicable law and visa processing procedures, including any related to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), to resume visa processing in a manner consistent with the revocation of the Executive Order and Proclamations specified in section 1 of this proclamation.(b)  Within 45 days of the date of this proclamation, the Secretary of State shall provide to the President a report that includes the following elements:  (i)    The number of visa applicants who were being considered for a waiver of restrictions under Proclamation 9645 or 9983 on the date of this proclamation and a plan for expeditiously adjudicating their pending visa applications.(ii)   A proposal to ensure that individuals whose immigrant visa applications were denied on the basis of the suspension and restriction on entry imposed by Proclamation 9645 or 9983 may have their applications reconsidered.  This proposal shall consider whether to reopen immigrant visa applications that were denied due to the suspension and restriction on entry imposed by Proclamation 9645 or 9983, whether it is necessary to charge an additional fee to process those visa applications, and development of a plan for the Department of State to expedite consideration of those visa applications.(iii)  A plan to ensure that visa applicants are not prejudiced as a result of a previous visa denial due to the suspension and restriction on entry imposed by Proclamation 9645 or 9983 if they choose to re-apply for a visa.
Sec. 3.  Review of Information-Sharing Relationships and a Plan to Strengthen Partnerships.  Within 120 days of the date of this proclamation, the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security, in consultation with the Director of National Intelligence, shall provide to the President a report consisting of the following elements:  (a)  A description of the current screening and vetting procedures for those seeking immigrant and nonimmigrant entry to the United States.  This should include information about any procedures put in place as a result of any of the Executive Order and Proclamations revoked in section 1 of this proclamation and should also include an evaluation of the usefulness of form DS-5535.(b)  A review of foreign government information-sharing practices vis-à-vis the United States in order to evaluate the efficacy of those practices, their contribution to processes for screening and vetting those individuals seeking entry to the United States as immigrants and nonimmigrants, and how the United States ensures the accuracy and reliability of the information provided by foreign governments.(c)  Recommendations to improve screening and vetting activities, including diplomatic efforts to improve international information-sharing, use of foreign assistance funds, where appropriate, to support capacity building for information-sharing and identity-management practices, and ways to further integrate relevant executive department and agency data into the vetting system.(d)  A review of the current use of social media identifiers in the screening and vetting process, including an assessment of whether this use has meaningfully improved screening and vetting, and recommendations in light of this assessment.
Sec. 4.  General Provisions.  (a)  Nothing in this proclamation shall be construed to impair or otherwise affect:  (i)   the authority granted by law to an executive department or agency, or the head thereof; or(ii)  the functions of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget relating to budgetary, administrative, or legislative proposals.(b)  This proclamation shall be implemented in a manner consistent with applicable law and subject to the availability of appropriations.(c)  This proclamation is not intended to, and does not, create any right or benefit, substantive or procedural, enforceable at law or in equity by any party against the United States, its departments, agencies, or entities, its officers, employees, or agents, or any other person.IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this twentieth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand twenty-one, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and forty-fifth.
JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR.”  See https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/20/proclamation-ending-discriminatory-bans-on-entry-to-the-united-states/.

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On December 31, 2020, the President signed a Presidential Proclamation on Suspension of Entry of Immigrants and Nonimmigrants Who Continue to Present a Risk to the United States Labor Market. This proclamation extends Presidential Proclamations (P.P.) 10014 and 10052 through March 31, 2021. P.P.  10014 suspends the entry to the United States of certain immigrant visa applicants, while P.P. 10052 suspends the entry to the United States of certain nonimmigrant visa applicants who present a risk to the U.S. labor market during the economic recovery following the novel coronavirus outbreak. Specifically, the suspension in P.P. 10052 applies to applicants for H-1B, H2B, and L-1 visas; J-1 visa applicants participating in the intern, trainee, teacher, camp counselor, au pair, or summer work travel programs; and any spouses or children of covered applicants applying for H-4, L-2, or J-2 visas.

Extension of Nonimmigrant Visa Ban

Effective as of June 24, 2020, President Trump’s Proclamation 10052 suspended the entry to the U.S. of foreign nationals (with limited exceptions) holding H-1B, H-2B, J-1 and L-1 status, including dependent family members.  Originally set to expire on December 31, 2020, that same day, the President extended the Proclamation until March 31, 2021, thereby continuing restriction of travel to the U.S. and issuance of certain nonimmigrant visas.

There are limited exceptions which allow entry for H-1B/H-4, H-2B/H-4, J-1/J-2, and L-1/L-4 visa holders, including (1) individuals who held a valid visa stamp in their passport, but were outside of the U.S. on the effective date of the proclamation, and (2) individuals who possess an official travel document other than a visa (e.g., a transportation letter, an appropriate boarding foil, or an advance parole document) that was valid on the effective date of the Proclamation or issued on any date thereafter that permits him or her to travel to the United States and seek entry or admission.

Additional exceptions apply to: (3) any lawful permanent resident of the U.S., spouses or children (under the age of 21) of a U.S. citizen, (4) a foreign national that will provide temporary labor or services essential to the U.S. food supply chain, and (5) a foreign national whose entry would be in the national interest as determined by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or their respective designees.  Factors to determine whether entry is in the “national interest” include individuals who are critical to the defense, law enforcement, diplomacy, or national security, are involved with the provision of COVID-19 medical care, are involved with COVID-19 medical research, or are necessary to facilitate the immediate and continued economic recovery of the United States.

This proclamation is now in effect through March 31, 2021.

Extension of Immigrant Visa Ban

As detailed in our earlier blog post in April 2020, Proclamation 10014 suspended the entry of all intending immigrants (those seeking to enter the U.S. as a new Permanent Resident) who were outside the U.S. as of Thursday April 23, 2020, who did not already have a valid immigrant visa or a valid travel documents on that date or any date after that allows for travel to the U.S. to seek admission.

Exceptions to the prohibition to entry include (1) Permanent Residents, or green card holders, who live outside the U.S., (2) spouses and unmarried children under the age of 21 of U.S. citizens and (3) foreign nationals, their spouses, and their children under the age of 21 applying for EB-5 Immigrant Investor visas.

Additional exemptions include (4) foreign nationals (their immediate family members) who seek to become permanent residents and work as physicians, nurses, or other healthcare professionals, perform medical research or other research to combat the spread of COVID-19, or perform work “essential to combating, recovering from, or otherwise alleviating the effects of the COVID-19 outbreak”.

This proclamation is now in effect through March 31, 2021.

For additional information on the extensions of P. P. 10052 and P.P. 10014 please see the Department of State’s webpage on the Extension of Presidential Proclamations 10014 and 10052.

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On April 22, 2020, President Trump issued a proclamation suspending the entry of any individual seeking to enter the United States as an immigrant who:

  • Is outside the United States on the effective date of the proclamation;
  • Does not have a valid immigrant visa as of April 23, 2020; and
  • Does not have a valid official travel document as of April 23, 2020, or issued on any date thereafter.

The proclamation went into effect at 11:59 pm (ET) on April 23, 2020 and will last for at least 60 days. It can be extended and modified. The following categories are exempt from the proclamation:

  • Lawful permanent residents (green card holders)
  • Individuals, and their spouses and children, seeking to enter the U.S. on an immigrant visa as a physician, nurse, or other healthcare professional; to perform medical research or other work essential to combatting COVID-19 (as determined by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of State (DOS))
  • Individuals applying for a visa to enter the U.S. pursuant to the EB-5 immigrant investor visa program
  • Spouses and children under the age of 21 of U.S. citizens, including prospective adoptees on an IR-4 or IH-4 visa
  • Individuals who would further important U.S. law enforcement objectives (as determined by DHS and DOS)
  • Members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their spouses and children
  • Afghan and Iraqi nationals who were translators/interpreters or employed by the U.S. government and their spouses or children seeking entry pursuant to a Special Immigrant Visa
  • Individuals whose entry would be in the national interest (as determined by DHS and DOS)

Discretion. It is within the discretion of the consular officer to determine if an individual is within one of the exempted categories outlined above.

Nonimmigrant Visa Holders (H, L, O, E, TN, etc.) and Asylum Seekers Are NOT Prohibited from Coming to the U.S. by the Proclamation.

Additional Considerations

  • Routine visa services at all U.S. embassies and consular posts around the world remain suspended since March 20, 2020. U.S. embassies and consulates continue to provide urgent and emergency visa services as resources allow. DOS intends to continue to process visa applications for farm workers and medical professionals assisting with COVID-19.
  • S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) has temporarily suspended in-person services through at least May 3, 2020, but continues to accept and process applications and petitions, including applications requesting an extension or change of status.
  • The U.S. borders with Canada and Mexico are closed for non-essential travel until at least May 20, 2020.
  • With some exceptions, the entry of individuals who were present in China, Iran, the Schengen Area, the U.K., and Ireland, during the 14-day period before their attempted entry into the United States has also been suspended.
  • The Proclamation requires a review of temporary visa programs within 30 days and recommendations to stimulate the U.S. economy and ensure “the prioritization, hiring and employment” of U.S. workers.

 We are closely monitoring the situation and will provide further updates as soon as we know more about the implementation of this Proclamation.

Thank you to the American Immigration Lawyer’s Association for their summary of the proclamation, on which this post is based.

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On March 2nd, the State Department rescinded the previous policy for national interest exceptions (NIE) thereby making it more difficult for nonimmigrant workers and business travelers to obtain national interest exceptions under Presidential Proclamation 10143 in connection with regional travel from the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, and Ireland.

The new policy became effective immediately and could affect nonimmigrant workers in the B, E, H, L, O, and P visa categories alongside those traveling for business under ESTA.  The Department of State’s new policy limits NIEs to certain travelers who will provide “vital support for critical infrastructure.”  It does not impact students traveling from the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, and Ireland with valid F-1 and M-1 visas or qualified travelers seeking to enter the United States for purposes related to humanitarian travel, public health response, and national security.  No previously-issued visas or NIEs will be revoked under the new policy.

The previous policy had broader application for travelers deemed to be substantially contributing to the U.S. economy and allowed NIEs for certain technical experts and specialists, senior-level managers and executives, treaty-traders and investors, and professional athletes.  Now, travelers who seek entry to the United States to offer vital support to critical infrastructure sectors must apply for a NIE at the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate before traveling.  If the NIE is approved, the individual may travel to the United States on either a valid visa or ESTA authorization.

The new “vital support for critical infrastructure” standard remains unclear.  Critical infrastructure likely includes the following industries: chemical, communications, emergency services, critical manufacturing, energy, financial services, food and agriculture, healthcare, information technology, transportation, and water and wastewater systems.  It is uncertain how the Department of State will evaluate “vital support.”

As a reminder, Presidential Proclamation 10052 remains in effect – banning certain H, L, and J nonimmigrants—through its scheduled expiration on March 31, 2021.

We are monitoring this development closely as U.S. consulates in the affected European countries begin issuing visas under the new NIE standards.  Foreign nationals in the United States contemplating international travel should be cautious and prepare for the possibility of being prevented from returning to the United States for a significant period of time.

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Ali Brodie is a Partner and the Co-Chair of the Immigration and EB-5 Immigrant Investor Practice Groups of Fox Rothschild LLP and has extensive experience in corporate immigration law and compliance.  Based in Fox Rothschild’s Los Angeles, California and Denver, Colorado offices, Ali’s practice spans the United States and reaches Consulates worldwide.  You can reach Ali at (303) 446-3854 or at abrodie@foxrothschild.com.

In our continuing series of reports, Charles (“Charlie”) Oppenheim, Chief of the Visa Control and Reporting Division, U.S. Department of State, shares his most recent analysis of current trends and future projections for the various immigrant preference categories with AILA (the American Immigration Lawyers’ Association).

Below are highlights from the most recent “check-in with Charlie” (July 21, 2020), reflecting his analysis of current trends and future projections for the various immigrant preference categories and his answers to various questions from the public.

As posts and USCIS will not be processing as many immigrant visa (IV) and adjustment of status applications due to the closures and suspension of services due to the coronavirus, we are in a unique, unexpected situation.

Check-in with DOS’s Charlie Oppenheim:  July 21, 2020

Given reduced processing capacity occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic, the Department of State and USCIS are closely collaborating to maximize number usage for FY20, focusing on processing capacity and the applications that are capable of being finalized this fiscal year.  There continues to be forward movement in all family-based preference categories and in most employment-based preference categories in August, with the exception of EB-2 India, EB-4 El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras and EB-4 Mexico, which hold at their July dates (July 8, 2009, April 1, 2017 and June 15, 2018 respectively).  In particular, there is rapid advancement in the EB-1 and EB-3 categories.  There is insufficient time for new I-485 filings resulting from these advancements to be processed to completion before the end of the fiscal year.  These movements were instead motivated by a desire to convert pre-adjudicated demand at USCIS into immigrant visa issuance prior to October 1, 2020.

Processing capacity has been dramatically diminished at consular posts, and USCIS normally processes about eighty-five percent of the Employment-based immigrant visa numbers each fiscal year.  Following imposition of final action dates on EB-1 China and EB-1 India, USCIS continued to process these applications, and in many cases, even conducted interviews before the pandemic hit.  Thousands of these applications can potentially be finalized following a renewed security check and/or upon receipt of a medical exam, thus enabling the employment-based annual limits to be reached or approximated as closely as possible.  If a furlough of USCIS employees occurs as planned in early August, it could have a significant negative impact on the government’s efforts to maximize immigrant visa number usage for FY20.  [Note that as of the publication of this article, the potential furlough of UCSIS employees has been postponed until August 31, 2020.]

Employment-based Preference Categories

EB-1 Worldwide (including El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, Mexico Philippines and Vietnam) remains current in August and will continue to be so through the end of this fiscal year.

In August the final action date for EB-1 China leaps forward 4.5 months from August 22, 2017 to February 8, 2018.  EB-1 India continues to advance rapidly but at the slightly slower pace of nine months in August, from May 8, 2017 to February 8, 2018.  AILA members may notice that EB-1 China and EB-1 India now have the same final action date.  This is because they have both reached their per country limits and are now utilizing “otherwise unused numbers” from the EB-1 category as well as numbers that have “fallen up” from otherwise unused EB-5 numbers.  Otherwise unused numbers are available within the EB-1 category because the rest of world demand is currently insufficient to fully utilize numbers under the Worldwide limit this fiscal year.  While there is still potential for forward movement in EB-1 China and EB-1 India in September, any advance movements are unlikely to be as dramatic as in August.

EB-2 Worldwide (including El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, Mexico Philippines and Vietnam) remains current in August and will remain so through this fiscal year.  EB-2 China advances approximately nine weeks from November 8, 2015 to January 15, 2016.  In contrast, EB-2 India holds at July 8, 2009 in August.  It is currently estimated that there is a sufficient amount of worldwide demand to reach or approximate the EB-2 annual limit for FY2020.

EB-3 Worldwide (including El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, Mexico Philippines and Vietnam) and EB-3 Worldwide Other Workers (including El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, Mexico Philippines and Vietnam) continue to advance rapidly at the pace of almost one year in August from April 15, 2018 to April 1, 2019. This advancement includes over three thousand EB-3 Philippines applications which are eligible to be finalized.  EB-3 China leaps forward more than seven months in August from June 22, 2016 to February 15, 2017.  EB-3 China Other Workers advances modestly from July 22, 2008 to August 1, 2008.  The spread between EB-2 China and EB-3 China, which held at approximately 7.5 months for some time, widens greatly in August, putting EB-3 China’s final action date 13 months ahead of EB-2 China.  We will have to monitor this to see whether this spurs downgrades to EB-3 China.  EB-3 India and EB-3 India Other Workers both advance four months in August from June 1, 2009 to October 1, 2009.

EB-4 Worldwide (including China, India, Philippines and Vietnam) remains current in August and likely to remain so for the foreseeable future.  EB-4 El Salvador Guatemala and Honduras advances two months in August from February 1, 2017 to April 1, 2017, while EB-4 Mexico continues to hold at June 15, 2018.

As predicted, EB-5 India (Regional and Non-Regional Centers) which became current in July, continues to will remain current in August and is expected to remain so for the foreseeable future.  EB-5 Worldwide (including El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, Mexico and Philippines), Regional and Non-Regional Centers, will also remain current into the next fiscal year.  EB-5 China (Regional and Non-Regional Centers) advances two weeks in August, from July 22, 2015 to August 8, 2015.  EB-5 Vietnam (Regional and Non-Regional Centers) advances two months and one week, from May 15, 2017 to July 22, 2017, with the hope that this will maximize number usage in this category.

Family-based Preference Categories

Recent advancements in the family-based preference categories have resulted in the accumulation of large amounts of demand and may result in a slow-down in advancement of the family dates, as there has been limited processing capacity to finalize these applications.

F2A remains current in August across countries and is expected to remain so in September and October.  All other Philippines family-based preference categories advance three months in August, due to a very low response rate and despite rapid advancement over the past eighteen months. In August, F1 Philippines advances to September 1, 2011, F2B Philippines advances to April 1, 2011, F3 Philippines advances to November 15, 2001, and F4 Philippines advances to September 1, 2001.  Family-based preference categories for all other countries will continue to advance at a pace of two to five weeks in August.

F1 Worldwide (including F1 China and F1 India) advances five weeks from July 8, 2014 to August 15, 2014.  F1 Mexico advances two weeks from December 8, 1997 to December 22, 1997.

F2B Worldwide (including F2B China and F2B India) advances five weeks in August from May 1, 2015 to June 8, 2015.  In August, F2B Mexico advances two weeks from March 8, 1999 to March 22, 1999.  F3 Worldwide (including F3 China and F3 India) again advances three weeks in August from May 8, 2008 to June 1, 2008, and F3 Mexico advances one week from July 8, 1996 to July 15, 1996.  F4 Worldwide (including F4 China) again advances two weeks in August from August 22, 2006 to September 8, 2006. F4 India also advances at a pace of two weeks from February 8, 2005 to February 22, 2005. F4 Mexico advances two weeks from June 1, 1998 to June 15, 1998.

Diversity Visa Lottery

AILA also notes that the limitation of immigrant visa processing to mission critical matters, coupled with the impact of Presidential Proclamation 10014, the validity of which was extended by PP 10052 through December 31, 2020, will result in large numbers of FY2020 DV lottery winners being unable to process immigrant visas by the end of FY20.

Q&A:

QUESTION:  I’m confused by the recent Check-Ins.  About two months ago I asked the reason for the rapid advancement in China EB-5 considering that consulates were not issuing visas and it was unlikely that USCIS would process and adjudicate newly submitted AOS applications before the end of the fiscal year.  Charlie said that it was because applicants were not responding to NVC and completing the consular processing steps in a timely manner and also because USCIS had told him they could process a certain number of AOS cases prior to the end of the fiscal year.

ANSWER:  My comments were valid at the time;  1) at that time the dates were being moved to try and stimulate future responses, despite our not being able to process cases at this time, but it was hoped processing might be resumed later in the summer.  Plus, the applicants had not been responding in great numbers based on recent movement of the dates, and it can be many months from the time an applicant begins submitting documents, and they are finally fully ready for the scheduling of an interview.  2) I knew that USCIS had hundreds of potential applicants who could be processed based on the movement of the dates.  That could allow numbers to be used this year, which had it not been for the movement would have required those applicants using numbers under the FY 2021 limit.

QUESTION:  However, at the most recent check-in, he says basically what I was saying, that the advancement in the cut-off dates was superficial since the visa numbers weren’t being used at all due to the pandemic cutting off IV interviews and USCIS processing of AOS applications.  If he now thinks that way, what is the reason behind the advancement of China EB-5 by two weeks instead of say, none or one week?  If, according to him, there is no USCIS pending demand for EB-5 numbers, then what did he mean in the previous check-in when he said USCIS told him they could adjudicate new cases?  Has USCIS changed its opinion on its capacity?

ANSWER: By last month’s check-in three things had become apparent; 1) it was unlikely that overseas processing of such applicants would return to normal this fiscal year, 2) we already had over 3,500 China EB-5 applicants who would be eligible for potential interview once posts are able to return to full operational status, and 3) future movement of the date would not have any impact on this year’s USCIS number use. Therefore, I have limited movement of the China date for now, allowing me to get a better understanding of what impact past movements are having, and what the true need for numbers is likely to be under the FY 2021 EB-5 limit.

QUESTION:  I’m also surprised by his comments that EB-5 applicants are not completing the CP steps.  We have a large number of EB-5 China clients with processing complete letters from NVC and no interview notices, even before the pandemic began.  Is there communication between Charlie and the consulates regarding interviews and the number they are conducting each month to ensure visa numbers are being used throughout a fiscal year?

ANSWER: There is no problem with communication. I have not said I didn’t have applicants who were documentarily qualified and eligible for scheduling. What I had been saying is that (at the time) we didn’t have enough of them based on the expected availability of China numbers, and that there were significant amounts of China applicants who had not been submitting all of the required documents despite being notified to do so. Since I began making those statements to AILA, IIUSA, and others the response rates have improved. Plus, if it were not for the fact that the COVID issues which have prevented current processing, we would have insufficient China EB-5 demand as we enter FY 2021.

QUESTION:  We understand that the recent proclamation that seeks to “normalize” Hong Kong will effectively cause Hong Kong born persons to become chargeable to Mainland China. Please confirm whether we should act consistent with Hong Kong persons being chargeable under the Worldwide/All Chargeability Areas Except Those Listed until or unless advised otherwise.

ANSWER:  I cannot comment on the Hong Kong issue at this time. The Executive Order (EO) provide 15 days to “commence all appropriate actions” to implement, and the issue is currently being reviewed.  Please monitor the travel.state.gov web site for the latest guidance on this issue.

NOTE FROM AILA:  During the DOS Open Forum at AC20, AILA asked whether the July 14, 2020 Executive Order on Hong Kong Normalization would result in Hong Kong born individuals becoming chargeable to Mainland China. David Newman, Director of Legal Affairs in the Visa Office, indicated that the Visa Office is still reviewing this matter, but that Section 103 of IMMACT90 granted separate chargeability treatment to Hong Kong born individuals and that the proclamation does not alter this.

You may access the July 2020 Visa Bulletin here and the August 2020 Visa Bulletin here.

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Yesterday, June 22, 2020, President Trump issued the anticipated Proclamation suspending the entry into the US of certain nonimmigrant visa holders.  Specifically, the following new restrictions are in effect 6/24/2020:

  • The executive order applies to foreign nationals who seek to enter the United States in H1B, H-4, H2B, L-1, or L-2 status (as well as all accompanying or following to join family members).
  • The order also applies to those requesting admission in J status “…who are participating in an intern, trainee, teacher, camp counselor, au pair, or summer work travel program, and any alien accompanying or following to join such alien.”
  • The executive order does NOT apply to anyone who is in the United States as of the effective date of the order (12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on June 24, 2020)
  • The order does NOT apply to anyone who has a valid nonimmigrant visa as of the effective date.
  • The order does NOT apply to anyone who has “…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 order does NOT apply to any alien whose entry would be in “the national interest”, lawful permanent residents of the US, those providing temporary labor or services essential to the US food supply chain, law enforcement, diplomacy, provision of medical care to individuals with COVID-19 who are hospitalized, and research at US facilities to help combat COVID-19.
  • Notably, there is a section calling for the removal of any foreign national who circumvents the proclamation through fraud, willful misrepresentation, or illegal entry.
  • This executive order is scheduled to remain in place through December 31, 2020, and may be extended beyond that date.

This means if you are an employer with an employee abroad who was expecting to obtain an L-1 or H-1B visa in the coming months (including those individuals who are waiting for approval of their H-1B visas under the cap/lottery) you should expect that the employee will not be able to return to the U.S. until January 2021 at the earliest, even if in possession of an approved visa petition.

Beyond the language of the EO itself, individuals who are exempt and plan to enter the U.S. soon, should be prepared to be challenged at the port of entry.  Individual immigration officers at the port of entry may or may not fully understand the details of the order, or the exceptions, and it would not be surprising that if a few try to apply it too broadly or too aggressively.

Please contact any member of the Fox Rothschild immigration practice to discuss the specifics of the Presidential Proclamation and how it affects you or your workforce.

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Ali Brodie is a Partner and the Co-Chair of the Immigration and EB-5 Immigrant Investor Practice Groups of Fox Rothschild LLP and has extensive experience in corporate immigration law and compliance.  Based in Fox Rothschild’s Los Angeles, California and Denver, Colorado offices, Ms. Brodie’s practice spans the United States and reaches Consulates worldwide.  You can reach Ms. Brodie at (303) 446-3854 or (424) 249-1759 or at abrodie@foxrothschild.com.

Catherine Wadhwani is a Partner and Co-Chair of the Immigration Practice Group at Fox Rothschild LLP.  For nearly 25 years, her practice has focused on business immigration law and compliance, primarily in the health care, general corporate and academic sectors.  Ms. Wadhwani’s practice covers the United States and Consulates worldwide.  She is based in our Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania office.  Please contact Ms. Wadhwani at cwadhwani@foxrothschild.com  or at 412-394-5540.

On May 29, 2020, President Trump issued yet another immigration-related Executive Order.   This one is entitled, “Proclamation on the Suspension of Entry as Nonimmigrants of Certain Students and Researchers from the People’s Republic of China,” and can be found here.

The proclamation goes into effect today, June 1, 2020, and its stated purpose is to restrict certain Chinese nationals from entering the United States on F Student visas or J Exchange Visitor visas associated with entities in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) that implement or support China’s “military-civil fusion strategy”.

The Proclamation applies to graduate level students and researchers from the PRC applying for visas or seeking entry into the U.S. who:

(A) receive funding from or who are currently employed by, study at, or conduct research at or on behalf of; or (B) have been employed by, studied at, or conducted research at or on behalf of, an entity in the PRC that implements or supports the PRC’s military-civil fusion strategy.

Additionally, the Secretary of State will also consider whether the visas of PRC nationals already in F or J status, to which the executive order would otherwise apply, should be revoked pursuant to INA section 221(i).

The order excluded the following individuals:

  1. Any Lawful Permanent Resident of the United States;
  2. Any alien who is the spouse of a U.S. Citizen or U.S. Lawful Permanent Resident;
  3. Any alien who is a member of the U.S. Armed Forces or who is the spouse or child of a member of the U.S. Armed Forces;
  4. Any alien whose travel falls within the scope of Section 11 of the United Nations Headquarters Agreement;
  5. Any alien who is studying or conducting research in a field involving information that would not contribute to the Chinese military-civil fusion strategy, as determined by the Secretary of State and the Secretary of Homeland Security;
  6. Any alien whose entry is important for U.S. law enforcement objectives;
  7. Any alien whose entry would be in the national interest.

The short-term and long-term impact of the Executive Order on the STEM fields in general and diplomatic relations between the two nations is now in question.   Chinese students should speak to their Student Advisors regarding this new Executive Order and how it will impact their ability to study in the United States.

Mr. Harley is a Partner in the Immigration Practice Group at Fox Rothschild LLP.  Mr. Harley’s practice covers the United States and Consulates worldwide.  Mr. Harley is based in our Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania office.  He can be reached at mharley@foxrothschild.com or at 412-391-2418.