September 20, 2021 - Welcoming News for Clients
Biden Administration Plans to Rescind COVID-19 Travel Bans and Instead Required Proof of Vaccination from International Travelers beginning in November.
Today, the White House announced that it is plans to ease travel restrictions on all international travelers coming into the United States beginning in early November 2021. The White House will rescind the current geographic COVID-19 related travel bans implemented for individuals from China, Iran, the Schengen Area, U.K., Ireland, Brazil, South Africa, and India and will instead move forward with solutions to deter the spread of COVID-19 based on individuals, rather than restrictions placed on entire countries or regions.
In place of these bans, all international travelers will be required to prove that they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, as well as provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test within three days of boarding a flight to the United States. The CDC will provide information regarding which vaccines will be accepted.
Limited exceptions such as for children; COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial participants; and humanitarian exceptions for people traveling for an important reason and who lack access to vaccination in a timely manner will be available. Individuals who are exempted from the vaccine requirement may be required to be vaccinated upon arrival.
The administration will also be making additional recommendations to stop the spread of COVID-19, including 1) continuing the mask mandate through January 18, 2022; 2) expanding pre-departure and post-arrival testing requirements; and 3) implanting a contact tracing order for airlines.
More Information on this issue will be posted as it becomes available.
USCIS has released a NEW H1B Registration Process for the 2021 H-1B Cap Subject Petitions
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The 2021 H-1B Cap season is rapidly approaching and we strongly advise employers seeking H-1B petitions for October 1, 2020 to contact us immediately.
NEW for the 2021 H-1B Cap Subject Petitions, the USCIS has released a NEW H1B Registration Process. The Registration Processing Timeline is:
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President Trump's New Immigration Executive Order Details February 2017
The executive orders are changing daily but the latest involves: Feburary 3rd 2017
President Trump's Executive Order suspends immigrant and nonimmigrant visa from entry to the USA, for nationals of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for a period of 90-days. This order could be extended or amended in the coming days or weeks. Given the order does not specify what is intended for nationals of the intended countries, we are advising for nationals of the list of designated countries not to travel outside the USA during this period. We are also being cautious with foreign travel with respect to residents “green card holders’ from one of the designated countries, although it appears the order is limited to immigrants and nonimmigrant visa holders, while green card holders are being allowed admission to the USA following extensive delays and questioning by Custom Border Protection officers at the time of attempted entry to the USA. The order does not appear to affect nationals from countries who have not been designated, but we are also told the administration has plans to add a number of additional countries to the order in the coming days and weeks. A number of federal courts have challenged this order and we are awaiting clarification from the circuit courts. In the meantime we advise caution regarding international travel for any foreign national from non-designated countries who may have traveled to one of the designated countries in the order.
President Trump's Executive Order suspends immigrant and nonimmigrant visa from entry to the USA, for nationals of Iran, Iraq, Libya, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen for a period of 90-days. This order could be extended or amended in the coming days or weeks. Given the order does not specify what is intended for nationals of the intended countries, we are advising for nationals of the list of designated countries not to travel outside the USA during this period. We are also being cautious with foreign travel with respect to residents “green card holders’ from one of the designated countries, although it appears the order is limited to immigrants and nonimmigrant visa holders, while green card holders are being allowed admission to the USA following extensive delays and questioning by Custom Border Protection officers at the time of attempted entry to the USA. The order does not appear to affect nationals from countries who have not been designated, but we are also told the administration has plans to add a number of additional countries to the order in the coming days and weeks. A number of federal courts have challenged this order and we are awaiting clarification from the circuit courts. In the meantime we advise caution regarding international travel for any foreign national from non-designated countries who may have traveled to one of the designated countries in the order.