Appropriate traveler health education materials will continue to be made available to passengers arriving from foreign countries. The restrictions have been consistently extended on a monthly basis, and will be in effect until 11:59 p.m. EDT on March 21, 2021. Q3: Is the Department considering a visa application process that substitutes video interviews for in-person interviews in order to expedite the process when consular sections reopen? Until December 31, 2021, the temporary expansion allows such waivers if the prior visa has not expired more than 48 months ago. ", March 26, 2020 on travel.state.gov. Please monitor the embassy or consulate website for updates.". We are unable to provide a specific date for when each mission will resume specific visa services, or when each mission will return to processing at pre-pandemic workload levels. Doing Business in China 2020 is designed to introduce the fundamentals of investing in China. It is unclear whether "traveling to attend" also covers students who are studying online under their school's COVID-19 policy and who wish to travel through land ports of entry. Foreign nationals visiting China for emergency needs may apply for visas at their Chinese Embassy or Consulates. Our embassies and consulates are implementing safeguards to keep staff and customers safe, including implementing physical distancing in our waiting rooms, scheduling fewer interviews at a time, frequent disinfection of high touch areas, and following local health and safety regulations. Applicants can find instructions on how to request an emergency visa appointment at the Embassy or Consulate’s website. On June 15, 2020, the U.S. Department of Transportation issued Order 2020-6-6 "to permit Chinese carriers to operate, in the aggregate, a total of four weekly round-trip scheduled passenger flights to and from the United States, an aggregate level of scheduled passenger services that would be equivalent to that permitted by Chinese aviation authorities for U.S. Human Resources Administration and Payroll Services, Dezan Shira & Associates‘ Shanghai Office. This was extended to December 31, 2020 by Proclamation 10052 of June 22, 2020, then extended until March 31, 2021 by a Proclamation of December 31, 2020. In September, China announced it will allow entry by foreign nationals holding valid Chinese residence permits of three categories – permits for work, personal matters, and reunion. The resumption of routine visa services, prioritized after services to U.S. citizens, will occur on a post-by-post basis, consistent with the Department’s guidance for safely returning our workforce to Department facilities. This Notification may be amended or rescinded prior to that time, based on circumstances associated with the specific threat.". The number of work-related visas granted to enter Britain plunged 35% last year during the coronavirus pandemic, led by a drop in applications from high-value individuals. Which additional visa services are embassies/consulates beginning to provide? On January 21, 2021, President Biden issued Executive Order on Promoting COVID-19 Safety in Domestic and International Travel, which directs relevant agencies to assess the January 12, 2021 CDC order requiring a negative COVID-19 test result for airline passengers traveling into the United States, and, based on that assessment, take any further appropriate actions and planning regarding air, land, and sea travel. (08/06/2020), On April 10, 2020, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, President Trump issued Memorandum on Visa Sanctions, to direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to notify the Secretary of State "if any government of a foreign country denies or unreasonably delays the acceptance of aliens who are citizens, subjects, nationals, or residents of that country after being asked to accept those aliens, and if such denial or delay is impeding operations of the Department of Homeland Security necessary to respond to the ongoing pandemic caused by SARS-CoV-2." Visas and Entry. The Secretary of State, the Secretary of Health and Human Services, and the Secretary of Homeland Security shall, as appropriate and as United States foreign policy interests and continuing public health risks may warrant, submit a joint recommendation for such termination.". These PHS Act provisions enable the CDC Director to prohibit the introduction into the United States of persons from designated foreign countries (or one or more political subdivisions and regions thereof) or places, for a period that the Director deems necessary for the public health, if the Director determines that: (1) By reason of the existence of any communicable disease in a foreign country (or one or more political subdivisions or regions thereof) or place, there is serious danger of the introduction of such communicable disease into the United States, and. Individuals engaged in military-related travel or operations. These restrictions are temporary in nature and shall remain in effect until 11:59 p.m. EDT on [January 21, 2021]. China has used extra surveillance and restrictions ostensibly imposed because of the Covid-19 pandemic to block the work of foreign reporters already … On October 1, 2020, the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California issued a preliminary injunction blocking the enforcement of Proclamation 10052, but that injunction is limited to visa applicants whose petitioner (for H-1B or L-1 beneficiaries) or sponsor or host organization (for J-1 applicants) are either one of the plaintiffs (the National Association of Manufactures (NAM), the Chamber of Commerce of the United States of America, the National Retail Federation, Technet, and Intrax, Inc)or are members of the plaintiff associations at the time of adjudication. Q. Last updated: [1/25/2021] *** Effective January 26, all airline passengers to the United States ages two years and older must provide a negative COVID-19 viral test taken within three calendar days of travel. Top Searches. Secretary Azar also announced that effective 5 p.m. EST on Sunday, February 2, the following restrictions on U.S. citizens returning from travels in China will be implemented: Proclamation 9984 of January 31, 2020 directed DHS "to regulate the travel of persons and aircraft to the United States to facilitate the orderly medical screening and, where appropriate, quarantine of persons who enter the United States and who may have been exposed to the virus. The Department of State also continues to grant NIEs for qualified travelers seeking to enter the United States for purposes related to humanitarian travel, public health response, and national security. CBP announced that on February 2, 2021 it began "enforcing the requirement that travelers wear face masks at all air, land and sea ports of entry in the United States in accordance with President Biden’s Executive Order on Promoting COVID-19 Safety in Domestic and International Travel and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Order Regarding the Requirement for Persons to Wear Masks While on Public Conveyances and at Transportation Hubs...With limited exceptions, travelers must wear a face mask while physically present at a U.S. air, land, or sea port of entry. A January 12, 2021 CDC media statement that effective January 26, 2021 states: "Air passengers are required to get a viral test (a test for current infection) within the 3 days before their flight to the U.S. departs, and provide written documentation of their laboratory test result (paper or electronic copy) to the airline or provide documentation of having recovered from COVID-19. Travelers who wish to visit the United States to offer vital support to critical infrastructure sectors, as well as academics, J-1 students, and journalists who have a valid visa in the appropriate class, an ESTA authorization, or who are seeking to apply for a visa, and believe they may qualify for a National Interest Exception should contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate before traveling. On July 13, 2020, DOS tweeted the following update from @TravelGov: "US embassies and consulates are beginning the phased resumption of routine visa services. Members of the armed forces of the United States and associated personnel for whom the Secretary of Defense provides assurance to the Director that the Secretary of Defense, through measures such as quarantine, isolation, or other measures for maintaining control over such individuals, is preventing the risk of transmission of COVID-19 to others in the United States. CDC then published this as a final rule on September 11, 2020, at 85 FR 56424 (September 11, 2020). Proclamation 10014 of April 22, 2020, published at 85 FR 23441, titled Suspending Entry of Immigrants Who Present Risk to the U.S. Labor Market During the Economic Recovery Following the COVID-19 Outbreak, had suspended entry of certain new immigrants who did not already have an approved immigrant visa. In a January 31, 2020 Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) press briefing, Secretary Alex Azar declared that the Novel Coronavirus represents a public health emergency in the United States. The Secretary of State also made a new national interest determination covering certain travelers seeking to provide vital support for critical infrastructure. The Post quoted Ian Brownlee, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Consular Affairs, as saying that "we are not going out looking for others. Phased Resumption of Routine Visa Services. Several countries around the world appear to be in the middle of another wave of new coronavirus outbreaks or have been unable to stabilize the local spread of infection. A lone tourist takes photos in Circular Quay in Sydney on March 20, 2020, after Australia moved to seal off its borders the day before, announcing unprecedented bans on entry for non-residents in the hope of stemming the rise of COVID-19 coronavirus infections. Health education information will continue to be displayed at ports of entry.". U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) developed an operational plan for implementing the order, and DHS will, where necessary, use repatriation flights to move covered aliens. The three geographical COVID-19 Proclamations (P.P. (A) At the appropriate time, the Visa Office will provide guidance to our visa sections worldwide on the resumption of routine visa services. By Fuki Fu, Human Resources Administration and Payroll Services, Dezan Shira & Associates‘ Shanghai Office. F-1 or M-1 students and others traveling from Brazil, China, Iran, and South Africa are not included in this special Schengen Area/UK/Ireland NIE policy, and must qualify for an NIE on an individual, case-by-case basis. Chinese … 9984, 9992, and 10143) and one of the COVID-19 Labor Market Proclamations suspending the entry of certain aliens (P.P.10052) remain in effect. The dates for each embassy or consulate will depend on local conditions. This Order will go into effect on January 26, 2021. These travelers and any others who believe their travel to be in the United States national interest should also review the website of the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for instruction on how to contact them. U.S. Embassies and Consulates have continued to provide emergency and mission-critical visa services since March 2020 and will continue to do so as they are able. By Fuki Fu, Human Resources Administration and Payroll Services, Dezan Shira & Associates‘ Shanghai Office. The practice assists foreign investors into China and has done so since 1992 through offices in Beijing, Tianjin, Dalian, Qingdao, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Suzhou, Guangzhou, Dongguan, Zhongshan, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong. Medical professionals with an approved U.S. non-immigrant or immigrant visa petition (I-129 or I-140 with a current priority date, or similar) or a certificate of eligibility in an approved exchange visitor program (DS-2019), particularly those working to treat or mitigate the effects of COVID-19, should review the website of their nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for procedures to request an emergency visa appointment. Critics argue that China can't be trusted to be forthcoming with all the data that they have … Travelers in these categories, as well as academics, students, and journalists for whom National Interest Exception (NIE) criteria has not changed, may qualify for NIEs to PP 10143 as related to the Schengen Area, United Kingdom, and Ireland. Section 6 of the proclamation called upon DOL, DOS, and DHS to "review nonimmigrant programs and... recommend... other measures appropriate to stimulate the United States economy and ensure the prioritization, hiring, and employment of United States workers.". Although the new expiry dates are not yet visible on visas, the extension is valid. * The Canada and Mexico land port of entry restrictions include as coming for essential travel "Individuals traveling to attend educational institutions." See NAFSA's INA 243(d) page for details on this provision of law. China Again Suspends Entry of Foreigners, Cites COVID-19 Risk. Specific inquiries about visas during COVID-19; Notice about visa services at the U.S. Embassy Quito on October 15, 2019; Specific inquiries about visas during COVID-19 ... H-2B, J (for aliens participating in an intern, trainee, teacher, camp counselor, au pair, or summer work travel program) and L, along with their spouses and children. China works to contain new COVID-19 surge 02:43. The page was originally published on July 16, 2020, and was updated on October 1, 2020 and March 2, 2021. (A) The Department of State has no plans to substitute video interviews for the in-person visa interview. Q. The country-specific coronavirus proclamations themselves remain in place until terminated by the President. Applicants with an urgent matter who need to travel immediately should contact the nearest embassy or consulate to request an emergency appointment. To be eligible for a potential interview waiver, the F, M, or J visa applicant's application must have been filed within 12 months of the expiration of his or her prior visa in the same category. U.S. China Briefing is written and produced by Dezan Shira & Associates. cancer or disease research); or to provide care for a U.S. citizen, … ", The original order was effective March 20, 2020, for 30 days. But it could also mean that the Chinese government could reopen the border if the situation turns better. Under recent guidance, however, the following K-1 visa applicants may qualify f or a national interest exception (NIE) if he or she is traveling as (1) a public health or healthcare professional or researcher to alleviate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, or to continue ongoing research in an area with substantial public health benefit (e.g. Citing the current COVID-19 situation, the embassies said the suspension is a temporary response and will be assessed in accordance with the evolving situation. The Department of State suspended routine visa services worldwide in March 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The health and safety of our workforce and customers will remain paramount. "For those foreign medical professionals already in the United States: J-1 Alien Physicians (medical residents) may consult with their program sponsor, ECFMG, to extend their programs in the United States. The initial effective period was 60 days starting 11:59 p.m. eastern daylight time on April 23, 2020. While this would appear to cover properly documented nonimmigrants such as students, exchange visitors, H-1B workers, TN workers, etc. The page also contains several FAQs. Q. carriers.". All of our missions are continuing to provide emergency and mission-critical visa services. Get updates on UK travel advice, Europe travel ban, Italy travel advisory, France travel ban and many more. Follow us on TwitterLike us on FacebookConnect with us on LinkedIn, NAFSA: Association of International Educators, Copyright 1998-2021. A May 22, 2020 order issued by former Acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf had established a "national interest exemption" under the Trump COVID-19 geographical proclamations covering China, Iran, the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, and Ireland, for "certain foreign professional athletes who compete in professional sporting events organized by certain leagues, including their essential staff and their dependents." Proclamation 10052 of June 22, 2020, titled Proclamation Suspending Entry of Aliens Who Present a Risk to the U.S. Labor Market Following the Coronavirus Outbreak, suspends "entry into the United States of any alien seeking entry pursuant to any of the following nonimmigrant visas" from June 24, 2020 until March 31, 2021: Section 3(a) states, however, that the suspension will only be applied to individuals who: "(i) is outside the United States on the effective date of this proclamation; [as amended] (ii) does not have a nonimmigrant visa, of any of the classifications specified in section 2 of this proclamation and pursuant to which the alien is seeking entry, that is valid on the effective date of this proclamation; and, (iii) 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.". At a press briefing yesterday in Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin termed this a reasonable and legitimate move and said China has adjusted its measures learning from other countries’ practices. On 11 January 2021, the UK Home Office published guidance on the "Covid Visa Concession Scheme (CVCS)." The case is National Association of Manufacturers, et al. While some foreigners were successfully able to enter China from 0 a.m., September 28, 2020, many others are still waiting to find their way back to China – complicated by several factors like limited international flight schedules, closed borders in various countries, family affairs, etc. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. In a Federal Register notice published on April 21, 2020, but effective April 20, 2020, the CDC extended the "congregate settings" restrictions for 30 additional days, until 11:59 p.m. on May 20, 2020. ", The order is designed principally to block entry of "persons who are traveling from Canada or Mexico (regardless of their country of origin), and who must be held longer in congregate settings in POEs or Border Patrol stations to facilitate immigration processing, would typically be aliens seeking to enter the United States at POEs who do not have proper travel documents, aliens whose entry is otherwise contrary to law, and aliens who are apprehended near the border seeking to unlawfully enter the United States between POEs. Will there be refunds available for the applicants if they cannot attend because the US Embassies and Consulates are not open? On May 26, 2020, the CDC issued an indefinite extension notice at published at 85 FR 31503 (May 26, 2020), under which the congregate settings restrictions will continue "until the CDC Director determines that the danger of further introduction of COVID-19 into the United States from covered aliens has ceased to be a serious danger to the public health." Therefore, the wait time for a student or exchange visitor is generally much shorter than the wait time for a B1/B2 applicant. and grow their operations. The authority cited for the regulation and the order is the Public Health Service (PHS) Act, codified at 42 USC 216, 243, and 361-369.