Client Payment Portal

Biden Reinstates Travel Restrictions on U.S. Noncitizen Travelers from European Schengen Countries, U.K., Ireland and Brazil; South Africa Added

Jan 28, 2021 | Consular Services & Travel, Immigration Updates

Via a January 25 Presidential Proclamation, President Biden has suspended the entry into the United States of immigrants and nonimmigrants who were physically present within the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom (excluding overseas territories outside of Europe), the Republic of Ireland, the Federative Republic of Brazil, and the Republic of South Africa during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States.

  • This proclamation reverses President Trump’s Jan. 18th proclamation lifting the travel ban from Ireland, European Schengen countries, U.K., and Brazil, which was to take place on Jan. 26.
  • Effective 12:01 am EST on January 30, Biden’s proclamation will also add the Republic of South Africa to the list of restricted countries. South Africa was not on the list prior to now.

These restrictions do not apply to the following:

  • Any lawful permanent resident of the U.S.
  • Any noncitizen who is the spouse of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident
  • Any noncitizen who is the parent or legal guardian of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, provided that the U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident is unmarried and under the age of 21

This proclamation is to remain in effect until terminated by the President.

 

Related Posts:

OFLC Posts ‘Unofficial’ Form ETA-9089 Preview Copy

After the Department of Labor’s Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) announced on April 21, 2023, that it will begin accepting the revised Form ETA-9089, Application for Permanent Employment Certification, in the Foreign Labor Application Gateway (FLAG) system on May 16, 2023, OFLC posted an “unofficial watermarked preview copy” of the form “to allow stakeholders to become familiar with changes to the form.”  OFLC will no longer accept any new applications submitted via the legacy PERM Online System after May 15, 2023, at 6:59 pm ET. OFLC also will no longer accept the previous version of Form ETA-9089 after May 15, 2023, either electronically or by mail.  OFLC said that the preview copy of the form and appendices are for informational purposes only. “These versions of the form and appendices may not be submitted to OFLC at any time; any submission to OFLC using these forms will be rejected.” OFLC said it will post on its Forms page (https://www.dol.gov/agencies/eta/foreign-labor/forms) the official, fillable PDF versions of the Form ETA-9089 and its appendices on May 16, 2023.  Details: 

Read More

Immigration Update

In this edition, read about the new House budget reconciliation bill that includes immigration provisions, a report that the USCIS is expediting Afghan petitions, the USCIS extending evidence of status for conditional permanent residents to 24 Months with pending form I-751 or I-829, and more. House Budget Reconciliation Bill Includes Immigration Provisions The proposed House of Representatives’ budget reconciliation bill includes language that would allow eligible persons to pay a fee to be exempted from numerical limits, among other provisions. Selected highlights include: Those in four categories who are eligible would be able to adjust status to permanent residence by paying a supplemental fee of $1,500 and passing security checks and a medical exam, including certain DREAMers, essential workers, temporary protected status beneficiaries, and deferred enforced departure beneficiaries. Unused immigrant visa numbers from certain date ranges would be recaptured, including family and employment visas that went unused and diversity visas if a person was refused a visa solely due to a Trump visa ban or slowdowns related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Adjustment applications may be submitted without regard to visa availability with a fee of $1,500 plus $250 for each derivative beneficiary. Adjustment applicants would be exempted from family numerical limits if […]

Read More