New US Immigration Rules travel COVID19 2020
The trump administration has passed an executive order to ban certain employment based visas. This restriction will free up as many as 525000 jobs for Americas between now and the end of 2020. According to May 2019 data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 21 million people are out of work.
This ban on new visas will apply to H-1B visas, which are widely used by major American technology companies, and H4 dependent visas, H-2B visas for nonagricultural seasonal workers, J-1 visas for exchange students and L-1 visas for managers of multinational corporations.
June 22 2020, News published on USCIS website
“Monday’s presidential proclamation temporarily restricts certain categories of visas from being issued to protect jobs for American workers while our economy recovers from the effects of COVID-19. This does not affect those currently working in the U.S. on valid H-1B or similar visas. The proclamation also does not prevent individuals in possession of valid visas prior to the effective date of the proclamation from entering or re-entering the country, if they have been abroad, provided they have not otherwise rendered themselves inadmissible.
The U.S. will continue to honor these already valid visas as we help American workers get back on their feet.” – USCIS Deputy Director for Policy Joseph Edlow
Does it affect current H1b,H4, J1 visas?
If you are in the US, then it will not affect you at all. You can continue working and if your visa is going to expire then you can apply for extension too. Basically, if you are in the United States of America and not planning to go out of the states till the end of 2020, then you can relax as if nothing has happened.
Traveling during New US Immigration Rules COVID19 2020
If you are outside the United States and you don’t have valid visa then you are in trouble. You can not go for stamping as US consulate will not issue any visa till 31st December 2020. But if you have valid visa stamping then you can travel without any problem.
If you are inside the U.S, having valid visa stamping then you can go out of the country and re-enter as long as your visa is valid.
I have valid H1b visa, can my wife go for H4 visa stamping?
No, She can not go for H4 stamping. USCIS has clearly mentioned that no new visas will be issued to H1b dependent. To know about US consulate updates please follow this link When Will The US Consulate and Embassy Reopen In India.
