COVID-19-related travel bans remain in place for several countries and regions. The Department of State released updated guidance on July 22, 2020, stating that certain business travelers, investors, treaty traders, academics, and students may qualify for national interest exceptions.

Highlights:

• Business travelers, investors, academics, J-1 students, and treaty traders who have a valid visa or Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) issued before Presidential Proclamation 9993 or 9996’s effective date 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.
• The Department of State also continues to grant national interest exceptions for qualified travelers seeking to enter the United States for purposes related to humanitarian travel, public health response, and national security.
• As noted above, students traveling from the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, and Ireland with valid F-1 and M-1 visas do not need to contact an embassy or consulate to seek an individual national interest exception to travel. Students seeking to apply for new F-1 or M-1 visas should check the status of visa services at the nearest embassy or consulate; those applicants who are found to be otherwise qualified for an F-1 or M-1 visa will automatically be considered for a national interest exception to travel.

On Monday, June 22nd, 2020, President Trump signed a new Executive Order, “Presidential Proclamation Suspending Entry of Aliens Who Present a Risk to the U.S. Labor Market Following the Coronavirus Outbreak”. This order took effect at 12:01 a.m. on June 24th, 2020.

This proclamation does NOT impact F-1 students (including those on OPT/STEM OPT) or J-1 students, Research Scholars, Short Term Scholars, and Specialists. It also does NOT apply to any individual with H-1B status or with a pending H-1B initial or extension application, who is currently in the United States.

The proclamation DOES impact anyone outside the United States without a valid visa and/or travel document in the following visa categories: H-1B or H2B and their dependents; L and their dependents; J-1 in the following categories: Au Pair, Camp Counselor, Intern, Summer Work, Trainee, Teacher and their dependents.

Effective March 20, 2020, the Department of State is suspending routine visa services at all U.S. Embassies and Consulates. Embassies and consulates will cancel all routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments. They will continue to provide emergency and mission critical visa services. Routine visa services will resume as soon as possible but no specific date has been provided at this time. To find an embassy or consulate please go to https://www.usembassy.gov/ to confirm operating status, appointment scheduling/rescheduling and emergency services.