COVID-19 Restrictions on U.S. Visas and Entry

Reduction of Consular Services in Italy

The U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Italy website reported on March 10, 2020: "Due to reduced staffing that went into effect March 11, only emergency American Citizen Services and emergency visa services are available at the U.S. Embassy in Rome and Consulates General Milan, Naples, and Florence." (March 10, 2020)

Temporary U.S. Consular Office Closures in ChinaU.S. consular services in China are currently suspended.

• On February 1, 2020, the U.S. Embassy in China announced: "Mission China will be closed to the public from February 3-7 in accordance with Chinese government guidance. Emergency American citizen services will be available."
• On February 8, 2020, the U.S. Embassy posted this message: Mission China Regular Visa Services Temporarily Suspended. "As of February 10, 2020, regular visa services at the U.S Embassy in Beijing and the U.S. Consulates General in Chengdu, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Shenyang are suspended. Due to the ongoing situation relating to the novel coronavirus, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates have very limited staffing and may be unable to respond to requests regarding regular visa services."
• On March 5, 2020, NAFSA confirmed with the Department of State that the February 8, 2020 Mission China announcement remains in effect.

Quarantine of U.S. Citizens Returning From China

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. 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:

• Any U.S. citizen returning to the United States who has been in Hubei province in the 14 days prior to their entry to the United States will be subject to up to 14 days of mandatory quarantine to ensure they have been provided proper medical care and health screening
• Any U.S. citizen returning to the United States who has been anywhere else in mainland China in the 14 days prior to their entry to the United States will undergo "proactive entry health screening at a select number of ports of entry," and up to 14 days of "monitored self-quarantine" to ensure they've not contracted the virus and do not pose a public health risk.

For details, see:

• Transcript of HHS Secretary Azar's statement, and an HHS press release, which links to a video of the press briefing
• DHS Issues Supplemental Instructions For Inbound Flights With Individuals Who Have Been In China (February 2, 2020)

Coronavirus Travel Bans by Presidential Proclamation

The President has issued three COVID-19-related proclamations to limit travel to the United States:

1. China Travel Proclamation. January 31, 2020 - Proclamation 9984 titled Proclamation on Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants of Persons who Pose a Risk of Transmitting 2019 Novel Coronavirus. The proclamation cites INA 212(f) to suspend entry into the United States of all aliens (immigrants, nonimmigrants, and other non U.S. citizens) who were physically present within the People's Republic of China, excluding the Special Autonomous Regions of Hong Kong and Macau, during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States. This coronavirus travel ban is effective starting 5 p.m. on Sunday, February 2, 2020.
2. Iran Travel Proclamation. February 29, 2020 - Presidential Proclamation titled Proclamation on the Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants of Certain Additional Persons Who Pose a Risk of Transmitting Coronavirus. The proclamation cites INA 212(f) to suspend entry into the United States of all aliens (immigrants, nonimmigrants, and other non U.S. citizens) who were physically present within the Islamic Republic of Iran during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States. This coronavirus travel ban is effective starting 5:00 p.m. eastern standard time on March 2, 2020. This proclamation does not apply to persons aboard a flight scheduled to arrive in the United States that departed prior to 5:00 p.m. eastern standard time on March 2, 2020.
3. European Schengen Area Proclamation. March 11, 2020 - Presidential Proclamation titled Proclamation - Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants of Certain Additional Persons Who Pose a Risk of Transmitting 2019 Novel Coronavirus. "The entry into the United States, as immigrants or nonimmigrants, of all aliens who were physically present within the Schengen Area during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States is hereby suspended and limited subject to section 2 of this proclamation... This proclamation is effective at 11:59 p.m. eastern daylight time on March 13, 2020. This proclamation does not apply to persons aboard a flight scheduled to arrive in the United States that departed prior to 11:59 p.m. eastern daylight time on March 13, 2020." Although in his address President Trump reportedly said the ban would last 30 days, the proclamation language itself states that it “shall remain in effect until terminated by the President.”
   • Note: the European Schengen area includes: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland. The list does not include the United Kingdom or Ireland.

The proclamations do not apply to U.S. citizens, or to any alien who is:

1. a lawful permanent resident of the United States
2. a spouse of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident
3. a 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;
4. a sibling of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, provided that both are unmarried and under the age of 21;
5. a child, foster child, or ward of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, or who is a prospective adoptee seeking to enter the United States pursuant to the IR-4 or IH-4 visa classifications;
6. an alien traveling at the invitation of the United States Government for a purpose related to containment or mitigation of the virus;
7. C (transit) or D (air or sea crewmember) nonimmigrants
8. seeking entry into or transiting the United States pursuant to an A-1, A-2, C-2, C-3 (as a foreign government official or immediate family member of an official), G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1 through NATO-4, or NATO-6 visa;
9. an alien whose entry would not pose a significant risk of introducing, transmitting, or spreading the virus, as determined by the CDC Director, or his designee;
10. an alien whose entry would further important United States law enforcement objectives, as determined by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or their respective designees based on a recommendation of the Attorney General or his designee; or
11. an alien whose entry would be in the national interest, as determined by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or their designees.

For aliens not excluded by the ban, the proclamations direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to establish standards and procedures at and between all United States ports of entry 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. "Such steps may include directing air carriers to restrict and regulate the boarding of such passengers on flights to the United States."

Designated U.S. Airports to Receive Flights with Recent Travelers to China or Iran

Joint U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and Transportation Security Administration (TSA) Federal Register notices announced that DHS has directed all operators of aircraft to ensure that all flights carrying persons, including U.S. citizens and permanent residents and others not subject to any of the three bans who have recently traveled from, or were otherwise present within, the People's Republic of China or the Islamic Republic of Iran only land at one of the following airports. Recent U.S. travelers to European Schengen countries may also be subject to the same protocol.

1. John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), New York
2. Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Illinois
3. San Francisco International Airport (SFO), California
4. Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Washington
5. Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), Hawaii
6. Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), California
7. Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Georgia
8. Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD), Virginia
9. Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), New Jersey
10. Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Texas
11. Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport (DTW), Michigan

According to the February 4, 2019 Federal Register notice, these are airports "where enhanced public health services and protocols are being implemented... This list of affected airports may be modified by the Secretary of Homeland Security in consultation with the Secretary of Health and Human Services and the Secretary of Transportation. This list of affected airports may be modified by an updated publication in the Federal Register or by posting an advisory to follow at www.cbp.gov. The restrictions will remain in effect until superseded, modified, or revoked by publication in the Federal Register. For purposes of this Federal Register document, "United States" means the States of the United States, the District of Columbia, and territories and possessions of the United States (including Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, American Samoa, the Northern Mariana Islands, the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, and Guam)."

The notices also clarify that a person is considered to have recently traveled from China or Iran if that person departed from, or was otherwise present within, the People's Republic of China (excluding the special autonomous regions of Hong Kong and Macau) or the Islamic Republic of Iran, within 14 days of the date of the person's entry or attempted entry into the United States.
Read the Federal Register notices:
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• 85 FR 6044 (February 4, 2020) People's Republic of China notice. Flights departing after 5 p.m. EST on Sunday, February 2, 2020 and covered by the arrival restrictions regarding the People's Republic of China are required to land at one of the designated airports.
• 85 FR 7214 (February 7, 2020). Designated additional airports, bringing the total number of designated airports to eleven.
• 85 FR 12731 (March 4, 2020) Iran notice. Flights departing after 5 pm EST on Monday, March 2, 2020, and covered by the arrival restrictions regarding the Islamic Republic of Iran are required to land at one of the designated airports.

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posted by www.Nafsa.org March 12, 2020