On December 31, 2020, President Trump signed a Presidential Proclamation extending to March 31, 2021 the restrictions on entry of H, L and J nonimmigrants into the United States, and entry of new immigrant visa holders.

The new Proclamation extended the April 22 and June 22 proclamations until March 31, 2021, and made no changes to those proclamations. In effect, the new Proclamation simply extended, until March 31, 2021, the restrictions on entry to the U.S. of H-1B, H-2B, L-1 and certain J-1 travelers who were outside the United States, and not in possession of a valid visa or travel document as of the effective date of the original proclamation of June 24, 2020, and of new immigrant visas. For details, please see our original alert and update on the nonimmigrant visa ban, and our original alert on the immigrant visa ban.

Since the effective date of the original proclamations, the Department of State has provided guidelines regarding exemptions to the travel bans. For our guidance regarding travel and visa applications, see our travel alert. The Biden administration may rescind some of the Presidential Executive Orders and Proclamations that restrict entry into the United States.

The content of this article is intended to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances.