Suspension on Immigrant Visa Processing Revoked
President Biden has revoked the suspension on immigrant visa processing, which has been in place since April 22, 2020, due to COVID-19. The suspension was set to end on March 31, 2021. The following categories of individuals who were subject to the suspension may now proceed with immigrant visa processing:
Parents of U.S. citizens.
Adult children of U.S. citizens.
Spouses and children (regardless of age) of lawful permanent residents.
Individuals selected in the annual green card lottery.
All employment-based immigrant visas, except EB-5 investor visas.
All other immigrant visas, unless specifically exempted.
Given that many US Embassies worldwide still are not open for routine visa processing, it’s unclear how much will change as a practical matter for the time being. Moreover, the country-specific travel restrictions for China, Iran, Ireland, Schengen Area, South Africa, and the United Kingdom still apply notwithstanding this revocation.
Please note that President Biden’s proclamation does not cover the suspension of visa processing for H, L and J visas (although we understand some news coverage mistakenly says that). Fortunately, this suspension is set to end on March 31, 2021, and we are optimistic it will not be extended. We will keep you updated.
This update is for informational purposes only. If you would like to discuss any of these developments in more detail, please do not hesitate to contact me.