In a recent statement, President Trump announced that immigration to the United States will be suspended for a period of 60 days in response to the increasingly high unemployment rate that has resulted from the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic. The order, which focused primarily on the economic impact of COVID-19 and the “potentially protracted economic recovery” the nation faces, temporarily restricts certain immigrants from entering the U.S., but does not apply to immigrants already living and working in the U.S. (lawful permanent residents). It also does not apply to immigrants who enter the country on nonimmigrant visas, including certain farm workers, medical/health care professionals, and others, nor does it apply to spouses and minor children of United States citizens or individuals applying for EB-5 Immigrant Investor visas.
Who Is Affected by the New Immigration Order?
The 60-day immigration ban does affect the following immigrant categories:
- Employment-based immigration
- Family-based immigration for parents and siblings
- Diversity visa lottery immigrants
- Spouses and children of lawful permanent residents
Essentially, foreign nationals who are outside of the U.S. and who do not have a valid visa or lawful permanent resident status (with the above-listed and other exceptions) as of the effective date of the proclamation (April 23, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. eastern daylight time) will be barred from entering the U.S. for at least 60 days or longer if the order is extended.
Reach Out to Our Firm for More Information
While Trump’s immigration order is tamer than he initially indicated it would be, many lawful permanent residents and immigrants, as well as the family members of foreign nationals, are unsure if and how they may be affected. At Maney | Gordon | Zeller, P.A., we understand your concern, and we are here to help. If you have questions about President Trump’s recent immigration order or any related immigration issue, we encourage you to reach out to our firm to discuss your situation with one of our immigration attorneys. We have offices located throughout the U.S. and serve clients nationwide.
Contact us today to learn more, including how our immigration lawyers can help you and your family during this difficult and uncertain time and why we're considered as the best immigration lawyers in Tampa.
