In the wake of the outbreak of COVID-19 around the world and in the U.S., the Trump administration implemented certain travel restrictions in an effort to limit the entry of individuals who may have been exposed to the virus. Initially, on January 31, 2020, President Trump issued a proclamation limiting entry of certain holders of nonimmigrant and immigrant visas who may have been present on the territory of mainland China 14 days preceding their intended entry to the United States. In a proclamation dated February 29, 2020, travel restrictions were extended to nonimmigrants and holders of immigrant visas physically present on the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran within 14 days of the projected entry to the United States.
There are a number of exceptions to the coronavirus-related travel limitations, such that the following individuals are not affected:
U.S. citizens and any individuals falling within one of the above exceptions who have been physically present in countries affected by the outbreak (such as China, Italy, Iran, South Korea) within 14 days of return to the United States may be quarantined.
The Department of State’s Office of Academic Exchanges has provided information for exchange visitors holding J visa status whose travel, and therefore the ability to timely leave the United States upon conclusion of their J-1 stay, may be affected by COVID-19. USCIS has broad discretion to extend or change status of foreign nationals present in the United States where the foreign national cannot depart the United States at the appropriate time due to extreme circumstances. For additional information, please visit https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/special-situations and contact Lepore Taylor Fox for assistance.
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