The global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic has spread to the international movement of personnel, visa applications, and how immigration benefits are processed in the United States. Below is a summary of some of these implications.
We note that development occur rapidly, and ask that you contact Kerr Russell should you or your employees have any questions.
- On March 15, the U.S. Department of State urged all individuals to reconsider any planned international travel.
- In recent weeks, President Trump has issued four proclamations suspending entry into the U.S. by individuals who were physically present in the United Kingdom, Schengen area, China and Iran in the 14 day period preceding their travel to the United States. U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents (green card holders), and their immediate relatives, are exempt from these bans. Flights carrying individuals who are not subject to the ban are permitted to land at 13 designated U.S. airports, and may be subject to further testing or quarantine.
- The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services is still conducting in-person appointments. It has requested that an applicant reschedule his/her appointment if s/he feels ill; believes s/he has been exposed to COVID-19; or has traveled internationally within 14 days of the appointment. Please contact our office with assistance in rescheduling an appointment.
- We have received reports that scheduled U.S. naturalization oath ceremonies are being cancelled.
- U.S. consulates around the world are continuing to make location-specific decisions about the availability of visa appointments. Depending on the Consulate, appointments may be cancelled or unavailable for the near future.
To properly address individualized issues that arise, you should contact your Kerr Russell attorney.
Kate M. McCarroll
has extensive experience in employment-related immigration law, including inbound/outbound immigration, Department of Labor/ Department of Homeland Security audits and I-9 compliance training. Kate has also handled matters involving asylum proceedings,family-based immigration, and criminal and inadmissibility issues.
Miroslava Orduño Rincón
has extensive employment-related experience concerning U.S. non-immigrant and immigrant petitions for large international clients. She also processes outbound visitor and work visas, family-based petitions, and naturalization.
Robert S. Anderson
counsels and represents clients in the full spectrum of immigration legal issues as applied to their workforces and staff, including all aspects of the international movement of personnel for local, national, and international companies.
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