It was announced this week that the president of the United States has signed an executive order that temporarily suspends the issuance of green cards to U.S. immigration candidates. The current ban, which expires in 60 days, only covers applicants who would be coming from outside the United States. More specifically, it blocks anybody from applying for lawful permanent residence (i.e., a green card) who had not yet received an immigrant visa at the time of the order.
U.S. immigration clients excluded from the suspension are those who are in the country seeking to change their immigration status, which means adjustment of status applicants already within the U.S. can still proceed. There are other types of immigration that are not part of the president’s ban, including:
- Applicants for temporary work-based H-1B visas.
- Health care workers, such as physicians, nurses and other health professionals, coming to the U.S. to perform essential work or medical or other research that combats the spread of COVID-19.
- EB-5 immigrant investors.
- Spouses of U.S. citizens.
- Members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their spouses and children.
- Any child, under 21, of a U.S. citizen, as well as prospective adoptees seeking to enter in IR-4 or IH-4 visa classifications.
If you need immigration assistance, including determining whether you can currently pursue immigration to the U.S., planning for future immigration, resolving existing immigrant status issues, and all other related services, please do not hesitate to contact us. Our experienced immigration team wants to help you.
