MSU President Stanley issued a statement in response to the June 22, 2020 Presidential Proclamation Suspending Entry of Aliens Who Present a Risk to the U.S. Labor Market Following the Coronavirus Outbreak.
Updated by OISS on July 9, 2020
The White House issued a series of Presidential Proclamations that suspend entry into the United States for people who were physically present in specific countries or regions, within the 14 days preceding their attempt to enter the United States. The Proclamations apply to people who are not U.S. Citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents of the U.S. There are some exceptions for foreign diplomats, certain family members of U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents, and air and sea crew members.
The following countries or regions are named in the Proclamations. People who are not U.S. Citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents, and do not belong to a category that is specifically granted an exclusion by each Proclamation, will not be allowed to enter the U.S. if they have been physically present in these countries or regions within the 14 days preceding the date that they attempt to enter the U.S.
These proclamations are not exclusive to citizens of these countries. These proclamations are based on where people have been physically located during the 14-days leading up to their attempt to enter the U.S. For example, if a person is a citizen of China with a valid F-1 student visa and I-20 form and they have been in Australia during the 14-days leading up to the date they arrive in the U.S., these Proclamations do not apply to them because Australia is not on this list.
Read each Presidential Proclamation on Novel Coronavirus for specific details and exceptions
On June 22, 2020 the White House issued “Proclamation Suspending Entry of Aliens Who Present a Risk to the U.S. Labor Market Following the Coronavirus Outbreak,” effective 12:01 a.m. ET on June 24, 2020. The proclamation expires on December 31, 2020.
Key facts about the proclamation:
For MSU, the impact will be limited to H-1B applicants and their dependents who are currently outside the U.S. and do not have H visas when the proclamation goes into effect on June 24. H-1B visa holders currently in the U.S. and their H-4 dependents will not be affected by the proclamation and should be able to travel as long as their visa is valid. (However, pandemic-related travel restrictions may limit travel.) It is uncertain at this point how this may affect Canadians seeking H-1B status who are exempt from the requirement to have a U.S. visa.
Academic J-1 categories are not impacted by the proclamation. MSU’s J visa program does not include the private-sector categories specified in the proclamation (intern, trainee, teacher, camp counselor, au pair, or summer work travel program). MSU will still be able to host J visa holders in the researcher, short-term scholar, student (all levels), student intern, and short-term scholar categories.
Initial indications are that individuals currently in another non-immigrant status, such as a F-1 student, will not be prevented from changing their immigration status to H-1B due to this proclamation. Extensions of H-1B status will also be possible.
This is a very dynamic time for immigration, and it is important that you stay current on immigration regulations. Please contact OISS with questions and for guidance.