India added to US regional travel ban list
The US has imposed a new ban on all non-essential travel from India to the United States.
Under the new COVID-19 Public Health restrictions, non-US citizens who have been physically present in India within 14 days of travel to the US will be barred entry, unless they qualify for an exception.
Due to concerns regarding COVID-19 in India, President Biden issued a Proclamation on April 30, 2021, with the new restrictions effective from May 4, 2021.
The move follows publication of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) assessment on the public health situation in India, including the discovery of multiple variant strains of the virus within the country.
The same restrictions apply to most non-US travelers who have been physically present in Brazil, China, Iran, Ireland, countries in the European Schengen Area, South Africa, and the United Kingdom 14 days prior to entry to the US.
Exceptions to US regional travel bans
The proclamation does not apply to:
- US citizens
- Lawful permanent residents (green card holders)
- Noncitizen nationals of the United States (natives of an American territorial possession)
- Spouses of US citizens or green card holders
- Parents or legal guardians of US citizens or green card holders who are unmarried and under the age of 21;
- Siblings of US citizens or green card holders if both are unmarried and under the age of 21
- Children, foster children, or wards of a US citizens or green card holders, or prospective adoptees under R-4 or
- IH-4 visa classifications
- NoncitizenS traveling at the invitation of the US government for a purpose related to the mitigation of the virus
- Air/sea crewmembesr traveling as nonimmigrants pursuant to a C-1, D, or C-1/D visas
- Noncitizens traveling on A-1, A-2, C-2, or C-3 visas (foreign government officials or immediate family members of officials);
- Noncitizens traveling under the E-1 visa (as employees of TECRO or TECO or employee’s immediate family);
- Noncitizens traveling on G-1, G-2, G-3, or G-4 visas, and NATO-1 through NATO-4, or NATO-6 visas (individuals seeking entry in one of the NATO categories);
- Armed Forces members or their immediate family members; or
- Individuals “whose entry would further important United States law enforcement objectives” or would “be in the national interest as determined by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or their designees.”
As a result of the ban and the public health situation, US consular operations in India are significantly reduced, causing delayed processing and difficulties for NIE applicants in obtaining interview appointments.
US immigration advice
NNU Immigration is actively monitoring the impact of the pandemic on US immigration policy and application processing.
If you are concerned about the impact of the travel ban on India, contact NNU Immigration for advice.
This article does not constitute direct legal advice and is for informational purposes only.
Author
Founder & Principal Attorney Nita Nicole Upadhye is a recognized leader in the field of US business immigration law (AILA) and trusted adviser to large corporates through to SMEs, providing strategic immigration and global mobility advice to support employers with both US and UK operations to meet their workforce needs through corporate immigration.
Nita successfully acts for corporations and professionals, entrepreneurs, artists, actors, and athletes from across the globe, providing expert guidance on all aspects of US visa and nationality applications, and talent mobility to the USA.
Nita is an active public speaker, thought leader, immigration commentator, and immigration policy contributor and regularly hosts training sessions for employers and HR professionals
