IMMIGRANT VISA
 

Hopefully someone could help with a couple questions. I and my family received our immigrant visas on March 14th this year. Our visas expire on August 26th 2020. We are trying to work out whether we are exempt from the list of immigrants that are not allowed to enter the country on the Proclamation made in March. I have looked on the relevant websites but read it both ways. One makes clear that if you have an immigrant visa that is valid at the time of the proclamation then you are exempt from the restrictions. However, other government websites make me question whether we are not allowed. Also, do you have to quarantine for 14 days after arrival?

Re: IMMIGRANT VISA
 

On what basis did you receive immigrant visas? Is one of you a USC spouse?

Rene

Re: IMMIGRANT VISA
 

Re: IMMIGRANT VISA
 

Thank you. I don't know the answer, but that information is helpful for others. Also, things can change between now and August.

Rene

Re: IMMIGRANT VISA
 

I believe you cannot enter the US right now if you have been physically present in Mainland China, Iran, the Schengen Area, the UK, or Ireland in the 14 days before you travel to the US. You are not subject to the "suspension of entry of immigrants", but you are subject to the entry ban on foreigners who were present in certain countries in the last 14 days, and none of the exceptions there apply to you. Children of US citizens and permanent residents are exempt from the entry ban but I believe "child" follows the definition in the INA, where it means an unmarried child under 21 years of age, and you are married (though I cannot find any clarification on this). You can still go to a third country other than those listed above for 14 days, and then go to the US.

Re: IMMIGRANT VISA
 

This is on the Travel State website giving guidance about the proclamation dates April 23rd ...
U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, and those holding valid immigrant visas on the effective date of the Proclamation, are not subject to the proclamation. The Proclamation is not retroactive. No valid visas will be revoked under this Proclamation.
it is the ‘those holding valid immigrant visas ...’ that leads me to believe we may be exempt?

Re: IMMIGRANT VISA
 

Like I said, you are exempt from that proclamation (the suspension of entry on immigrants) as it does not apply to people who already have immigrant visas that were valid on April 23. (Basically, the only effect of that proclamation is suspending the issuance of immigrant visas.)

But you are not exempt from the separate proclamations banning entry of foreigners who have been in Mainland China, Iran, the Schengen Area, or the UK or Ireland in the last 14 days. You didn't say where you are; but if you are in the UK, you would be affected by that.

Re: IMMIGRANT VISA
 

Yes, the UK. Thank you for your reply.

Re: IMMIGRANT VISA
 

Mexico for 2 weeks quarantine and then move to the US?

Re: IMMIGRANT VISA
 

not necessarily - the Mexico/Canada border restrictions have just been renewed for another 30 days with no indication of whether this will be extended again at the end of June. Unless the OP falls into one of the exemption categories, Mexico would be an unreliable option.
https://mx.usembassy.gov/travel-rest...ns-fact-sheet/

In another thread last week, someone suggested Turkey for 2 weeks.

Re: IMMIGRANT VISA
 

another thought - can you get an extension on this visa? If you can, I would investigate this.
https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/special-situations
https://www.uscis.gov/about-us/uscis-response-covid-19

Re: IMMIGRANT VISA
 

Fly rather than drive.

Re: IMMIGRANT VISA
 

That was me, I've since learned you may not be able to enter Turkey right now, so it's probably not an option.

Re: IMMIGRANT VISA
 

Lizzq posted some information in another thread which I've just read through and this is pertinant to the OP.
From the US Embassy in London website
https://uk.usembassy.gov/information...d-19-outbreak/

So you can get it reissued if you need to but there is a cost and some hassle involved.

Let us know how you get on