Effectively immediately, no new H-1B, J, or L-1 visas will be issued outside the U.S. until the end of this year. This includes derivative visas for spouses and children such as H-4 and L2 visas.
This directly affects U.S. employees in these nonimmigrant visa categories who are outside the U.S. and do not have a current, valid visa in their passport.
President Trump issued a proclamation continuing Proclamation 10014 of April 22, 2020, and suspending and limiting the entry of any individual seeking entry pursuant to any of the following nonimmigrant visas:
(a) H-1B or H-2B visa;
(b) J visa; and
(c) L visa.
The proclamation applies only to any individual who:
(i) is outside the United States;
(ii) does not have a nonimmigrant visa that is valid; and
(iii) does not have an official travel document other than a visa (such as a transportation letter, an appropriate boarding foil, or an advance parole document) that is valid on the date of this order or issued on any date thereafter.
The order does NOT apply to LPRs and spouses/children of US Citizens.
The proclamation is effective immediately, and shall expire on December 31, 2020, and may be continued.
Read the full text of the proclamation here.
