Categories News & Updates

New India Travel Restriction

The US will impose travel restrictions from India starting Tuesday, May 4, 2021 from 12.01 am ET (0401 GMT). This is on the advice of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in light of the high COVID-19 caseloads and multiple variants circulating in India. This will restrict entry of non-US citizens into the US for those who have been in India within 14 days of their arrival.

This restriction will not apply to US citizens, permanent residents and other exempted individuals, such as humanitarian workers. Exempted travelers will still need to meet testing and quarantine requirements currently in effect for international travels entering the U.S.

If you are a nonimmigrant visa holder and have plans to travel India we recommend you talk to your employer and your Graham Adair attorney about those plans. It may be advisable to postpone travel while these restrictions are in place.

If you have any questions, please contact your Graham Adair attorney.

Categories Department of State News & Updates

Biden Administration Lifts Ban on Immigrant Visa Processing

Earlier this week, the Biden Administration lifted a ban that was put in place last year on the processing of immigrant visas (green cards) at U.S. consulates. While lifting this ban is good news for many who are awaiting the processing of their immigrant visa, we anticipate that there will still be delays in processing cases because of backlogs and reduced consular staffing caused by the pandemic.

The President has left in place the ban on nonimmigrant visas, such and H-1Bs and L-1s, that is set to expire on March 31, 2021. There are some exceptions to this ban, and it does appear that the ban will not be extended and will expire as scheduled

Looking forward, we anticipate that there will be continued delays in getting visas from U.S. consulates while current pandemic restrictions are in place. However, the lifting of the ban on immigrant visas is good news for those who have been precluded from applying over the past several months. If you have questions about travel or your visa application, please contact your attorney at Graham Adair.