Published: November 16, 2021
The White House declared a travel ban against more than 30 countries in early 2020. Among the countries included are China and India. These two are second and third in ranking regarding the number of nationals as immigrants in the United States. Mexico, the top origin country for immigrants, even experiences limited inbound land border crossings due to the increasing number of COVID-19 cases. Saying that the pandemic created a roadblock for many in their American dream is an understatement.
Lifting Travel Bans
Thankfully, as time progresses, the government slowly lifts travel restrictions. The White House has released the ban on air and land travels by November 8, 2021. Thus, the United States has started welcoming visitors even though their entry is not considered essential travel. During previous announcements, the national government only allowed U.S. citizens, their immediate families, green card holders, and individuals with National Interest Exemptions (NIE) to cross borders.
Travel Requirements
While the White House lifts travel bans, it still maintains a few requirements for entry. Individuals who wish to enter the United States must be fully vaccinated and show proof of a negative test result taken within three days before their flight to the country. Authorities may require them to present similar requirements as they travel between internal borders.
Rule Exceptions
Individuals who previously contracted the COVID-19 virus may enter the United States if they show proof of recovery. They can do it by exhibiting documentation from the travelers’ healthcare providers or public health officials declaring they have recovered and cleared for travel.
Children accompanying the adults who wish to travel to the United States may be exempt from the vaccination requirements. However, they still need to undergo appropriate tests and show proof that they are negative from COVID-19.
Update on Pending Applications
More USCIS offices will start to operate as usual as the national government lifts travel bans and other related restrictions. With this, more USCIS departments and their agents will become more functional. Everybody expects that the USCIS will slowly regain its momentum and process more applications.
There Is Still Hope
The pandemic may have postponed your plans of coming to the United States, but it will never be a strong enough reason to stop trying. There is nothing impossible as long as we brave the challenges together. If you need a group of reliable Los Angeles immigrant lawyers to help you access legal and permanent entry to the United States, ALG Lawyers is the one to call. We are more than welcome to share our expertise and experience with you.
(Please note that this article does not create an Attorney-Client relationship between our law firm and the reader and is provided for informational purposes only. Information in this article does not apply to all readers. Readers should not rely on this information as legal advice and should seek specific counsel from a qualified attorney based on their individual circumstances. Thank you.)