Coronavirus Disease 2019 Rotator Graphic for af.mil. (U.S. Air Force Graphic by Rosario “Charo” Gutierrez)
On April 22, 2020, President Trump issued an executive order halting green cards for any person seeking to enter the United States as an immigrant who:
- Is outside the United States on the effective date of the proclamation;
- Does not have a valid immigrant visa (green card) as of April 23, 2020; and
- Does not have a valid official travel document as of April 23, 2020, or issued on any date thereafter.
The executive order went into effect at 11:59 pm (ET) on April 23, 2020, for at least 60 days. It can be extended and modified. The following categories are exempt from the proclamation:
- Lawful permanent residents (green card holders)
- Individuals, and their spouses and children, seeking to enter the U.S. on an immigrant visa as a physician, nurse, or other healthcare professional; to perform medical research or other work essential to combatting COVID-19 (as determined by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the Department of State (DOS))
- Individuals applying for a visa to enter the U.S. pursuant to the EB-5 immigrant investor visa program
- Spouses and children under the age of 21 of U.S. citizens, including prospective adoptees on an IR-4 or IH-4 visa
- Individuals who would further important U.S. law enforcement objectives (as determined by DHS and DOS)
- Members of the U.S. Armed Forces and their spouses and children
- Afghan and Iraqi nationals who were translators/interpreters or employed by the U.S. government and their spouses or children seeking entry pursuant to a Special Immigrant Visa
- Individuals whose entry would be in the national interest (as determined by DHS and DOS)
Source: AILA Doc. No. 20042241.
