International Travel During Travel Ban: 13 Questions Answered For The Non-Immigrant Visa Holder – Path2USA

Prior to now 16 months, we have now witnessed a number of journey bans and border entry bans. Whereas some have been associated to the state of U.S. immigration, most others have been because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Limiting motion both by way of strict shelter-in-place mandates or limiting journey throughout borders was the most secure method to forestall the unfold of the Covid -19 virus.

The most recent journey ban restricts the entry of sure classes of people that might have been within the following international locations 14 days previous to getting into the U.S. 

Schengen international locations (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican Metropolis)

US Journey FAQs: Worldwide Journey

For now, there are numerous questions that pertain to how vacationers holding non-immigrant visas like, H1-B, H4, F1, L, J and so forth. might or might not journey to the U.S., journey overseas and once they can return in the event that they have been within the U.S. beforehand.

The next solutions will deal with the highest 13 journey questions non-immigrant visa holders have at the moment –

1. Who All Can Enter America Through the Journey Ban?

• Any non-citizen who’s the partner of a U.S. citizen or lawful everlasting resident
• Those that are searching for to supply very important help or govt route for vital infrastructure; These touring to supply very important help or govt route for important financial exercise in the US;
• These in public well being and/or supporting the alleviation of Covid-19;
• Journalists;
• Worldwide college students with legitimate F1visas and sure lecturers lined by change customer packages;
• Dependent immigrants together with these offering look after a U.S. citizen who generally is a minor baby, lawful everlasting resident or different non-immigrant in lawful standing shut member of the family;
• Fiancés on legitimate K1/K3 visas

2. Do I would like a adverse Covid check/vaccination to enter the US?

Sure. For the foreseeable future, everybody getting into the U.S. will want a adverse Covid check earlier than boarding a flight into the U.S. This is applicable to each U.S. residents in addition to non-citizens.

As for Covid vaccinations, though it hasn’t been mandated but, however journey for totally vaccinated vacationers might be rather a lot simpler than those that should not.

3. Do I would like a newly stamped visa in my passport to enter if I had an employment based mostly visa earlier than I left the U.S.?

Sure. very employment-based nonimmigrant visa holder should have a sound, unexpired visa of their passport that matches their USCIS approval discover in Kinds I-797. Dependents should have a sound, unexpired visa and or a Nationwide Curiosity Exception approval to return to the US.

4. As a H4 visa holder, can I be a part of my partner within the U.S.?

Sure. So long as the first beneficiary, H1-B visa holder is presently current within the U.S., dependent visa holders together with partner and baby might enter the nation. They’ll want the required NIE approval to take action.

5. I’m worldwide scholar with a sound F1 visa –  Can I journey to the U.S.?

Sure. Beginning July 2021, all U.S. consulates overseas are providing further visa appointment slots for international college students to use for his or her F1 or J or M visas to affix their U.S. universities after August 2021.

Associated Article: Are you able to enter the US if in case you have a sound F1 scholar visa?

6. My authentic visa classification is totally different from my present one, however each are legitimate. Do I nonetheless want a brand new visa to enter the US?

Sure. In an effort to enter the US, you want the identical visa classification listed in your new and most up-to-date approval discover. Subsequently, you’ll have to get your passport stamped once more with the most recent visa stamped in your passport earlier than you come back after touring overseas. That is true for anytime, even throughout non-pandemic instances.

Associated Article: Find out how to switch visas from F1 to H1-B?

7. How can I get a visa appointment at my native U.S. consulate sooner? I don’t see any out there slots for the subsequent a number of weeks.

The U.S. consulates are doing their greatest to accommodate further visa appointments. Nonetheless, with lesser staffing and restricted hours of operation because of the pandemic, they’re backlogged. Most U.S. consulates are solely scheduling emergency appointments,

For international locations with rising COVID circumstances like India, common appointments will stay laborious to get for the subsequent few months.  At the moment, visa appointments can be found just for late 2021 and early- to mid-2022.

Associated Article: Calculate your visa appointment wait-times at a US Consulate right here

8. Do I’ve to purchase journey medical insurance coverage if I’ve I’m touring to the U.S.?

While you’re not obligated to purchase journey medical insurance coverage, it’s extremely advisable that you just do, particularly on condition that it’s a pandemic. Journey medical insurance plans like Cowl America Gold that insures guests to the US not solely covers Covid-19 like some other sickness but in addition gives most well-liked discounted charges for returning clients.

Plans like Patriot America Plus, additionally covers new immigrants and US inexperienced card holders. This not solely provides you the boldness to journey internationally but in addition provides you peace of thoughts understanding that ought to there be a medical emergency, you may be lined

9. As an H1-B visa holder, I can’t enter the U.S. because of the journey ban. Can I work from my house nation?

It is best to discuss to your employer relating to exceptions because of the pandemic. Right here’s extra data relating to working from house when on an H1-B visa.

10. Can my non-immigrant visa be renewed whereas I’m nonetheless within the U.S.?

No. all non-immigrant visas like B1, B2, H1-B, F1, H4, and so forth. can solely be renewed overseas. Subsequently, for those who go away the U.S. and don’t have a sound, unexpired visa when returning to the nation, you’ll have to get it renewed, stamped at a U.S. consulate in your house nation.

At the moment, U.S. consulates should not permitting visa purposes or renewals from non-locals. Subsequently, it is very important get your visa stamped in your house nation solely.

11. Can I enter the U.S. on a sound B1/B2 visa?

No, not presently. The customer visa continues to be underneath the journey ban and non-citizens from the above restricted international locations can’t enter the U.S. till the journey ban is lifted.

Associated Article: Do it is advisable to lengthen your B2 customer visa within the USA? Step-by-step information on methods to lengthen your US customer visa

12. I’ve a sound H1-B visa, can I journey to Canada and Mexico?

Sure. So long as you’re visiting both of these international locations for 30 days or much less and don’t journey to a different nation in between departing from and returning to the US, you may go to Canada or Mexico. Having stated that, entry bans are consistently altering for many international locations and it’s advisable that you just at all times verify these particulars earlier than confirming your itinerary.

13. How can I get an emergency visa appointment at a U.S. consulate?

The possibilities of getting a daily appointment are very low. At the moment, U.S. consulates overseas are inundated with emergency appointment requests, most of that are denied.  Except the emergency is said to a life-or-death state of affairs, or you may show that you just qualify for a Nationwide Curiosity Exception, you may assume that you’ll not get one.  Nonetheless, there is no such thing as a hurt in making the request.