Presidential Proclamation 10052 (Trump’s visa ban targeting employment-based immigration from June 2020, which prevented the entry into the U.S. of certain H-1B, H-2B, J, and L visa holders) finally expired yesterday. The early days of the new administration saw aggressive action on the immigration front, and several Trump Executive Orders pertaining to immigration were immediately rescinded shortly after Biden took office. Business immigration practitioners and immigration advocates had been calling for the repeal of Presidential Proclamation 10052 along with those early actions, but the Biden administration chose to allow it to sunset quietly. Nevertheless, since taking office, the Biden administration has enacted several positive changes on the immigration front, and we are slowly starting to feel the attitudes and policies shift in a positive direction. We welcome the expiration of another vestige of the previous administration’s anti-immigrant agenda.
Copied from the Department of State:
Update on Presidential Proclamation 10052
Presidential Proclamation 10052, which temporarily suspended the entry of certain H-1B, H-2B, J (for certain categories within the Exchange Visitor Program), and L nonimmigrants, expired on March 31, 2021.
Visa applicants who have not yet been interviewed or scheduled for an interview will have their applications prioritized and processed in accordance with existing phased resumption of visa services guidance. Visa applicants who were previously refused visas due to the restrictions of Presidential Proclamation 10052 may reapply by submitting a new application including a new fee.
The resumption of routine visa services, prioritized after services to U.S. citizens, is occurring on a post-by-post basis, consistent with the Department’s guidance for safely returning our workforce to Department facilities. U.S. Embassies and Consulates have continued to provide emergency and mission-critical visa services since March 2020 and will continue to do so as they are able. As post-specific conditions improve, our missions will begin providing additional services, culminating eventually in a complete resumption of routine visa services. Applicants should check the website of their nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for updates on the services that post is currently offering.
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