April 2020 Immigration Ban Summary

On April 22, 2020, President Trump issued an Executive Order barring some people from entering the United States as immigrants for at least the next sixty days. The ban includes parents, siblings, and adult children of U.S. citizens and the spouses and children of lawful permanent residents.

Length of ban

The Ban on some people entering the United States with immigrant visas begins at 11:59pm on April 23, 2020. The Ban will last for at least 60 days, until June 22, 2020. The Ban may be extended.

Who is included in the ban?

The Order bans any foreign national who is seeking an immigrant visa to enter the U.S. and who:

  • Is outside the United States at 11:59pm on April 23, 2020; and

  • Does not have a valid immigrant visa in their passport as of 11:59pm on April 23, 2020; and

  • Does not have another valid official travel document, such as a transportation letter, a boarding foil, or an advance parole document.

  • If they are:

    • Parents, siblings, and adult children of US citizens

    • Spouses and children of US lawful permanent residents (green card holders)

    • Entrants to the Diversity Visa lottery

    • Applicants for most employment-based immigrant visas

Who is not included in the ban?

The ban does not apply to:

  • US citizens;

  • Spouses and children under 21 years old of US citizens and certain prospective adoptees;

  • US lawful permanent residents (green card holders);

  • A person already in the US who is applying for adjustment of status (a green card);

  • Asylees, refugees, and persons seeking withholding of removal or protection under the Convention Against Torture (CAT);

  • Persons seeking non-immigrant visas (like student visas);

  • Persons seeking entry to the US to do work related to COVID-19, and their spouses and unmarried children under 21 years old;

  • Persons seeking entry on the EB-5 Immigrant Investors Program;

  • Persons “whose entry would further important United States law enforcement objectives”;

  • Members of the US Armed Forces and their spouses and children;

  • Nationals of Afghanistan and Iraq who are entering the US on Special Immigrant Visas for having served as interpreters for the U.S. Armed Forces, and their spouses and children;

  • Anyone whose entry is found to be in the “national interest” .

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