Last updated: 02/25/2021
On February 24, 2021, President Biden issued a President Proclamation revoking Proclamation 10014, known as the Immigrant Visa Ban or “IV Ban”. The IV Ban prevented the issuance of U.S. permanent residence (green card) visas by U.S. Embassies and Consulates for foreign nationals outside the U.S. Today’s Proclamation states in part that the IV Ban:
“does not advance the interests of the United States. To the contrary, it harms the United States, including by preventing certain family members of United States citizens and lawful permanent residents from joining their families here. It also harms industries in the United States that utilize talent from around the world. And it harms individuals who were selected to receive the opportunity to apply for, and those who have likewise received, immigrant visas through the Fiscal Year 2020 Diversity Visa Lottery.”
The Proclamation is posted here. The Department of State also issued guidance for IV applicants and visa holders (including Diversity Visa applicants/holders), available here.
Nonimmigrant visa bans (preventing temporary visa issuance by U.S. Embassies and Consulates until March 31, 2020 or revocation) and COVID travel bans remain in effect as of this writing. Permanent residence applications and visa petitions filed for foreign nationals inside the U.S. continue to be unaffected.
© Jewell Stewart & Pratt PC 2021