The Coronavirus pandemic is rapidly spreading around the world. As immigration lawyers, we have created this page in order to educate people regarding how the pandemic may affect their immigration cases and to make sure that immigrants, whether or not they are documented, are not afraid to seek medical care.
On March 18, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services suspended routine in-person services until at least April 1 to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Uscis staff will continue to perform duties that do not involve contact with the public. However, USCIS will provide emergency services for limited situations. To schedule an emergency appointment contact the USCIS Contact Center.
EOIR has announced that all non-detained removal hearings, both master calendar and individual, are cancelled through April 10.
On March 18, ICE announced:
“ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) will focus enforcement on public safety risks and individuals subject to mandatory detention based on criminal grounds. For those individuals who do not fall into those categories, ERO will exercise discretion to delay enforcement actions until after the crisis or utilize alternatives to detention, as appropriate.”
and
“ICE will not carry out enforcement operations at or near health care facilities, such as hospitals, doctors’ offices, accredited health clinics, and emergent or urgent care facilities, except in the most extraordinary of circumstances. Individuals should not avoid seeking medical care because they fear civil immigration enforcement.”
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USCIS Coronavirus Updates
The USCIS website advises immigrants as follows:
“As of March 18, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services has suspended routine in-person services until at least April 1 to help slow the spread of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). USCIS staff will continue to perform duties that do not involve contact with the public. However, USCIS will provide emergency services for limited situations. To schedule an emergency appointment contact the USCIS Contact Center.
USCIS domestic field offices will send notices to applicants and petitioners with scheduled appointments and naturalization ceremonies impacted by this closure. USCIS asylum offices will send interview cancellation notices and automatically reschedule asylum interviews. When the interview is rescheduled, asylum applicants will receive a new interview notice with the new time, date and location for the interview. When USCIS again resumes normal operations, USCIS will automatically reschedule Application Support Center appointments due to the office closure. You will receive a new appointment letter in the mail. Individuals who had InfoPass or other appointments at the field office must reschedule through the USCIS Contact Center, once field offices reopen to the public. Please check the USCIS Field Offices page to see if your field office has reopened before reaching out to the USCIS Contact Center.
Education and precautions are the strongest tools against infection. Get the latest facts by visiting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID-19 website. Continue to practice good health habits, refrain from handshakes or hugs as greetings, and wash hands and clean surfaces appropriately.
USCIS will provide further updates as the situation develops and will continue to follow CDC guidance.
Learn about the USCIS Response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) and more about the Department of Homeland Security’s response. See Government Response to Coronavirus, COVID-19 for links to all federal government activities.”
Coronavirus – Impact on Visas
US Embassies and Consulates in the following countries have cancelled most immigrant and Nonimmigrant Visa Appointments until further notice. However, persons who urgently need to travel to the US may request an emergency visa appointment.
- Austria
- Bahamas
- Belgium
- Canada – The US Consulate in Toronto has cancelled most nonimmigrant visa appointments.
- Colombia
- Denmark
- Dominican Republic
- France
- Germany
- India
- Ireland
- Italy
- Netherlands
- Philippines
- Poland
- Saudi Arabia
- South Africa – Most nonimmigrant visa appointments have been cancelled until the end of May.
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom – The US Embassy in London has cancelled most immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments.
Coronavirus – Immigration Links
- USCIS Response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
- EOIR Operational Status During Coronavirus Pandemic
- Updated ICE Statement on COVID-19
- Travelers Prohibited from Entry to the United States (CDC)
- COVID-19 (DHS)
- COVID Updates (State Department)
- Websites of US Embassies, Consulates, and Diplomatic Missions
COVID-19 Immigration News
- 12 Changes to the US Immigration System During the Coronavirus Pandemic
- Immigrants Afraid to Seek Medical Care for Coronavirus
- ICE Pauses Most Immigration Enforcement Amid Coronavirus Outbreak
- US Immigration Offices Are Going To Temporarily Close Due To The Coronavirus Pandemic
- It’s not access to face masks that should worry us about coronavirus — it’s America’s nursing shortage
