Non Immigrants (H-1B, F-1, etc.) Who Have Visited China Will be Temporarily Denied Entry Due to Coronavirus Emergency

February 6, 2020

On January 30, 2020, the World Health Organization declared the current outbreak of novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) a public health emergency of international concern. The following day, President Trump issued a Proclamation on Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Nonimmigrants of Persons who Pose a Risk of Transmitting 2019 Novel Coronavirus. The proclamation, which went into effect on February 2, 2020, implements the following “temporary measures” intended to detect and contain the coronavirus:  

1. United States citizens or lawful permanent residents who have traveled in the Hubei Province of China within 14 days of their attempted reentry to the U.S. will be subject to up to 14 days of mandatory quarantine. 
2. United States citizens or lawful permanent residents who have traveled in the rest of Mainland China within 14 days of their attempted reentry to the U.S. will undergo a health screening and up to 14 days of monitored self-quarantine. 
3. Foreign nationals, other than certain immediate family members of U.S. citizens or permanent residents, who have traveled in China within the last 14 days will be denied entry into the United States. 

The President’s Coronavirus Task Force has stated that these measures are intended to be temporary, and the proclamation itself includes a provision for review by the Secretary of Health and Human Services every 15 days for the Secretary to recommend that the President continue, modify, or terminate the proclamation.  

Weaver Schlenger has heard that H-1B employees applying for U.S. visa stamps in China have received denials of their applications at this time. The Department of State cited the Proclamation as the basis for denial.