dpnce

President Trump is expected to sign an order to suspend H-1B, L-1 and other temporary work visas through the end of the year, according to the multiple sources familiar with the plan.
The new order — which is expected to come with broad exceptions — comes as the administration continues to wrestle with high unemployment among American workers because of the coronavirus pandemic and tries to kick-start the economic recovery.
 
The order would target H-1B visas, which are designed for certain skilled workers such as those employed in the tech industry, as well as L-1 visas, which are meant for executives who work for large corporations.
 
https://www.npr.org/2020/06/20/881245867/trump-expected-to-suspend-h-1b-other-visas-until-end-of-year
 
https://www.businessinsider.in/international/news/us-president-donald-trump-to-suspend-h1b-visas-will-not-affect-those-already-in-the-states/articleshow/76492270.cms

If this comes with broad exceptions, like the others, can we at least stop pretending that these bans aren't just an empty political gesture in the run-up to the elections, in a desperate attempt to please his dwindling base?

Not being able to discuss politics when it comes to bans that are clearly political in nature just seems weird and just makes it pointless to discuss these bans at all.

Belgrade to New York uodate: JFK still sucks but I entered on a K1. 🎉 it's straight forward to enter if you can work out spending 14 days outside of the restricted countries.
 
At Air Serbia's Belgrade check-in may have a wait because Air Serbia is reviewing your visa and where you where the last 14 days at check-in. It looks like most of the passengers were visa holders with many doing what we are all trying here in this thread. Air Serbia check-in asked if we have boarding passes to proove we were not in the travel restricted countries since we didn't have a stamp from exiting Schengen area into Croatia. Therefore I would suggest saving your boarding passes if you haven't already been doing it or at least print out a digital copy.
 
JFK was Kafkaesque as per usual.
Angry staff, conflicting instructions, confusing layout even with the new redesign, some flights got CDC checks, when I was sent to the room for K1 visa review only to hear other people being ushed out - it sounded like they were being denied entry, baggagecclaim took 40 minutes to completely unload the flight omto the belts, etc.
 
BCP didn't ask me or some of the other passengers anything of real substance,  or even look through your Visa-Consulate package. When asked where I was the past 14 days they didn't even ask for proof. (the opposite of flight check-in). CBP asks if you were screened by CDC. Dependingoon the officer you were told not to worry and they stamped you in, but other officers ushered us into a room where some folks casually asks where you were 14 days prior. When I responded with Croatia and Serbia, one guy said something to the effect of "That's one of the good countries" and told me to go back to CBP.
 
In other words it was as smooth as usual.
 
You should be able to book directly with Air Serbia.
 
Use Google Flights to search for flights if you have trouble. I was able to find a connecting flight from ZAG to BEG to JFK which Air Serbia's website wouldn't show me unless I had Google Flights link me to the flights. I even called Air Serbia and they had issues but once the flights were paid I called to confirm and everything was recorded in their database. 🤔
 
CBP or private security? Many US-bound flights have a private security firm screening passengers when they go for check-in. They will also be part of the (random?) carry on check while you are waiting at the gate.
 
The security theater is unreal for the US.

I just arrived in Mexico city from Amsterdam and had no trouble at all. In Amsterdam they asked no questions at all and didnt even charge me for my second bag at check-in. In Mexico city all immigration asked was: Turista? I nodded, she looked through my passport and at my K1 visa and stamped my passport. That was it. Now waiting for my flight to Cancun, 3 more hours 😴

I made it to the USA from Mexico yesterday. On the whole a really easy trip, the only hicup was getting so stressed I thought I was coming down with a fever, luckily it was all in my head. 

My POE was Dallas, no queue at immigration but I had to wait in a side room for about 30 minutes while they processed the passengers that arrived before me. Surprisingly there was no health check on arrival. 

Thank you to everyone on this forum, without you I would still be sat in the UK waiting for trump to open the borders. Best of luck to all those still quarantining and all those planning similar trips. 

Just my opinion, but I believe people are focussing on the negative of this. I imagine with the number of visas that have built up over the past few months, some scaling of the processing would be required; if they are just to start processing them all at once, the bureaucracy of doing this could actually end up slowing things down further and wait times could extend even longer. I personally think the fact that they are now processing some visas should be taken as a good sign; obviously Spousal visas were going to take priority, but even if this gives the embassies  the chance to begin taking care of some visas, by the time they will start processing the Fiance visas, these could actually process more quickly. 
 
At least an optimistic view! Again, I could be wrong, but I believe in the power of positive thinking having a guiding influence in these times. 

He looked at the wrong proclamation; that proclamation doesn't even apply to nonimmigrant visas (i.e. K-1, B-2, etc.)
 
Look at the UK and Ireland proclamation: https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-suspension-entry-immigrants-nonimmigrants-certain-additional-persons-pose-risk-transmitting-coronavirus-2/ The UK and Ireland proclamation doesn't have an expiration date.

I’m simply hoping the ban will be lifted soon, because Europe has been doing very well and cases are low. 

Considering the hardship family members, fiancés included, have been enduring during the last months due to COVID-19, we have decided to start a petition to provide equality and solidarity to family members that haven't been considered and therefore excluded from the Coronavirus related bans.
 
Please, sign so we can make the difference!
 
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/process-k1-visas-immediate-family-visas-are-exempt-covid-related-travel-bans

So happy to see many of you have made it into the US without a problem ❤️❤️ Wishing everyone the best of luck in the future!! 

Considering the hardship family members, fiancés included, have been enduring during the last months due to COVID-19, we have decided to start a petition to provide equality and solidarity to family members that haven't been considered and therefore excluded from the Coronavirus related bans.
 
Please, sign so we can make the difference!
 
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/process-k1-visas-immediate-family-visas-are-exempt-covid-related-travel-bans

Hi everyone. We made it in the USA last night! We spent 15 days in Mexico and took a flight yesterday on American Airline, 1:30 pm flight to Miami, Florida. Airport staff was nice. We had to fill out a health form. I filled it out online after fumbling through getting WiFi at the desk and getting the app to work. My fiancee and her son filled out a paper version and they finished before me.
 
The flight went smooth. We arrived in Miami at about 5:45 pm Miami time. Since I had my American passport I went to the machine for entry processing, but not sure if I did it right because my receipt was X-ed out. My fiancee, her son and I went to a CBP counter and handed our passports. Mine was returned. My fiancee's and her sons were kept and we were escorted to a room where we sat while someone was handling their paperwork. After about some 15 minutes an officer called out my fiance's name and her son. He asked when is she getting married. Asked if the guy sitting there (me) is her fiance. He then asked where did she come from. She replied Mexico and he asked how long she was there. She said replied 15 days. He said congratulations and handed her the passports and told us which exit to through. We arrived at the baggage claim and our luggage was already pulled out and sitting on the floor. We got the rental car and drove 5 hours to Gainesville.  
 
I want to thank everyone before us for the bravery they demonstrated in going through a similar journey through Mexico. I was sick to my stomach in fear and anxiety before we took our respective airlines to meet in Mexico City. When we arrived all my fears were removed. We enjoyed our stay in Mexico City. In the evening we would go out on a long walk in Polanco along a walking path that stretched for many streets under trees and along plants and benches. People were very nice and helpful. I felt more protected from coronavirus there than I do here in the USA. In Mexico City you enter a store and get your hands squirted with sanitizer, store employees wear a masks and in the grocery they take your temperature. My fiancee went to shop for wedding shoes on Thursday and in the shoes stores you enter a basin and soak your feet in them before you enter the store. She did find her wedding shoes! A very beautiful and comfortable pair made in Spain. Overall, the experience was great. 

Thank you a million times 🌞 also for your positive words!! Flying out of Mexico today, and slept like 3 hours cause I’m so anxious. Congrats on getting to the US without any problems and best wishes for your future!!

Hi everybody, I made it to US yesterday  🙏
I was going to post it yesterday but I was too tired, sorry!
 
I flew from Mexico City to Salt Lake City and the US CBP process was very very chilled, it lasted like 5 minutes.
I handled my passport, a health check form and my sealed envelope to the Officer. He opened the envelope, took my digitals and photo, stamped my passport, explained again that we had to get married within 90 days and apply for adjustment of status, congratulated us and we were ready to go! He was very nice and did not ask me anything, not even for how long I was in Mexico.
 
When I decided to fly to Mexico 3.5 weeks ago I was so worried that all would go wrong, that I would not make to Mexico City or that, when there, a new ban would come about. But then I had to put myself together and believe that the Universe was working for my best! I kept positive thoughts as much as I could and put my future in the Universe's hands! 
 
I was surprised by how smooth things worked for me!
 
I did not have any problems with the airline I flew from Paris to Mexico City, I had no issues at Mexican CBP (I was not asked anything, not even why I was going to Mexico), I got an apartment with a swimming pool which was opened so I enjoyed 2 amazing weeks of sunshine, I got to know few guys who showed me around the city and became really good friends and, finally, I made to US without any problem. 
 
So guys, keep positive thoughts and believe that all will work well, because it will. ❤️
 
I want to thank you all for your inspiring stories which gave me the confidence to make decisions and go through this process. 
Best of luck to you all! 
 
P.S. to those who are afraid of flying to Mexico because of the rising cases of covid, I have to say, I felt much safer in Mexico than in US lol 
In Mexico everyone was wearing masks and temperature was being checked in every single store, very opposite of what I am seeing here in SLC. The number of cases in US comparing to Mexico speaks for itself...scary! 
Also, comments of travel bans without any solid verifiable sources scares people without any need, so lets keep negativity outside the forum! 😉
 
 
 
 

Croatia does not stamp EU passports: 
Conversely, Serbia stamp EU citizen's passports given they are not part of the EU yet. 
 
Cyprus being part of the EU, my guess is they do not stamp EU passports (same as Croatia). Please someone correct me if I'm wrong! Maybe you can contact Cyprus border patrol to double check? 

I flew with Aeromexico

Hi! So somebody commented the following a few days ago: 
 
It seems that you should be ok. The EO that expires concerns immigrant ban as far as I understand, not the land border. There is an upcoming EO that might ban certain non-immigrant visa holders (H1B, J1, L1(?)...) but noone knows which visa types will be affected, what the exemptions of it are, or when it actually comes out. Apparently it doesn't have to be before the 22nd/23rd, but it might be, but it might also be later. Or not at all. Uncertainty, basically. But unless your visa is one of those types, you should be ok.

 

Yessssssssss 🍾🍾🍾 I told you you’d be fine !! So excited to read you go there safely! Best wishes to you and keep us updated on your journey and stay!!

Wow, so pleased you made it but my god I would have needed a change of clothes after that.. 😳😂 

Congrats, I am so glad you made it!!!

Congrats, I am so glad you made it!!!

Very likely. There's a pandemic and a president who isn't a fan of migration in the first place. Expect this to last another while.

You should be able to reschedule. MRV fees are valid for up to 1 year IIRC (or at least until the visa registration expires).

I. Am. Here.
 
Thank God. But it wasn't as I expected. I got the biggest spook of my life. Right before landing the flight attendant told me to wait at the door so I could be the first one to leave. When the hatch opened 4 guys from CBP were ready to escort me. The head of the squad asked me how long I've been in Mexico for. I showed him the stamp in my passport and that's all he needed to know. We then joked about how scared I was and talked for a little bit; very nice people. I just had to go through second immigration just to confirm my arrival. This is Orlando airport btw.
 
BUT what counts the most is that I'm here. Thank you all for your inspiring messages and stories and I wish the rest of y'all good luck. So; if the CBP squad is waiting for you just know it'll be fine.