FAQs on Europe Coronavirus Travel Ban

UPDATE 3/14/20 - UK and Ireland added to the list of restricted countries, starting at midnight US Eastern Time on Monday March 16.
Even if you are exempt from the restrictions, expect VERY long delays entering at US airports.
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On March 11, 2020, President Trump announced major travel restrictions on visitors from Europe to the US, in an effort to stem the spread of COVID-19. There is still a lot of uncertainty (including why the ban is limited to Schengen countries), and we will update this blog as we get more details.

When does the ban take effect?

March 13, 2020, for flights that departed before 11.59 p.m.

How long is the ban?

The Presidential Proclamation states that it “…shall remain in effect until terminated by the President.” In other words, there is no defined end date. President Trump has indicated that it will last for 30 days.

Who is exempt from the ban?

The ban does not apply to

1.     US citizens and their spouses.
2.     US permanent residents (LPRs) (green card holders) and their spouses.
3.     Parents or legal guardians of US citizen or LPR children (unmarried and under 21).
4.     Children (included adoptive and foster children) of US citizens or LPRs.
5.     Foreign nationals traveling to the US for specific purposes, including

• a.     Invited by US government to help mitigate the virus.
• b.     Crew members on flights or other modes of transport.
• c.     Certain people on diplomatic or NGO visas.
• d.     US Armed Forces members and families.
• e.     People whose entry is in the national interest, including helping with law enforcement,
• f.      Anyone whose entry “..would not pose a significant risk of introducing, transmitting, or spreading the virus…”

The details of (e) and (f) are vague and we don’t know how the exceptions will be applied in practice.

The ban does not affect anyone’s ability to apply for asylum, withholding of removal, or protection under the Convention Against Torture.

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