The Emerald Isle Immigration Center in New York has analyzed President Trump's immigration restriction order and has identified the exemptions to it.
By Irish Echo Staff
The Emerald Isle Immigration Center in New York has issued a statement pointing to a list of exemptions to the temporary immigration restrictions that President Trump signed into effect last week by way of an executive order.
Said the statement: "You may have heard that Trump is stopping all immigration to the United States. This is not true. President Trump issued a Proclamation on April 22nd (effective at midnight on April 23, 2020) suspending immigration for 60 days for certain categories of immigrants.
"The Proclamation applies to immigrants currently outside the United States, who do not already have a valid immigrant visa, and do not otherwise have a valid travel document such as advanced parole that permits travel to the United States. There are a number of exemptions to this Proclamation.
"It does not apply to the following groups:
Current Legal Permanent Residents (green card holders)
Spouses and Minor Children (under 21) of U.S. Citizens
Healthcare Professionals entering on an immigrant visa to work on the COVID-19 pandemic
EB-5 Immigrant Investors
Adoptees (of US Citizens) on an IR-4 or IH-4 visa
Members of the US Armed Forces and their spouses and children
Special Immigrant Visa holders
Individuals who would further an important law enforcement interest, as determined by DHS and the Attorney General
Nonimmigrant Visa Holders
Asylum Seekers
Anyone already in the United States applying for a green card (Adjustment of Status applicants).
The practical effect of this Proclamation will be to halt processing of immigrant visas at U.S. Consulates abroad for beneficiaries of some family-based petitions, employment-based petitions and under the diversity visa lottery.
"Already, prior to this Proclamation, there have been significant delays for the State Department and the National Visa Center to process the paperwork. Interviews have been suspended at U.S. consular posts for most visas since March 20th. This will obviously deepen the backlog and delays for many immigrant visa applicants.
"In sum, this Proclamation will have a limited short-term effect on immigration due to the many other delays and restrictions already in effect to slow down legal immigration at the Administrative level without changing the laws written by Congress."
