I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.
See all posts Frank GogolU.S. Suspends New Green Card for 60 Days
Updated on April 10, 2024
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NOTE: On Tuesday, April 21 President Trump announced that the immigration suspension Executive Order will last 60 days apply only to the issuing of new green cards. The order only addresses green cards because the temporary work visa portion is more complicated and needs more time to sort out. There is currently no word on when the order will be signed.
Due to the effects of the pandemic that hit humanity in recent months, people who were intending to immigrate to the United States may have to delay their plans. Not only are there travel bans all over the world, but the U.S. will actually suspend immigration for a while. But can the president of the U.S. suspend immigration? Also, what does this suspension situation include? If you’re one of the people who had plans of immigration, below you will find useful information on the matter.
Can the President of the U.S. Suspend Immigration?
If you were one of the people aspiring for the American dream, you may be wondering why the president is taking such measures. After all, is he even able to suspend immigration to the United States?
Well, he can do so indeed. On Monday night, he decided to make an announcement. President Donald Trump took to Twitter to make a statement. “In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy, as well as the need to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens, I will be signing an Executive Order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States!” he posted.
A lot of people were shocked when they heard the announcement, particularly already existing immigrants in the country. Every year, the States admit around 1.1 million immigrants, which is more than any country in the world. While around 500,000 are status adjustments of people who already live in the U.S., the other 600,000 are new arrivals.
Not to mention that a lot of students and workers are now frightened because of the matter. But this has been done as a preventive measure since the entry of foreign nationals would endanger people in the United States.
How Likely Is This Executive Order to be Signed?
The executive order is very likely to be signed. Although on April 20th nobody knew what was going to happen as DHS was still working on a draft for the order, April 21st changed everything. Since U.S. President Donald Trump made his statement, it’s now clear that there will be an executive order signed.
To clear any confusion regarding his Twitter post, the president gave more details in a press briefing in the White House. Apparently, he is going to issue an Executive order that will prevent Green Card holders from entering the United States for 60 days.
For the most part, these are green card holders that are employment or family-based. So far, no exception for particular types of Green Card owners was announced. The full extent of the order is unclear yet, as even at the moment, the document is being drafted and the public has no access to it.
Potential Impact
This suspension order will mostly have an effect on Green Card Recipients. Last year, 462,422 recipients gained access to the United States. Now that this suspension is being made, it is going to affect people who want to get permanent residency. This is why people with family-sponsored Green Cards will be affected, thus not being able to go to the country for 60 days. Included in the matter are also Diversity Immigrants, Family-Sponsored Preference, immediate relatives of U.S. citizens, Employment Sponsored Preference, and others.
Aside from stopping people from gaining permanent residency in the U.S., the suspension also impacts those who want to get a job in the States. According to President Trump, this temporary suspension exists to protect the jobs of the “GREAT American Citizens”. Since a lot of immigrants would want to work, they would compete with Americans who lost their jobs, which is why the president is trying to prevent this scenario.
How Could the Suspension Affect H1B Visa Holders?
Since so many people will not be allowed to enter the United States for the next 60 days, H1B visa holders are also afraid that this matter could affect them. Thankfully, though, the president of the United States said that the suspension will not affect non-immigrants. Therefore, the 60 days block is not going to apply to them.
Although the specifics of the Executive order are not clear as of now, it doesn’t seem like the order is going to impact H1B holders. If you’re one of the people who own this type of visa, you can breathe a sigh of relief.
How Could the Order Impact H4, L1, L2, and F1 Visa Holders?
Similar to the situation of the H1B visa holders, people who have an H4, L1, L2, or F1 visa are not going to be affected by the suspension. They are non-immigrants as well, so the 60-day suspension will not affect them. People on one of these visas, as well as those on a Temporary Visa, will be safe from this measure.
Even though we don’t know all of the details of the Executive order due to the document not being publicly available, you shouldn’t panic. After the announcement from April 21st, it’s confirmed that non-immigrant Visa holders are not affected. All you have to do is wait for the Executive order, when you will be able to find out more details.
Temporary Immigration Suspension FAQ
Even if you’re not a Green Card recipient, you may still have your concerns. Therefore, here are some commonly asked questions with answers, so you can stay informed:
Has the Immigration Suspension Been Signed?
Although the immigration suspension will surely happen, the order has not been signed yet. While it has been confirmed that there will be an Executive Order, it is still being drafted, and people don’t know yet the full details it’s going to include. As such, it hasn’t been signed just yet, but it will be for sure. The main details are already known and confirmed.
Can Visa Holders Still Apply for Extensions, Transfers, and Other Services?
Yes, they can still apply for extensions, transfers, or other services. Nothing has changed in this aspect so far. President Donald Trump made an announcement talking about how the suspension will affect Green Card holders, but he declared that non-immigrant holders will not be affected by his decision. The Executive Order has not been released just yet, but once the release happens, more details will come to the surface.
Can the Executive Order Block Non-Immigrants?
Yes, it can. The president has the power to block non-immigrants from entering the United States, such as owners of an H1B, L1, B2, or other types of visas. Immigrants can also be blocked, depending on various circumstances. At the moment, the new Executive Order is said to only affect owners of Green Cards.
Conclusion
What’s going in the world right now is crazy, and it’s normal to feel scared of what the future holds, especially if you had big plans to go to the United States. Right now, though, an Executive Order will block the access of Green Card recipients into the United States – so, if you’re one of them, you will be affected by this. It’s a period of 60 days, so you shouldn’t give up – once the Coronavirus outbreak will be gone and the measures will be relaxed, you will still get a chance to pursue the American dream.
Frank Gogol
I’m a firm believer that information is the key to financial freedom. On the Stilt Blog, I write about the complex topics — like finance, immigration, and technology — to help immigrants make the most of their lives in the U.S. Our content and brand have been featured in Forbes, TechCrunch, VentureBeat, and more.