Until further notice, nonimmigrant visa holders shouldn’t travel abroad unless necessary. The current state of the U.S. immigration landscape is incredibly fluid, with policies changing overnight and without advance notice. As a result, recently nonimmigrant visa holders have reported difficulty when trying to re-enter the U.S.
The U.S. government has introduced wide-range of new immigration restrictions recently. These new restrictions include the implementation of social media vetting for H-1B visa applicants and sweeping travel restrictions, including partial and some full bans, for 39 countries. Given the increasingly strict nature of the immigration landscape, individuals with nonimmigrant visas, like the H-1B visa, should avoid international travel as much as possible.
If absolutely unavoidable, Individuals that must travel abroad can mitigate any risk by:
- Verifying their current legal status and approval documents before departure.
- Ensuring they carry the correct, most recent approval notice to present with their valid nonimmigrant visa upon entry.
- Proactively present all necessary supporting documents based on the individual visa category to CBP officers upon arrival. (For example, an H-1B visa holder should present an employer verification letter, end client letter, evidence of the project, and recent paystubs. An F-1 visa holder should present their most recent I-20, EAD (if applicable), employer letter and paystubs (if on OPT or CPT))
- Double-checking their I-94 upon entry following any travel to confirm its accuracy.
- Consult with experienced immigration counsel before travel for individual advice, specific to your particular situation.
It’s very important that anyone traveling ensures all immigration documentation is available and complete before leaving the U.S. Again, individuals should only travel abroad if absolutely necessary.
As always, Immigration USA actively monitors ongoing U.S. immigration news. If you have questions about any U.S. immigration related issue, contact us. Working with an experienced attorney ensures you get the right advice based on the most recent laws. In an ever-evolving immigration policy landscape, we’re with you every step of the way.