Important Updates
Important Updates
July 21, 2025 | United StatesUnited States: USCIS Announces Implementation of Several New Fees for Humanitarian Applications Based on Reconciliation Bill
July 21, 2025 | European UnionEuropean Union: European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) and Entry/Exit System (EES) Launch Status
July 21, 2025 | New ZealandNew Zealand: Rules on Investor Visa Relaxed
July 21, 2025 | Saudi Arabia, United Arab EmiratesSaudi Gazette: Saudi Arabia’s Skill-Based Work Permit System Reshapes Expat Employment Landscape
July 21, 2025 | United StatesUnited States: DHS Proposal to Alter the H-1B Cap Selection Process Is Sent to OMB for Review
July 21, 2025 | United StatesUnited States: USCIS Announces Implementation of Several New Fees for Humanitarian Applications Based on Reconciliation Bill
July 21, 2025 | European UnionEuropean Union: European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS) and Entry/Exit System (EES) Launch Status
July 21, 2025 | New ZealandNew Zealand: Rules on Investor Visa Relaxed
July 21, 2025 | Saudi Arabia, United Arab EmiratesSaudi Gazette: Saudi Arabia’s Skill-Based Work Permit System Reshapes Expat Employment Landscape
July 21, 2025 | United StatesUnited States: DHS Proposal to Alter the H-1B Cap Selection Process Is Sent to OMB for Review
July 21, 2025 | United StatesUnited States: USCIS Announces Implementation of Several New Fees for Humanitarian Applications Based on Reconciliation Bill
Subscribe
Fragomen.com home
Select Language
  • English
  • French
  • French - Canadian
  • German

Select Language

  • English
  • French
  • French - Canadian
  • German
ContactCareersMedia
Search Fragomen.com
  • Our Services
    For EmployersFor IndividualsBy IndustryCase Studies
  • Our Tech & Innovation
  • Our People
  • Our Insights
    Worldwide Immigration Trends ReportsMagellan SeriesImmigration AlertsEventsMedia MentionsFragomen NewsBlogsPodcasts & Videos
  • Spotlights
    Navigating Immigration Under the Second Trump AdministrationTravel & Mobility Considerations: Situation in the Middle EastImmigration Matters: Your U.S. Compliance RoadmapHumanitarian and Evolving Legal Pathways (HELP)Vietnamese ImmigrationAustralian Immigration: New Skills in Demand Visa
  • About Us
    About FragomenOfficesResponsible Business PracticesFirm GovernanceRecognition

Our Services

  • For Employers
  • For Individuals
  • By Industry
  • Case Studies

Our Tech & Innovation

  • Our Approach

Our People

  • Overview / Directory

Our Insights

  • Worldwide Immigration Trends Reports
  • Magellan Series
  • Immigration Alerts
  • Events
  • Media Mentions
  • Fragomen News
  • Blogs
  • Podcasts & Videos

Spotlights

  • Navigating Immigration Under the Second Trump Administration
  • Travel & Mobility Considerations: Situation in the Middle East
  • Immigration Matters: Your U.S. Compliance Roadmap
  • Humanitarian and Evolving Legal Pathways (HELP)
  • Vietnamese Immigration
  • Australian Immigration: New Skills in Demand Visa

About Us

  • About Fragomen
  • Offices
  • Responsible Business Practices
  • Firm Governance
  • Recognition
Select Language
  • English
  • French
  • French - Canadian
  • German

Select Language

  • English
  • French
  • French - Canadian
  • German
ContactCareersMedia
  • Insights

Presidential Executive Order Ends Preferential Visa Policies for Hong Kong

July 16, 2020

insight-news-default

Country / Territory

  • United StatesUnited States

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

At a Glance

  • Under an executive order recently signed by President Trump, foreign nationals born in Hong Kong are to be treated the same as those born in the People’s Republic of China for purposes of green-card quotas, subjecting them to lengthy backlogs in most employment-based immigrant visa categories.
  • The order also means that Hong Kong passport-holders will see shorter validity periods for new H-1B, L, and O visas and additional formalities for B-1/B-2 visas.

The issue

An executive order signed Tuesday by President Trump will eliminate preferential visa treatment for foreign nationals born in Hong Kong as well as those who hold Hong Kong SAR passports. Affected individuals will be treated as nationals of the People’s Republic of China (PRC) with respect to immigrant visa quotas and nonimmigrant visa validity.

The executive order was issued in response to the PRC’s recent moves to establish greater control over Hong Kong.

How the executive order affects immigrant visa allocation

The executive order ends the treatment of Hong Kong as a separate foreign state from the PRC for purposes of immigrant visa issuance. Individuals who were born in Hong Kong who seek U.S. permanent residence will be counted – or “charged” – against the immigrant visa quota for the PRC. This means that they will be subject to the lengthy visa backlogs and wait times currently affecting the EB-1, EB-2, EB-3 and EB-5 immigrant visa categories for China, among other immigrant visa classifications.

How the executive order affects nonimmigrant visas

The executive order also means that Hong Kong SAR passport holders will be subject to visa validity and fee rules applicable to PRC passport holders. In many cases, this will mean visas issued for shorter validity periods or subject to additional formalities, as follows:

  • H-1B and H-4 visas will be valid for a maximum of 12 months, reduced from 60 months.
  • L-1 and L-2 visas will be valid for a maximum of 24 months, reduced from 60 months. L visas will also be subject to an additional reciprocity fee of $120.
  • O visas will be valid for a maximum of three months, reduced from 60 months.
  • B-1/B-2 visa validity will be unchanged at a maximum of 10 years, but Hong Kong passport holders will be required to register their visas in the Electronic Visa Update System (EVUS), as PRC nationals have been since November 2016.


The maximum validity period of F and J visas is unchanged.

What this means for employers and foreign nationals

The end of separate visa validity and chargeability policies for Hong Kong means that affected foreign nationals will face longer waiting periods for U.S. permanent residence. It will also reduce travel flexibility for affected H, L and O nonimmigrants because they will be required to renew their U.S. visas more frequently than in the past in order to reenter the United States.

The U.S. Departments of State and Homeland Security are expected to issue guidance on implementation of the executive order in the coming weeks. Fragomen will issue updates as more information becomes available on the impact of the order.

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.

Country / Territory

  • United StatesUnited States

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Share

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn

Explore more at Fragomen

Video

Update on U.S. Tariffs | #MobilityMinute

In this Mobility Minute, Partner Christian Dallman shares an update on US tariffs as the August 1 deadline for trade negotiations approaches.

Learn more

Media mentions

Saudi Gazette: Saudi Arabia’s Skill-Based Work Permit System Reshapes Expat Employment Landscape

Partner Haider Hussain discussed how Saudi Arabia’s new skill-based work permit system is reshaping employer compliance and recruitment strategies.

Learn more

Podcast

Visa Policy Changes in Nigeria

Director Caroline Kanzara-Obinwa and Manager Tarissa Wareley are joined by Bloomfield Law Practice's Kunle Obebe and Peace Lotechukwu to discuss Nigeria's 2025 visa policy reforms.

Learn more

Media mentions

Windpower Monthly: Wind Industry’s Chronic Skills Shortage Exacerbated by Tough Immigration Rules

Associate Yinny Tan outlines how proposed UK immigration changes may affect workforce planning and talent access in the wind industry.

Learn more

Blog post

UK Creative Industries & Immigration: What the 2025 Policy Changes Mean

Senior Manager Sean Rhodes, Associate Jennifer Gray and Paralegal Mariel Arquero outlines how the United Kingdom's 2025 immigration policy changes will impact the creative industries.

Learn more

Media mentions

AAML: Navigating U.S. Passport Applications for Minors Under 16: A Guide for Family Law Attorneys

Senior Associate Carolyn Alvarez outlines US passport rules for minors to guide family law attorneys on immigration requirements.

Learn more

Blog post

Fast-track Visa Options for Technical Workers: Türkiye’s AMS Visa and Greece’s Installation Visa

Senior Manager Ben Morgan and Manager Mariana Da Encarnacao outline Türkiye’s AMS visa and Greece’s Installation visa as streamlined immigration options aimed at attracting technical talent to support national innovation and economic growth.

Learn more

Video

Regional Immigration Overviews 2025 | #MobilityMinute

Director Raj Mann shares an overview of Fragomen's newly released 2025  Regional Immigration Overviews, a supplement to the firm's Worldwide Immigration Trends Report.

Learn more

Video

A Guide to EU Visa Categories for Non-EU Nationals

Explore EU visa options for non-EU nationals, including Schengen, long-stay and work visas like the EU Blue Card. Find the right visa for your needs.

Learn more

Blog post

UK Partner Visa 2025: Is Cohabitation Still Required for Unmarried Couples?

Private Client Associate Amelia Haynes and Intern Zuha Malik explore whether living together remains a requirement for unmarried couples applying for a UK partner visa under the 2025 rules.

Learn more

Media mentions

Business Standard: 11 Million US Visa Backlog Crushes Indian H-1B, Green Card Dreams: Decoded

Partner Blake Miller discussed how US immigration processing delays may create challenges for work authorization, travel and workforce planning.

Learn more

Blog post

EES and ETIAS: Automation Meets Immigration Complexity

Immigration Manager Andreia Ghimis discusses how the EES and ETIAS systems aim to streamline immigration processes while addressing the complexities of automation.

Learn more

Video

Update on U.S. Tariffs | #MobilityMinute

In this Mobility Minute, Partner Christian Dallman shares an update on US tariffs as the August 1 deadline for trade negotiations approaches.

Learn more

Media mentions

Saudi Gazette: Saudi Arabia’s Skill-Based Work Permit System Reshapes Expat Employment Landscape

Partner Haider Hussain discussed how Saudi Arabia’s new skill-based work permit system is reshaping employer compliance and recruitment strategies.

Learn more

Podcast

Visa Policy Changes in Nigeria

Director Caroline Kanzara-Obinwa and Manager Tarissa Wareley are joined by Bloomfield Law Practice's Kunle Obebe and Peace Lotechukwu to discuss Nigeria's 2025 visa policy reforms.

Learn more

Media mentions

Windpower Monthly: Wind Industry’s Chronic Skills Shortage Exacerbated by Tough Immigration Rules

Associate Yinny Tan outlines how proposed UK immigration changes may affect workforce planning and talent access in the wind industry.

Learn more

Blog post

UK Creative Industries & Immigration: What the 2025 Policy Changes Mean

Senior Manager Sean Rhodes, Associate Jennifer Gray and Paralegal Mariel Arquero outlines how the United Kingdom's 2025 immigration policy changes will impact the creative industries.

Learn more

Media mentions

AAML: Navigating U.S. Passport Applications for Minors Under 16: A Guide for Family Law Attorneys

Senior Associate Carolyn Alvarez outlines US passport rules for minors to guide family law attorneys on immigration requirements.

Learn more

Blog post

Fast-track Visa Options for Technical Workers: Türkiye’s AMS Visa and Greece’s Installation Visa

Senior Manager Ben Morgan and Manager Mariana Da Encarnacao outline Türkiye’s AMS visa and Greece’s Installation visa as streamlined immigration options aimed at attracting technical talent to support national innovation and economic growth.

Learn more

Video

Regional Immigration Overviews 2025 | #MobilityMinute

Director Raj Mann shares an overview of Fragomen's newly released 2025  Regional Immigration Overviews, a supplement to the firm's Worldwide Immigration Trends Report.

Learn more

Video

A Guide to EU Visa Categories for Non-EU Nationals

Explore EU visa options for non-EU nationals, including Schengen, long-stay and work visas like the EU Blue Card. Find the right visa for your needs.

Learn more

Blog post

UK Partner Visa 2025: Is Cohabitation Still Required for Unmarried Couples?

Private Client Associate Amelia Haynes and Intern Zuha Malik explore whether living together remains a requirement for unmarried couples applying for a UK partner visa under the 2025 rules.

Learn more

Media mentions

Business Standard: 11 Million US Visa Backlog Crushes Indian H-1B, Green Card Dreams: Decoded

Partner Blake Miller discussed how US immigration processing delays may create challenges for work authorization, travel and workforce planning.

Learn more

Blog post

EES and ETIAS: Automation Meets Immigration Complexity

Immigration Manager Andreia Ghimis discusses how the EES and ETIAS systems aim to streamline immigration processes while addressing the complexities of automation.

Learn more

Stay in touch

Subscribe to receive our latest immigration alerts

Subscribe

Our firm

  • About
  • Careers
  • Firm Governance
  • Media Inquiries
  • Recognition

Information

  • Attorney Advertising
  • Legal Notices
  • Privacy Policies
  • UK Regulatory Requirements

Our firm

  • About
  • Careers
  • Firm Governance
  • Media Inquiries
  • Recognition

Information

  • Attorney Advertising
  • Legal Notices
  • Privacy Policies
  • UK Regulatory Requirements

Have a question?

Contact Us
  • LinkedIn
  • Youtube
  • Instagram
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

© 2025 Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLP, Fragomen Global LLP and affiliates. All Rights Reserved.

Please note that the content made available on this site is not intended for visitors / customers located in the province of Quebec, and the information provided is not applicable to the Quebec market. To access relevant information that applies to the Quebec market, please click here.