Ireland and the United Kingdom Will Be Added to COVID-19 Travel Ban on Monday, White House Says

The issue

In a White House press conference today, Vice President Mike Pence stated that the United States will extend its COVID-19 travel ban to the United Kingdom (UK) and Ireland starting Monday at midnight. 

Travel ban implementation details expected soon

As of 6:00pm EDT, the White House had not provided details on implementation of the ban, but they are expected to track the restrictions imposed Friday on travelers from the Schengen Area. The ban is likely to apply to foreign nationals who have been physically present in the United Kingdom or Ireland within 14 days before seeking admission to the United States. U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, their spouses and children under 21, and certain other family members, among others, are expected to be exempt from the travel ban, but are likely to be subject to health screenings and other requirements.

The White House announcement follows the imposition of presidential orders temporarily barring the admission of foreign nationals who were physically present in the European Schengen Area, China and Iran. 

What employers should do now

In light of the forthcoming travel restrictions, your organization should work quickly to identify foreign employees who may be affected by the ban. Contact your designated Fragomen professionals to discuss available options, which could include urgent travel back to the United States, if possible, or alternative plans.

Fragomen is closely monitoring implementation of the ban and will issue follow-up alerts as developments occur. For the latest information related to the coronavirus’ impact on immigration-related matters worldwide, please visit Fragomen’s Coronavirus Update Page. 

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