Weekly Immigration Update: December 23–29, 2022

United States, December 28, 2022
COVID Test Required for Travel from China, Starting January 5

• Effective January 5, 2023, airline passengers traveling from mainland China, Hong Kong, or Macau must provide either a negative COVID test or documentation of COVID recovery in order to travel to the United States.
• The new requirement will apply to airline passengers two years and older, regardless of nationality and vaccination status – including U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents.
• The requirement will apply to both direct and indirect flights from China, and will include travelers who have been in China in the previous 10 days and who are arriving in the United States via certain foreign transit hubs commonly used for travel from China to the United States.

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United States, December 27, 2022
State Department Extends Nonimmigrant Visa Interview Waiver Program Through 2023

• The U.S. State Department’s visa interview waiver program for certain temporary workers, students, and exchange visitors has been extended to December 31, 2023.
• The separate interview waiver program for certain applicants renewing a visa in the same category within 48 months of expiration remains in effect on an indefinite basis.
• U.S. consulates are not required to implement these interview waiver policies but may do so as local conditions and resources allow.

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United States, December 23, 2022
Congress Passes FY 2023 Omnibus Spending Bill, Funding Immigration Operations

• The spending bill funds the Departments of State, Homeland Security, Labor, and other federal agencies through FY 2023.
• The package reauthorizes E-Verify and other expiring immigration programs through September 30, 2023.

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