According to the latest U.S. policy, most of the J1 visa categories are eligible for direct flight entry into the U.S. from China, which are the main ones?
On April 30, 2021 the U.S. announced a moratorium on the entry of non-immigrant travelers physically present in India into the U.S. The decision took effect on May 4, 2021 at 12:01 a.m. EDT. I personally feel that this presidential order was issued a bit late because India has the second largest number of international students in the U.S. after China. Those who are able to study abroad are from wealthy families, and due to the explosive growth of the New Coronary Pneumonia outbreak in India since April 2021, many Indians should have already traveled to the U.S. There may be an impact on whether offline classes will resume at U.S. universities this fall as scheduled.
The current U.S. travel ban waiver has been expanded to allow direct flights from China to the U.S. in addition to international students traveling to the U.S. The following individuals all meet the U.S. national interest exception.
Other exceptions include, but are not limited to, foreign diplomats traveling to the U.S. on an A or G visa and certain family members or lawful permanent residents of U.S. citizens, including spouses, minor children, parents (provided that his/her U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident child is unmarried and under the age of 21; siblings (provided that both the sibling and the U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident are unmarried and under the age of 21 years of age or younger). Exceptions may also be made for air and sea crew members traveling to the U.S. on a C, D or C1/D visa.
There are also national interest exceptions for the following individuals who can fly directly from China to the U.S.
- Immigrants (not subject to the restrictions of the April 30 India bulletin (non-immigrant travel only))
- Fiancees
- Exchange visitor program students and certain scholars. Students who are subject to these geographic COVID statements because they are in India, China, Iran, Brazil, or South Africa are eligible for the national interest exception only if their academic program is on or after August 1, 2021. Students with valid F-1 and M-1 visas who intend to begin or continue an academic program that begins on or after August 1, 2021, do not need to contact an embassy or consulate to seek an individual national interest exception for travel. They may enter the U.S. no earlier than 30 days prior to the start of the academic year.
- Travelers seeking to provide critical support in critical infrastructure areas
- Journalists
- Pilots and crew members traveling to the U.S. for training or aircraft transfer, delivery or maintenance, including individuals traveling to the U.S. on a B-1/B-2, B-1 or M-1 visa or visa waiver. Accompanying persons on M-2 visas are also included when the principal applicant is in training for four weeks or longer.
Certain exchange visitors on J1 visas, including
- Au pair with special skills needed for a child with special needs (e.g., medical, special education or sign language) when the au pair is caring for a minor U.S. citizen, LPR or non-immigrant, who is in legal status.
- Au pair to prevent a U.S. citizen, legal permanent resident or other non-immigrant with legal status from incurring public health costs when admitted to a state or medical facility.
- Au pairs who help parents who are conducting medical research or helping the U.S. fight COVID-19 by providing medical services, child care services or care for their children.
- Travel on exchange programs between a foreign government and any U.S. federal, state or local government entity that has entered into a memorandum of understanding, letter of intent or other valid agreement designed to promote the national interest of the United States and is effective by June 24, 2020.
Interns and trainees traveling to a U.S. government agency-sponsored program (program number beginning with “G-3” on Form DS-2019): Exchange visitors participating in an exchange visitor program sponsored by the U.S. government that supports the continued economic recovery of the United States.
- Professional Teacher in a Qualified Educational Institution, Form DS-2019 beginning with “G-5”: An exchange visitor participating in an exchange program in which he or she will teach full-time in the exchange program must be enrolled in a public or private elementary or secondary accredited educational institution where the applicant demonstrates the ability to contribute to the education of U.S. students professional contribution to the education of U.S. students. The “professional teacher” applicant must demonstrate native or near-native language proficiency and the ability to teach his or her assigned subject matter in that language.
Travel for important foreign policy objectives: This includes only exchange visitors who are participating in a limited number of exchange programs.
- accompanying non-citizen derivative family members who are excluded or not bound by the Declaration and are engaged in certain types of long-term employment for studies of four weeks or longer.
The Department of State also continues to grant “national interest exceptions” for qualified travelers seeking to enter the United States for purposes related to humanitarian, public health response, and national security.
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