On 2/24/2021 President Biden revoked Proclamation 10014, which suspended the issuance of immigrant visas to certain individuals. Proclamation 10014 was initially announced on 4/22/2020 and mainly impacted family-based cases in which an individual was applying for an immigrant (green card) visa at a U.S. Consulate abroad.
In revoking this proclamation, Biden indicated that:
“[I]t harms the United States, including by preventing certain family members of United States citizens and lawful permanent residents from joining their families here. It also harms industries in the United States that utilize talent from around the world. And it harms individuals who were selected to receive the opportunity to apply for, and those who have likewise received, immigrant visas through the Fiscal Year 2020 Diversity Visa Lottery.”
The sister proclamation (Proclamation 10052) that suspended the issuance of certain H-1B, L-1, J-1 visas, mainly for first time applicants, and the respective visa categories for dependent family members (H-4, L-2 and J-2) continues in effect through 3/31/2021 or until further notice.
