Executive Orders

Please find below information and updates on Executive Orders relevant to our international community.

Negative COVID-19 Viral Test Condition at Air Ports of Entry Removed Effective June 12, 2022

June 13, 2022

As of 12:01AM ET on June 12, 2022, CDC will no longer require air passengers traveling from a foreign country to the United States to show a negative COVID-19 viral test or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before they board their flight. Information on this change can be found on the CDC’s COVID-19 Testing Recision webpage

Travel Ban for Southern Africa Revoked Effective December 31, 2021

December 29, 2021

On December 28, 2021 President Biden issued A Proclamation on Revoking Proclamation 10315 which revokes the southern Africa entry ban effective 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on December 31, 2021. Additional information can be found on the Dept of State webpage...

Stricter Testing Requirement for International Travelers to the US

December 3, 2021

On December 2, 2021, stricter testing requirements for international travelers to the US were announced by President Biden as part of a comprehensive strategy to fight COVID-19. Beginning on December 6, all air passengers, regardless of vaccination status, must show a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than 1 day before travel to the United States. For detailed information please visit the...

Suspension of travel from Southern Africa

November 29, 2021

On November 26, 2021, President Biden signed a new proclamation suspending indefinitely the entry into the U.S. as nonimmigrants of noncitizens who pose a risk of transmitting the coronavirus disease. Except for immediate family members of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent...

Presidential Proclamation - New Vaccine Requirements for Global Air Travel

October 26, 2021

On Monday October 25, 2021 President Biden signed a Proclamation - Advancing Safe Resumption of Global Travel announcing new requirements for air travel that will take effect on November 8, 2021. This proclamation will end the travel restrictions under Presidential Proclamations (P.P.) 9984, 9992, 10143, and 10199 as they relate to the suspension of entry into the United States of persons physically present in...

Suspension of travel from India

April 30, 2021

On April 30, 2021, President Biden signed a new proclamation suspending indefinitely the entry into the U.S. as nonimmigrants of noncitizens who pose a risk of transmitting the coronavirus disease. Except for immediate family members of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents and...

COVID Testing Requirements for Entry to the U.S. Effective January 26, 2021

January 28, 2021

On January 21, 2021 President Biden issued an Executive Order on Promoting COVID-19 Safety in Domestic and International Travel, which directs relevant agencies to assess a prior January 12, 2021 CDC order requiring a negative COVID-19 test result for airline passengers traveling into the United States, and, based on that...

COVID Travel Ban Updates for South Africa, UK, Ireland, Brazil, Schengen Area

January 25, 2021

On January 25, 2021, President Biden signed a new proclamation suspending indefinitely the entry into the U.S. of immigrants and non-immigrants who pose a risk of transmitting the coronavirus disease.

Except for immediate family members of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent...

Proclamation On Ending Discriminatory Bans On Entry To The United States

January 22, 2021

On Wednesday, January 20, 2021, President Biden signed an Executive Order entitled, “Ending Discriminatory Bans on Entry to The United States," which revoked previous Executive Orders that prevented certain individuals from entering the United States. These previous Executive Orders that have now been revoked applied certain conditions of entry for individuals from different countries. ...

Presidential Proclamation: Brazil Travel Suspension

May 24, 2020

Effective at 11:59 p.m. eastern daylight time on May 26, 2020, the entry into the United States of any foreign national (except immediate family members of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents and others excluded in section 2 of the Presidential Proclamation who was physically present within Brazil during the 14-day period preceding their entry or...

Presidential Proclamation Suspends Certain New Immigrant Entries- NO IMPACT to F/J Students & Scholars, Current Faculty/Staff

April 23, 2020

On Wednesday, April 22, 2020 the President issued a proclamation suspending the entry of certain new immigrants for 60 days.

Who is NOT impacted by the proclamation?Nonimmigrant visa holders including F-1 students, J-1 Exchange Visitors, H-1B, TN and O-1 workers are NOT impacted. The proclamation DOES NOT impact ...

Presidential Proclamation: United Kingdom and Ireland Travel Suspension

March 14, 2020

Effective Monday, March 16, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. eastern daylight time, the entry into the United States of any foreign national (except immediate family members of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents and others excluded in section 2 of the Presidential Proclamation) who was physically present within the the United Kingdom (excluding...

Presidential Proclamation: Europe Schengen Area Travel Suspension

March 12, 2020

Effective Friday, March 13 at 11:59 p.m. eastern standard time, the entry into the United States of any foreign national (except immediate family members of U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents and others excluded in section 2 of the proclamation) who was physically present within the Schengen Area during the 14-day period preceding their entry or...

Presidential Proclamation: Iran Travel Suspension

March 2, 2020

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE: Effective Monday, March 2nd at 5 p.m. eastern standard time, the U.S. government will deny the entry into the U.S. of any foreign national (except immediate family of U.S. citizens and permanent residents) who were physically present within the Islamic Republic of Iran within the last 14 days. This proclamation does not apply to persons aboard a flight scheduled to arrive in the United States that departed prior to 5:00 p.m. eastern standard time on March 2, 2020.

BIO is closely monitoring the current...

Presidential Proclamation: China Travel Suspension

January 31, 2020

CORONAVIRUS UPDATE:Effective Sunday, February 2nd at 5 p.m. eastern standard time, the U.S. government will deny the entry into the U.S. of any foreign national (except immediate family of U.S. citizens and permanent residents) who has traveled in China within the last 14 days (excluding the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau).

BIO is closely monitoring the current coronavirus outbreak and...

Jan 31, 2020 Presidential Proclamation "Travel Ban" Does Not Impact Student Visa Category

January 31, 2020
On January 31, 2020 President Trump issued a Presidential Proclamation entitled Proclamation on Improving Enhanced Vetting Capabilities and Processes for Detecting Attempted Entry to take effect on February 21, 2020. This Presidential Proclamation restricts entry on immigrant visas for citizens and nationals of Myanmar, Eritrea, Kyrgyzstan, Nigeria and entry as Diversity Immigrants for citizens and nationals of Sudan and Tanzania. Note that this DOES NOT include F or J student or scholar visa categories.

Judge Temporarily Blocks Enforcement of USCIS F, M, and J Unlawful Presence Policy

May 3, 2019
On May 3, 2019, the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of North Carolina issued a nationwide preliminary injunction that temporarily prevents the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) from enforcing the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) August 8, 2018 policy memo that changed how days of unlawful presence are counted following F or J non-immigrant status violations. Due to the prelimiary injunction, DHS is temporaily restricted from enforcing the new unlawful presence policy while the case is being resolved. The Court has set an expedited briefing schedule to file briefs and cross-motions for summary judgment by the end of May 2019. For more detailed information, see NAFSA's summary of the Unlawful Presence policy and ongoing litigation

4/10/2018- Chad Removed from Travel Ban List

April 16, 2018

A Presidential Proclamation on April 10, 2018 , has removed Chad from the Travel Ban list effective April 13, 2018 due to a Department of Homeland Security review which found that "that Chad has made marked improvements in its identity-management and information-sharing practices."

12/04/2017 - Travel Restrictions in Effect after Supreme Court Decision

December 4, 2017

On December 4, 2017 the Supreme Court of the United States issued stayson 2 previous preliminary injunctions impacting the September 24, 2017 ...

Continuing Litigation Upholds Blocks on Enforcement of Proclamation 9645

November 3, 2017

Preliminary injunctions from U.S. District Courts in Hawaii and Maryland continue to block enforcement of travel bans for nationals of Chad, Iran, Libya, Syria, Yemen, and Somalia, but leaves in place the Proclamation's bars on Venezuela and North Korea. The U.S. government is expected to continue appeals. See NAFSA's Entry Ban Litigation Updates for more information.

10/17/2017 - U.S. District Court in Hawaii issues Temporary Restraining Order to Block Implementation of Proclamation 9645​

October 17, 2017
On Oct 17, 2017 the U.S. District Court for the District of Hawaii issued a Temporary Restraining Order prohibiting enforcement of sections 2(a), (b), (c), (e), (g), and (h) of the Sept 24, 2017 travel ban Proclamation 9645. This Temporary Restraining Order blocks...

Sept 24, 2017 - Proclamation: Enhancing Vetting Capabilities and Processes for Detecting Attempted Entry Into the United States by Terrorists or Other Public-Safety Threats

September 26, 2017
On September 24, 2017, President Trump issued a Presidential Proclamation entitled Enhancing Vetting Capabilities and Processes for Detecting Attempted Entry Into the United States by Terrorists or Other Public-Safety Threats (click here for BIO's detailed summary) . This Proclamation partially or fully restricts entry into the United States for nationals of Chad, Iran, Libya, North Korea, Syria, Venezuela, Yemen and Somalia. The proclamation contains specific provisions for each impacted country, as summarized below. The new restrictions established by the proclamation take effect October 18, 2017.

7/14/17 - Hawaii District Court Exempts Grandparents and Other Family Members from Travel Ban, New DOS Cable Provides EO Compliance Timeline

July 14, 2017
On July 13, 2017 the U.S. Federal District Court in Hawaii issued a ruling exempting a new group of close family members from the EO 13780. The court rules that the State Departments interpretation of "close family relationship" was too narrow and orders to government to exclude from the travel ban "grandparents, grandchildren, brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins of persons in the United States " as well as...

6/28/17 - Department of State Clarifies Exemptions, DHS & CBP Issue FAQs for Travelers

June 29, 2017

A June 28 U.S. Department of State cable provides guidance for consular officers regarding implementation of Executive Order 13780 (E.O.) in visa issuance and exemptions from the suspension of entry. Notably, the cable seems to indicate that F-1, J-1, H1-B, TN, O-1, and Permanent Residents would appear to be exempt from the travel ban. Berkeley...

6/26/17 - Supreme Court Decision on Executive Order 13780 “Travel Ban.”

June 26, 2017
On June 26, 2017 The Supreme Court of the United States granted the U.S. government’s request for a stay of the previous lower court preliminary injunctions to the Executive Order 13780 “Travel Ban.” The Supreme Court will hear the final case in October 2017. The current Supreme Court decision upholds the travel ban for nationals or citizens of the 6 designated countries of Libya, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen- but creates an important exception for “foreign nationals who have a credible claim of a bona fide relationship with a person or entity in the United States” which appears to include UC Berkeley students, scholars, and employees.

3/06/17 - Executive Order: Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States

March 6, 2017

On March 6, 2017 President Trump issued an Executive Order entitled Protecting the Nation From Foreign Terrorist Entry Into the United States scheduled to take effect on March 16, 2017. This Executive Order replaces and revokes the prior Executive Order 13769 which had been issued on January 27, 2017. As with the prior Executive Order, this new Executive Order contains provisions that directly affect our student and scholar...

3/29/2017 - Multiple Preliminary Injunctions Issued for Executive Order Travel Ban

March 29, 2017

On March 29, 2017, the U.S. District Court in Hawai'i converted its March 15, 2017 temporary restraining order (valid for a maximum of 14 days), into a preliminary injunction, which continues to block enforcement of all of Sections 2 and 6. Sections 2 and 6 of the new EO barred entry for 90 days individuals without valid visas from particular countries of origin (Libya, Iran, Somalia, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen) and entry for 120 days for refugees. Enforcement of these sections of the EO is currently...

3/17/17 - Increased Screening of Visa Applicants

March 17, 2017
On March 17, 2017, the U.S. Dept. of State issued cables to all diplomatic and consular posts providing instructions for increased scrutiny for visa applicants. Individuals subject to these security clearances can expect extremely long visa processing times ranging from 2-6 months or more.

Resources

Concerns? Questions?

Please visit BIO with any F-1/J-1 immigration concerns or questions. Our advisers provide a welcoming, safe environment to explore any worries you may have related to your visa status, as well as explore options and benefits available for your current or future plans. For complex issues beyond our scope, we can assist you in finding a referral for an immigration attorney.

Enrolled UC Berkeley and EAP students can access resources through Counseling and Psychological Services (CPS), including individual confidential counseling appointments, groups, self-help tools, and more. Here are some options for accessing support from CPS:

  • Drop-in is crisis counseling is available 10am – 5pm Mon – Friday. No cost and no need for an appointment.
  • Make an appointment with a counselor by calling 642-9494. Let us know if you would like to meet with a specific counselor or counselor from a particular background.
  • Drop-in consultation is available at satellite locations, For a schedule visit https://uhs.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/letstalk.pdf.
  • Support during weekends and evenings (when CPS is closed) – Call 855-817-5667

UC Berkeley employees and Visiting Scholars or postdocs can find support through the Employee Assistance Program which provides free, confidential counseling and referrals. You can also contact Employee Assistance at 643-7754 with questions or to make an appointment.

See the Counseling & Psychological Services Response to Recent Events webpage for useful support resources during this time of continuing change.