Restrictions on Americans (and family members) RETURNING From Countries Subject to the Novel Coronavirus Travel Ban

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) late on March 13th 2020 issued a Notice of Arrival Restrictions for American citizens, legal permanent residents, and their immediate families, who are returning home after recently visiting certain European countries, China, and Iran.

The new restrictions require those travelers to submit to an enhanced entry-screening established by DHS at one of these 13 airports, and to then self-quarantine as outlined below.

These 13 airports are:

• Boston-Logan International Airport, Massachusetts

• Chicago O’Hare International Airport, Illinois

• Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, Texas

• Detriot Metropolitan Airport, Michigan

• Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, Hawaii

• Harsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, Georgia

• John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York

• Los Angeles International Airport, California

• Miami International Airport, Florida

• Newark Liberty International Airport, New Jersey

• San Franciso International Airport, California

• Seattle-Tacoma International Airport, Washington

• Washington-Dulles International Airport, Virginia

Upon arrival at one of these airports, travelers will proceed to standard customs processing. They will then continue to an enhanced entry screening where passengers will be asked about their medical history and about their current condition. Additionally, some passengers will have their temperatures taken by health professionals.

Once travelers have successfully completed the enhanced entry screening, passengers will be given written guidance about COVID-19 and will be allowed to proceed to their final destination. Once home, individuals must IMMEDIATELY SELF-QUARANTINE. In order to ensure compliance, local and state public health officials will contact individuals in the days and weeks following their return to the U.S.

We would urge anyone affected by the above, or by COVID-19 in general as it applies to international travel, to contact an experienced immigration attorney. We at McEntee Law Group are ALWAYS here to answer any questions and advise on this issue. Please email us at info@mcenteelaw.com or call +1-773-828-9544 if you need assistance. As a law firm founded and run by immigrants, we truly appreciate how stressful this is – we are here for you and your family/employees during this difficult time, just as we are for our families and our employees.

Stay tuned to this blog for any updates on COVID-19 as it applies to U.S. immigration, and for real time updates follow our Managing Partner Fiona McEntee at @USVisaLawyer on Twitter.