There have been a large number of developments in the field of immigration in 2020. Some were measures implemented in light of the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) pandemic, and others were introduced by the Trump Administration as part of its immigration policies. Most, if not all of these developments, have had a profound effect on the field and practice of immigration law and, as the COVID-19 pandemic continues to present a health crisis across the world, further changes should be expected.

Embassy and Consulate Closures

In February 2020, the U.S. Department of State (DOS) announced closures of the U.S. Consular Posts around the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic. At that time, it was announced that while a certain amount of emergency services including U.S. citizen services were available, visa applications were not being processed. In June 2020, DOS announced that U.S. Consular Posts would begin to reopen based on both COVID-19 conditions in each specific country and the availability of staff. However, even for those Consular Posts that have re-opened since that time, appointments have been limited, and waits may be lengthy due to limited staff.