The outbreak of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic in early March has caused governments across the globe to close schools, travel and businesses big and small, resulting in millions of people out of work and millions of students out of school. In addition to the travel bans and restrictions implemented by the United States and many other countries, the United States has undergone unprecedented levels of shutdowns and stay-at-home orders, as the death toll continues to rise with no plateau in sight. With the shutdowns and stay-at-home orders, businesses across the country have scrambled to set up staff to work remotely and have had to face economic hardships that have forced reductions in staff hours, or positions altogether. The pandemic has given rise to additional complications and unique challenges that the nonimmigrants and intending immigrants are facing in the United States. This article will provide a general overview of some of the issues faced by nonimmigrant visa holders as well as intending immigrants to the United States.

Both immigrants already in the United States as well as ones outside the country are facing complications as the processing of various immigration benefits have been drastically curtailed. U.S. embassies and consulates around the world have suspended routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa processing. For example, the National Visa Center (NVC) has issued notifications that due to staffing reduction it will be unable to respond to all inquiries received via NVC’s online inquiry tool and to only contact them with urgent medical or humanitarian inquiries, or necessary case updates that are still pending. With respect to U.S. passport services, as of March 20, the Department of State is only able to offer in-person service for customers with a qualified life-or-death emergency and who need a passport for immediate international travel within 72 hours.