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Late on Dec. 31, the Trump administration issued a proclamation that has the effect of extending the duration of two proclamations from 2020 that restricted immigrant and non-immigrant visa issuance at U.S. consulates and embassies worldwide. Proclamation 10014 of April 22, 2020, restricted issuance of immigrant visa for 60 days; Proclamation 10052 of June 22, 2020, restricted issuance of certain non-immigrant visas (L-1/L-2, H-1B/H-2B/H-4, certain J-1/J-2 visas) and extended the ban on issuance of immigrant visas until Dec. 31, 2020. As justification for New Year’s Eve proclamation extending the effective date of the earlier proclamations for 90 days, the administration cited the continuing impact of COVID-19 on the U.S. labor market, including the high rate of unemployment in the U.S. The effective date may be extended beyond March 31 if deemed necessary. The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California has enjoined the implementation of Proclamation 10052 for employers who are members of the Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers,  and the other plaintiff associations. The proclamations may also be rescinded by the incoming Biden administration after it takes office on Jan. 20.

See previous GT blog posts on these proclamations.

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Photo of Martha Schoonover‡ Martha Schoonover‡

Martha J. Schoonover focuses her practice on business immigration matters and assists employers in obtaining temporary, nonimmigrant visas for business persons, managers and executives, treaty investors and traders, professionals (including researchers and scientists, engineers, computer professionals, and business professionals), exchange visitors, students, and…

Martha J. Schoonover focuses her practice on business immigration matters and assists employers in obtaining temporary, nonimmigrant visas for business persons, managers and executives, treaty investors and traders, professionals (including researchers and scientists, engineers, computer professionals, and business professionals), exchange visitors, students, and crew members working on the Outer Continental Shelf. In addition, Martha assists in obtaining labor certifications and permanent resident status for professionals, researchers, multinational managers and executives and other priority workers and in obtaining and relinquishing U.S. citizenship.

Martha represents companies facing U.S. government investigations or audits for immigration violations and prepares immigration and visa compliance programs for clients. She counsels employers on the employer sanctions and anti-discrimination provisions of the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 and represents employers being audited by the U.S. Government. In addition, she assists foreign companies in obtaining vessel exemptions from the U.S. manning requirements of the U.S. Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act and in obtaining determinations from the Coast Guard that persons are not a part of the regular complement of the crew. Her practice involves appearances before and filing petitions/applications with the U.S. Department of State and its overseas posts, The U.S. Department of Labor, and the Department of Homeland Security, including U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and the U.S. Coast Guard. Martha has been a frequent lecturer and author for the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) American Bar Association and ALI-ABA. She headed AILA’s Labor Certification Task Force from 1993 to 1995 and has served on its State Department and INS/CIS General Counsel Liaison Committees.

Admitted in the District of Columbia. Not admitted in Virginia. Practice limited to federal immigration practice.