Coronavirus Update: British Columbia Requiring all U.S. Travelers to Self-Isolate for Two weeks

Canadian province British Columbia is requiring all travelers from the U.S. to self-isolate for two weeks. This will apply to everyone coming in from air and land border, including Canadian and U.S. citizens. Anyone crossing the border will be required to have a detailed plan for two weeks of self-isolation. A quarantine site will be set up for those who don’t. International flights into Victoria and Kelowna have already been suspended. B.C. is connected to Washington State, the first location of COVID-19 related deaths.

Canada, United States, and Mexico have closed its borders to non-essential travel, tourism, and recreational travel until April 20. It’s likely that this deadline will be extended beyond this date.

Essential travel includes the following:

• Citizens and lawful permanent residents returning to the United States.
• Individuals traveling for medical purposes (e.g., to receive medical treatment in the United States).
• Individuals traveling to attend educational institutions.
• Individuals traveling to work in the United States (e.g., individuals working in the agriculture industry who must travel between the United States and Canada or Mexico in furtherance of such work).
• Individuals traveling for emergency response and public health purposes (e.g., government officials or emergency responders entering the United States to support federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial government efforts to respond to COVID-19 or other emergencies).
• Individuals engaged in lawful cross-border trade (e.g., truck drivers supporting the movement of cargo between the United States and Canada and Mexico).
• Individuals engaged in official government travel or diplomatic travel.
• Individuals engaged in military-related travel or operations.

You can find key immigration information related to the Corona Virus below.

• Top 10 Covid-19 Immigration Questions
• Implications of Layoffs for employers who have employees on H-1B and/or E-3 Visas
• USCIS announces flexibility for request for evidence (RFE) and Notice of Intent to Deny (NOID)
• Information on Consular closures during Covid-19
• USCIS issues guidance on Remote 1-9 verification during Covid-19
• USCIS office closures due to Covid-19
• Can I apply for Unemployment Insurance Benefits while on a Visa?
• Canada/U.S. Border Closures
• USCIS announces temporary suspension of premium processing
• What can you do if your ESTA is running out? 
• Travel Ban for Europe
• Stimulus Bill (All 800 pages)
• Information on Small Business Loans related to the Stimulus package
• USCIS to accept scanned/reproduced signatures instead of “wet” signatures on immigration petitions and forms
• Implications of furlough or termination if you are on a TN visa
• Does the Stimulus Bill impact my immigration status? Is there a public charge concern?
• Understanding the Stimulus Package for Small Businesses and the Paycheck Protection Program
• Small Business Administration COVID-19 Loans
• USCIS to Reuse Previously Submitted Biometrics to Process Work Permit Applications
• USCIS Temporary Office Closure Extended Until at least May 3
• SBA Loans and Public Charge Rules – Paychecks Loan Program and Economic Injury Disaster Relief Loan Program
• I am in the U.S. on H-1B visa and my employment was terminated due to the Corona virus outbreak. 
• I am in the U.S. on an E-2 visa, can I apply for loans under the Stimulus Bill?
• Does Covid-19 impact my obligations as an H-1B or E-3 Employer?
• I am in the U.S. on E-2 employee visa. Can I apply for unemployment benefits due to the Coronavirus?