India Added to COVID-19 Travel Ban List

Starting at 12:01 AM on May 4, 2021, India has been added to a list of travel banned countries due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis. Any foreign national who has been physically present in India cannot travel to the United States within 14 days of their stay there. This is after the travel ban imposed on travelers from China, Iran, European countries, the United Kingdom, and Brazil.

Starting on May 4, the U.S. will ban direct travel from India for all travelers including those holding valid visas except for the individuals listed below:

• S. citizens;
• Lawful permanent residents;
• The spouse of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident;
• The parent or legal guardian of a U.S. citizen or permanent resident, if the U.S. citizen or permanent resident is unmarried and under the age of 21;
• The sibling of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, provided that both are unmarried and under the age of 21;
• The child, foster child, or ward of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, or who is a prospective adoptee seeking to enter the United States pursuant to the IR-4 or IH-4 visa classifications;
• A foreign national traveling at the invitation of the U.S. government for a purpose related to containment or mitigation of the virus;
• Nonimmigrant crewmembers;
• Foreign nationals seeking entry or transiting the United States under an A-1, A-2, C-2, C-3, G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1 through NATO-4 or NATO-6 visa;
• A foreign national whose entry would not pose a significant risk of transmitting the virus, as determined by the Centers for Disease Control; and
• A foreign national whose entry would further important U.S. law enforcement interests or would be in the U.S. national interest.

Foreign nationals who have recently visited India and the other travel banned countries and who are not immediate relatives of U.S. citizens or green card holders will not be admitted to the United States until the presidential proclamation has been lifted. This includes foreign nationals who hold a valid U.S. nonimmigrant visa. Information regarding national interest exceptions for those in India or have stayed there should be issued soon.