Will J-1 interviews resume this year?

[Anonymous]

Like many others here, we matched with an Au Pair who was not able to get an interview due to the consulate shutdown. We may agree with her for her to start ASAP in the new year (provided the ban is lifted).

My question is - assuming that consulates re-open, will J-1 interviews resume / new J-1 be issued in advance of Jan. 1, even though entry is prohibited?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Like many others here, we matched with an Au Pair who was not able to get an interview due to the consulate shutdown. We may agree with her for her to start ASAP in the new year (provided the ban is lifted).

My question is - assuming that consulates re-open, will J-1 interviews resume / new J-1 be issued in advance of Jan. 1, even though entry is prohibited?

My understanding is that the entry is not prohibited, it's the issuance of new visa that the executive order banned. If my understanding is correct, then the answer to your question is "no." Which also means that it will take a while for new APs to arrive in 2021.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Like many others here, we matched with an Au Pair who was not able to get an interview due to the consulate shutdown. We may agree with her for her to start ASAP in the new year (provided the ban is lifted).

My question is - assuming that consulates re-open, will J-1 interviews resume / new J-1 be issued in advance of Jan. 1, even though entry is prohibited?

My understanding is that the entry is not prohibited, it's the issuance of new visa that the executive order banned. If my understanding is correct, then the answer to your question is "no." Which also means that it will take a while for new APs to arrive in 2021.

I looked at the executive proclamation (https://www.whitehouse.gov/presidential-actions/proclamation-suspending-entry-aliens-present-risk-u-s-labor-market-following-coronavirus-outbreak/), and I read it as prohibiting entry only:

"Sec. 2. Suspension and Limitation on Entry. The entry into the United States of any alien seeking entry pursuant to any of the following nonimmigrant visas is hereby suspended and limited, subject to section 3 of this proclamation: ... (b) a J visa, to the extent the alien is participating in an ... au pair ... program, and any alien accompanying or following to join such alien"

"Sec. 3. Scope of Suspension and Limitation on Entry. (a) The suspension and limitation on entry pursuant to section 2 of this proclamation shall apply only to any alien who: ... (ii) does not have a nonimmigrant visa that is valid on the effective date of this proclamation"

[Anonymous]

Entry here means the visa. This is a visa issuance ban not a travel ban.

[Anonymous]

CC said on its call last night that it is seeking guidance from the State Department on this exact question, and is hoping that interviews will be allowed pre-Jan 2021, so that travel could resume early Jan (assuming travel ban is lifted). We shall see.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Entry here means the visa. This is a visa issuance ban not a travel ban.

The State Department's news release calls it an entry ban, not a visa ban. It also says that consulates are closed due to COVID, but doesn't say anything about not issuing visas going forward. https://bit.ly/3dxBiAX

[Anonymous]

The ban is on entering ON a J-1 visa.

[Anonymous]

Anyone know if the CC call was recorded and can be viewed online? Wasn't able to make it last night.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Anyone know if the CC call was recorded and can be viewed online? Wasn't able to make it last night.

It was. Ask your LCC to send it to you.