Update On New Travel Bans Related To Covid-19 Outbreak

The following travel bans and measures have been or are about to be imposed as at Monday, March 16th, 2020.

• A travel ban between all of Europe, including the UK and Ireland, and the U.S. will go into effect as at midnight March 16th;
• For a comprehensive list of other countries now with travel bans see the New York Times report involving most countries here.
• U.S. Embassies, Consulates, and Missions in India, Italy, France, Jamaica and China have cancelled all immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments and this is expected to widen to others;
• U.S. Embassies and Consulates in Canada are beginning to cancel non-emergency immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments.

As a matter of special concern, there are preliminary reports of Covid-19 infections in U.S. holding cells and in the detained or asylum claiming community.

Restrictions on foreign travel to Canada

On Monday, March 16, 2020, Prime Minister Trudeau of Canada announced his country is closing its borders to most people who are not Canadian citizens or permanent residents. Exceptions will be made for immediate family members of Canadians, U.S. citizens, aircrew members, and diplomats.

Trudeau is expected to provide more guidance for those who possess valid study and work permits and who are currently overseas. At this time, it is unclear whether such individuals will be allowed to return to Canada.

Border restrictions will not apply to cargo and goods transportation.

All Canadian bound airlines have been instructed to check all boarding passengers for symptoms of COVID-19, and nobody who has symptoms will be allowed to fly to Canada. In his statement the Prime Minister indicated that starting Wednesday, March 18, only four Canadian airports will be open to international flights: Toronto Pearson International Airport, Montréal-Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport, Calgary International Airport, and Vancouver International Airport.

Somewhat strangely, Trudeau did not cut off flights from the U.S., Mexico, the Caribbean, or Saint-Pierre and Miquelon. Domestic flights within Canada will not be affected.

Overseas Americans and Canadians are now scrambling to arrange flights to return home as the schedule of flights changes from day to day. These latest moves were motivated by what top health care officials are advising U.S. and Canadian governments to do in an effort to minimize the impact of the pandemic on North America.