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Worldwide Migration Partners

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COVID-19 News and FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Information, Advice, and Support for Travel and Immigration Affected by Covid-19

The Covid-19 pandemic and its resulting restrictions and requirements for international travel and visa applications have added extra layers of complexity and difficulty for those in Australia looking to immigrate to the United States and U.S. citizens wishing to immigrate to Australia.

The team here at Worldwide Migration Partners have created this page to help answer the most frequently asked questions and cover all the latest news and developments as they arise. We will update this page with the latest COVID-19 news in relation to AU and US visas as it emerges. We would also recommend following the Worldwide Migration Partners Facebook Page for regular updates.

If you have a question about travel and or immigration restrictions for Australia or the United States and can't find an answer here, please reach out to our friendly team to speak with one of our specialists.

We Are Here For You!

  • Latest News
  • Australian COVID-19 Questions Answered
  • US COVID-19 Questions Answered
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Contact Our Team For Assistance

Covid-19 Immigration and Travel News

Please note the U.S. Embassy & Consulates in Australia have outlined and updated their page in regards to the COVID-19 U.S. and Australian travel information. Click here for more information.

BREAKING: The Biden administration announced that in November 2021, it will lift the COVID-19 travel restriction for specific countries and instead require all foreign travellers to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination before boarding a flight to the United States. Click here for more information.

Vaccination and Quarantine Requirements For Travel to Australia – Nov 2021

28 October 2021
Traveler holds vaccine passport certificate to show COVID 19 vaccination status . The digital health certificate is required for international travel during coronavirus pandemic .
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U.S. COVID-19 Vaccination Requirements for ALL Inbound Travelers – Oct 2021

27 October 2021
COVID-19 stamped passport
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Australian Travel Exemptions During The Pandemic

23 September 2021
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U.S. to Ease International Travel Restrictions November 2021

23 September 2021
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Important Information for All Travelers to the United States – COVID-19 Requirements [Update]

14 January 2021
A man wearing a mask in an airport prepares to board a plane
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Requesting an Emergency Non-Immigrant Visa Appointment in Australia

11 September 2020
Read More
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Exemptions and Requirements for Travel to Australia

Can I travel to Australia? Expand

From Nov. 1, 2021, fully vaccinated people will be able to travel to Australia without quarantining if they are:

  • An Australian citizen
  • An Australian permanent resident
  • An immediate family member of an Australian citizen or permanent resident
  • In an exempt category

Unvaccinated Australian Citizens and Permanent Residents seeking to re-enter Australia are still subject to the restrictions that have been in place since March 2020. For further details, visit the updated information at: https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/leaving-australia

The definition of immediate family members of adult Australian Citizens and Permanent Residents has been expanded to include:

  • Biological parents
  • Legal (including adoptive) parents
  • Step-parents
  • Parents in-law.

However, be aware that even though this category of traveller is free from inbound restrictions, you will still need to have the relationship verified through the exemption process. More information on this process can be found at: https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/immediate-family-australian-citizens-or-permanent-residents-or-new-zealand-citizens-usually-resident-australia

What are the current requirements for international travel to Australia? Expand
  • You must provide evidence that you are fully vaccinated.  If you got vaccinated in Australia, you can use your International COVID-19 vaccination certificate. If you were overseas for your vaccination, you either can register your vaccination in the Australian Vaccination Register or you can use a foreign vaccination certificate.
  • You must complete the Australian Travel Declaration.
  • Even if vaccinated, you will need to provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 PCR or RT-PCR test upon check-in at your airline.  You must get tested at least 72 hours before the scheduled departure of your first flight.  You don’t need to be re-tested at transit points. There are some exemptions to the testing requirements.
  • If you are unvaccinated, you will be required to quarantine at a government-mandated hotel at your expense for 14 days upon your arrival.  Testing requirements are the same as above.
Will I need to Quarantine apon arrival in Australia? Expand

From Nov. 1, 2021, fully vaccinated people will be able to travel to Australia without quarantining if they are:

  • An Australian citizen
  • An Australian permanent resident
  • An immediate family member of an Australian citizen or permanent resident
  • In an exempt category

Unvaccinated Australian Citizens and Permanent Residents seeking to either leave Australia or re-enter Australia are still subject to the restrictions that have been in place since March 2020. For further details, visit the updated information at: https://covid19.homeaffairs.gov.au/leaving-australia

Can Australian's travel internationally? Expand

Vaccinated Australian citizens and permanent residents are now exempt from outbound travel restrictions. Exemption requirements for fully vaccinated Australian Citizens and Permanent Residents have been officially dropped as of November 1, 2021. These same individuals may now return to Australia without needing to quarantine.

Can I apply for an Australian Partner Visa despite the COVID-19 pandemic? Expand

There are currently three options for Australian Partners Visas.

  • Prospective Marriage (Subclass 300) visa
  • Partner (Subclass 820/801) visa
  • Partner (Subclass 309/100) visa

Should you be in a relationship with an Australian Citizen, Permanent Resident or Eligible New Zealand Citizen and your intention is to reside in Australia, then you may be eligible for one of the Australian Partner Visas.

Please click here to learn more.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact us today. The team at Worldwide Migration Partners are here to help you navigate this critical and unprecedented situation.

US COVID-19 Questions Answered

What are the current requirements for international travel to the U.S.? Expand

From November 08, 2021, most foreign national air travellers will be required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and provide evidence of such before boarding a flight to the U.S. Children under 18 years old are excepted from these requirements.

The vaccinations accepted for these non-citizen travellers will be U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and World Health Organization (WHO) emergency use listed (EUL) vaccines with full dosages administered greater than two weeks before U.S. travel.

Travellers (including unvaccinated children between 2- and 17-years old) will require a negative Covid-19 test within 3 days prior to travel to the United States.

Passengers will be required to provide contact information to the airline before boarding a flight to the U.S. for contact tracing to notify COVID-19 exposure. The airlines will be required to retain this information for 30 days and transmit the information to CDC as requested.

New enhanced masking requirements in indoor areas of public transportation travelling into, within, or out of the United States and indoors at U.S. transportation hubs, including airports will be enforced.

Can I get an exemption for U.S. vaccination requirements for inbound travellers? Expand

Besides children, there are only minimal exceptions to the vaccination requirements for foreign national travellers. These exceptions include the following foreign national travellers:

  • Involved in specific COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials
  • Medical contradictions that the CDC has approved
  • Granted an exception by the CDC for humanitarian or emergency reasons
  • Non-visitor (B-1 or B-2 visa or Visa Waiver Program) travel for travellers from countries as determined by the CDC with low-vaccine availability (the CDC will publish a specific list)
  • Certain sea crew members travelling on a C-1 or D visa
What happens to an E-3 employee that must work from home? Expand

The US Department of Labor (DOL) have guidelines outlining what happens when an employee may need to work from home as it relates to the Labor Condition Application (LCA).

If the E-3 worker's current home is within the “area of intended employment” as listed on the certified LCA then a new LCA filing is not generally going to be required as long as there are no changes in the terms and conditions of the employment.

In these situations, the employer must provide an electronic or hard-copy notice posting for 10 days to that worksite, including a home office. As well as update the Public Access File of the E-3 worker with new posting information.

Due to the current COVID-19 outbreak, the DOL has stated that their office “acknowledges employers affected by the COVID-19 pandemic may experience various service disruptions, the notice will be considered timely when placed as soon as practical and no later than 30 calendar days after the worker begins work at the new worksite locations.”

We will be releasing a blog on this topic soon and going into more depth about this topic. Please keep an eye on our blog page for this new article.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact us today. The team at Worldwide Migration Partners are here to help you navigate this critical and unprecedented situation.

 

My E-3 Visa is Expiring and I can’t travel – What do I do? Expand

If you are currently in the United States and your E-3 visa is expiring, the best option under the current situation is to extend your E-3 status within the United States. As long as you are extending your E-3 status with your same employer, you are allowed to file a petition to extend your E-3 status with the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS).

Upon filing the petition to extend your E-3, you are given a continuation of authorised employment for 240 days. Typically, the extension of status will be reviewed during this time and you can continue working in the US while your case is pending.

If your current visa is expiring soon and you are not able to renew your visa at the U.S. Consulate, as is likely the case with the current situation, you may decide the best option available is to file an extension of your E-3 status or even a change of employer petition with the USCIS while you remain in the United States. This will allow you to stay in the United States in valid status and continue working until you can travel internationally to renew the visa at a U.S. Consulate.

We will be releasing a blog on this topic soon and going into more depth about this topic. Please keep an eye on our blog page for this new article.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact us today. The team at Worldwide Migration Partners are here to help you navigate this critical and unprecedented situation.

What if I am in the US now on the Visa Waiver (ESTA)? Expand

For those who are currently in the US after a valid admission on the Visa Waiver (ESTA), the first and most important step is to understand your period of admission. This is the maximum date you have been given to stay in the US.

This information on admission period is stated in the Form I-94 provided U.S. Custom and Border Protection (CBP). A foreign national should always check this date regardless of the date on your entry stamp in your passport. Foreign nationals can find their I-94 here.

We will be releasing a blog on this topic soon and going into more depth about this topic. Please keep an eye on our blog page for this new article.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact us today. The team at Worldwide Migration Partners are here to help you navigate this critical and unprecedented situation.

What happens during the current COVID-19 pandemic to Visa Waiver (ESTA) travelers? Expand

First, it important to consider if you can safely depart the US and return to your home country.

If a foreign national decides to stay in the US or cannot leave the US, then you need to understand US immigration law related to your stay.

It is important to understand there are no provisions to extend a Visa Waiver (ESTA) entry. Furthermore, generally a foreign national cannot change status to a different non-immigrant visa status from the Visa Waiver (ESTA) entry.

The only option would be called satisfactory departure from the US, which would give a foreign national after a Visa Waiver (ESTA) entry up to an additional 30 days to depart the US in an emergency. This is provided the foreign national is currently in status and within their current 90-day admission period. This is the only relief available currently, and the final decision is a matter of discretion.

We will be releasing a blog on this topic soon and going into more depth about this topic. Please keep an eye on our blog page for this new article.

If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact us today. The team at Worldwide Migration Partners are here to help you navigate this critical and unprecedented situation.

Resources

It is important to remember that the articles you may read online or that is shared on social media may not always be accurate. It is vital that the information you obtain regarding your visa is from a reputable source.

Below we will add links to the most accurate sources for Australian and US visa information.

AU Resources:

  • Smartraveller
  • Department of Home Affairs - All Visa Holders
  • Department of Home Affairs - Travel Restrictions
  • Department of Home Affairs - Student Visa
  • Australian Taxation Office (ATO)
  • Department of Health - For Employers
  • Department of Health
  • The Treasury

AU Media Releases:

  • New Arrangements For Arrivals From Overseas
  • International Students Ready To Fill Critical Staff Shortages In Aged Care
  • More Help Aussie Shelves Stocked

US Resources:

  • U.S. State Department
  • USCIS
  • Department of Homeland Security
  • ICE Response
  • Center for Disease Control
  • US Government Page
  • Travelers’ Ban
  • E-Verify
  • U.S. Department of Labor
  • IRS

Support Links:

  • Mental Health Wellness Tips - Quarantine
  • Why You Should Ignore All That

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US Immigration Services
Australian Migration Services
Worldwide Migration Partners Migration law specialists US Visa Application

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Sydney: (02) 9415-2359

United States

Hawaii: 808-626-5020
New York: 347-389-9955
Los Angeles: 213-349-0857
How to get a visa to work in Australia - Migration Agents
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