With our mission to uncomplicate the complicated, we’ve always thought of our work in immigration as people-first. Our goal is for these updates to make sense of the changes happening across the world. Please share these updates with your colleagues who may find this information helpful, too.
International Updates
Canada | The international travel ban has been extended to September 30. This applies to travelers from outside the US. Canada and the United States have a separate agreement, which is through September 21.
Case Update: 448 confirmed cases. Last updated: 2020/8/28 4:30 PM CEST
Hungary | From September 1, Hungary’s borders will close to foreigners. Hungarians returning to the country will have to quarantine until they can provide two negative COVID tests. Exceptions to this policy include travelers for business, diplomatic, humanitarian, or military purposes.
Case Update: 91 confirmed cases. Last updated: 2020/8/28 4:30 PM CEST
Italy | Earlier this week, we reported that Sicily’s president Nello Musumeci issued a decree to order the expulsion of asylees from the island. Since then, an Italian court denied that decree.
Case Update: 1,409 confirmed cases. Last updated: 2020/8/28 4:30 PM CEST
Japan | As reported at 1:50 AM EST, before resigning, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe announced new measures to fight the coronavirus, including increased testing capabilities and a plan to secure a vaccine for all citizens by mid-2021. Mr. Abe also said that foreigners with residence status would be allowed to enter Japan from the start of next month. Case Update: 905 confirmed cases. Last updated: 2020/8/28 4:30 PM CEST
Norway | From August 29, all travelers arriving from Germany and Liechtenstein will have to self-quarantine for ten days.
Case Update: 51 confirmed cases. Last updated: 2020/8/28 4:30 PM CEST
Poland | From September 2, in-bound flight to Poland from 46 countries will be suspended. For those in the country who are suspected to be infected, the quarantine requirement has been shortened to 10 days from 14 days.
Case Update: 887 confirmed cases. Last updated: 2020/8/28 4:30 PM CEST
Slovakia | From September 1, travelers from Belgium, Croatia, France, Malta, the Netherlands, and Spain will be required to self-quarantine for ten days, or present a negative test after five days of isolation.
Case Update: 90 confirmed cases. Last updated: 2020/8/28 4:30 PM CEST
The United Kingdom | From 3:00 GMT on Saturday, August 29, travelers from the Czech Republic, Jamaica, and Switzerland will have to quarantine for 14 days.
Separately, the government is encouraging people to return to their offices and workplaces. Transport Minister Grant Shapps said, “Our central message is pretty straightforward: we are saying to people it is now safe to return to work.”
Case Update: 1,522 confirmed cases. Last updated: 2020/8/28 4:30 PM CEST
Uruguay | On August 18, the government announced a plan to reopen its border to individuals from the European Union. Travelers must provide a negative PCR analysis taken within 72 hours of arrival, comply with the 14-day quarantine or perform a new swab on the seventh day and, depending on the result, continue or complete the isolation.
Case Update: 7 confirmed cases. Last updated: 2020/8/28 4:30 PM CEST
In this week’s Immigration Nerds podcast, we talk to Adam Goodman, an assistant professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, and the author of “The Deportation Machine: America’s Long History with Expelling Immigrants.” Goodman’s book examines how federal authorities have largely used three main mechanisms of expulsion to determine who can enter the US and who may remain.
We will continue to send updates daily or as more COVID-19-related news is available. If you have questions about anything we’re reporting above or in past updates or want to hear more about a different topic, just reply to let us know. If you have specific questions, please contact your employer or EIG attorney.