Seyfarth Synopsis: President Trump expanded the order restricting travel to the United States from most European countries — the Schengen Area, specifically —  to now include the UK and Ireland.

On Saturday, March 14, 2020, President Trump revised the proclamation to suspend travel to the US by all foreign nationals (with limited exceptions), immigrant or nonimmigrant, who were physically present within the Schengen Area during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry to include the UK and Ireland.  The addition of the UK and Ireland will take effect at midnight EST on Monday, March 16, 2020.

The Schengen Area travel restriction will now affect the majority of Europe, including the following twenty-eight (28) European countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, and the UK.

Certain foreign nationals will not be subject to the Schengen Area travel restriction. Notable exceptions include lawful permanent residents (“green card” holders); spouses of US citizens or lawful permanent residents; parents or guardians of US citizens or lawful permanent residents who are unmarried and under the age of 21 years old; and US military personnel, along with their spouses and children. The Trump administration has also reserved an exception for any foreign national who has received an invitation from the US government to enter the United States for a cause related to the containment or mitigation of the virus. Further exceptions are detailed in the proclamation.

Seyfarth Shaw will issue subsequent alerts as the situation continues to develop.