On Friday, October 4, 2019, Donald Trump issued a presidential proclamation that would bar new immigrants from entering the United States without health insurance.
The proclamation excludes from the United States new lawful immigrants who cannot show the ability to purchase unsubsidized commercial health insurance within 30 days of entry, unless exceptions apply. It will prevent otherwise eligible immigrants coming in from abroad from being issued visas to enter the U.S. if they lack the financial ability to purchase unsubsidized health insurance. That means that prospective immigrants potentially could be barred from the United States unless they can find a way to purchase health insurance outside of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchanges.
One way to satisfy the requirement of being able to purchase health insurance is to have actually purchased health insurance, though it is not yet clear whether it will be necessary to do so. It might be possible to satisfy consular officers, for example, by showing sufficient financial resources to purchase insurance after one arrives in the United States.
Because immigrant visa issuance is over 80% family-based immigrants, the proclamation will disproportionately impact those immigrating based on family ties, rather than employment-based immigrants. (Employment-based immigrants usually adjust status inside the United States.) Another significant impact will be on winners of the Diversity Visa Lottery, who are predominately from African countries, as most of those selected through that program enter the United States with immigrant visas rather than being able to adjust status in the United States.
As published, the proclamation only affects NEW immigrants applying for immigrant visas at the U.S. consulates and embassies abroad (those issued an immigrant visa on or after November 3, 2019, the effective date of the proclamation). It does not apply to nonimmigrants entering on any temporary visa, including H-1B visa holders, L-1 intracompany transferees, international students and scholars, visitors for business, tourists or entries for any other temporary purpose. It also does not apply to refugees, returning residents, people who are adjusting status in the USA.
Anyone who is able to adjust status from within the United States, rather than filing for an immigrant visa, should do so, because adjustment of status is outside the scope of the proclamation. Also, anyone able to get their immigrant visa this month should not delay their application and should review their documentary qualification with an immigration lawyer to be sure they can receive their visa before November 3, 2019.
Much of the practical effect of this proclamation will have to await implementing instructions from the State Department to consular posts.
Which forms of health insurance are “approved” under the proclamation?“Approved” health insurance under the proclamation includes:
Who is exempt from the proclamation’s requirements? Certain categories of immigrants are exempt from the proclamation’s requirements, including:
Briefly in Russian:
Новая Прокламация Президента США вступает в силу 3 ноября 2019 и требует наличия медицинской страховки для всех *новых* иммигрантов в США. По этой прокламации, которая не была утверждена Конгрессом, а только подписана Президентом, почти все иммигранты, подавшие документы на американскую иммиграционную визу, должны иметь страховку или достаточно денег, чтобы оплатить медицинские расходы в США. Если у иммигрантов нет страховки и денег, то визу они не получат и иммигрировать в США не смогут. Новое правило относится только к тем, кто подает на визу за рубежом, в том числе к супругам и родителям граждан США.
Новое правило - если оно останется в силе - коснется тех, кто спонсирует своих родителей, детей, а также победителей Лотереи грин карт.
Новое правило не относится к тем, кто получает грин карту через процесс adjustment of status, не выезжая из США. Поэтому если у вас есть возможность выбрать, то adjustment of status возможно лучший вариант для многих.
Не попадают под правило резиденты, которые находились за пределами США больше года, просители убежища, беженцы и их дети, а также те, у кого уже есть действующая иммиграционная виза, полученная до 3 ноября 2019.
The proclamation excludes from the United States new lawful immigrants who cannot show the ability to purchase unsubsidized commercial health insurance within 30 days of entry, unless exceptions apply. It will prevent otherwise eligible immigrants coming in from abroad from being issued visas to enter the U.S. if they lack the financial ability to purchase unsubsidized health insurance. That means that prospective immigrants potentially could be barred from the United States unless they can find a way to purchase health insurance outside of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) exchanges.
One way to satisfy the requirement of being able to purchase health insurance is to have actually purchased health insurance, though it is not yet clear whether it will be necessary to do so. It might be possible to satisfy consular officers, for example, by showing sufficient financial resources to purchase insurance after one arrives in the United States.
Because immigrant visa issuance is over 80% family-based immigrants, the proclamation will disproportionately impact those immigrating based on family ties, rather than employment-based immigrants. (Employment-based immigrants usually adjust status inside the United States.) Another significant impact will be on winners of the Diversity Visa Lottery, who are predominately from African countries, as most of those selected through that program enter the United States with immigrant visas rather than being able to adjust status in the United States.
As published, the proclamation only affects NEW immigrants applying for immigrant visas at the U.S. consulates and embassies abroad (those issued an immigrant visa on or after November 3, 2019, the effective date of the proclamation). It does not apply to nonimmigrants entering on any temporary visa, including H-1B visa holders, L-1 intracompany transferees, international students and scholars, visitors for business, tourists or entries for any other temporary purpose. It also does not apply to refugees, returning residents, people who are adjusting status in the USA.
Anyone who is able to adjust status from within the United States, rather than filing for an immigrant visa, should do so, because adjustment of status is outside the scope of the proclamation. Also, anyone able to get their immigrant visa this month should not delay their application and should review their documentary qualification with an immigration lawyer to be sure they can receive their visa before November 3, 2019.
Much of the practical effect of this proclamation will have to await implementing instructions from the State Department to consular posts.
Which forms of health insurance are “approved” under the proclamation?“Approved” health insurance under the proclamation includes:
- employer-sponsored health plans
- unsubsidized plans purchased on the individual market
- non–Affordable Care Act (ACA)–compliant short-term health plans authorized by the Trump administration
- catastrophic plans
- family members’ plans
- TRICARE plans or other coverage for military members and veterans
- visitor health insurance plans
- Medicare plans
- other health plans as determined by the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services
Who is exempt from the proclamation’s requirements? Certain categories of immigrants are exempt from the proclamation’s requirements, including:
- anyone issued a visa prior to the effective date (Nov. 3, 2019)
- LPRs returning after a long absence
- unmarried children and adoptees of U.S. citizens
- people seeking Iraq/Afghani Special Immigrant visas
- children under age 18, unless accompanying parents subject to the proclamation
- parents of adult U.S. citizens, if they can demonstrate to the satisfaction of the consular officer that their health care will not impose a substantial burden on the U.S. health care system
- people whose entry would advance law enforcement objectives or would be in the national interest
Briefly in Russian:
Новая Прокламация Президента США вступает в силу 3 ноября 2019 и требует наличия медицинской страховки для всех *новых* иммигрантов в США. По этой прокламации, которая не была утверждена Конгрессом, а только подписана Президентом, почти все иммигранты, подавшие документы на американскую иммиграционную визу, должны иметь страховку или достаточно денег, чтобы оплатить медицинские расходы в США. Если у иммигрантов нет страховки и денег, то визу они не получат и иммигрировать в США не смогут. Новое правило относится только к тем, кто подает на визу за рубежом, в том числе к супругам и родителям граждан США.
Новое правило - если оно останется в силе - коснется тех, кто спонсирует своих родителей, детей, а также победителей Лотереи грин карт.
Новое правило не относится к тем, кто получает грин карту через процесс adjustment of status, не выезжая из США. Поэтому если у вас есть возможность выбрать, то adjustment of status возможно лучший вариант для многих.
Не попадают под правило резиденты, которые находились за пределами США больше года, просители убежища, беженцы и их дети, а также те, у кого уже есть действующая иммиграционная виза, полученная до 3 ноября 2019.
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