Hello, this is Matsui from IMS Legal Professional Corporation. The presidential election is finally coming to an end in the United States. For the past four years, President Trump has previously taken strict policies against immigrant and non-immigrant foreigners, including issuing an executive order called "Buy American and Hire American". And although the American and immigrant workforce was heavily impacted by the spread of COVID-19, the new issuance of green cards, L visas, H visas, and some J visas have been suspended. (Recent legal proceedings in a California court have lifted these restrictions for certain plaintiffs and their organization members.) Many have often said that immigration to the U.S. has become increasingly difficult under the current administration.
ESTA Denials
We often receive inquiries regarding ESTA and who is able to take advantage of the Visa Waiver Program (VWP). Please note that if you have ever been rejected for an ESTA application (even due to a typo), a visa application, or refused entry into the United States, you will not be able to use an ESTA under the current law. Even if somehow (luckily?) your ESTA is approved, there is a good chance you will get caught during immigration. Obviously, this situation can end up a big waste of time, especially after flying for more than 10 hours! Therefore, if you are disqualified from using ESTA, we strongly recommend applying for a visa.
Sometimes we see cases where clients applied for a work visa or traveled on an ESTA due to instructions from their company, and then their application is denied or they are denied entry. Although this isn't the applicant's fault, one denial means that a visa for sightseeing will forever be required.
Future of Immigration Policies
Immigration policies strongly reflect the intentions of the current administration in every country. A new President Biden in the U.S. could significantly change the current immigration policy and visa issuance operations. In the case of the Democratic Party of Japan, I feel that the immigration policies are generally favorable. However, due to COVID-19 wreaking havoc worldwide, the future of immigration to Japan is unclear at this stage. For the time being, we need to keep an eye on the situation in both Japan and the U.S. In particular, President Trump's decree restricting immigration is in place until the end of this year.
For more information, please contact us below ↓
https://imsvisa.support/en/contact/
