More Guidance on the Soon-to-Be-History HIV Ban
The end of the HIV ban is, incredibly, less than two weeks away. Guidance for government officials who will implement the change has been coming in in dribs and drabs. We’ve been hearing a lot of questions from people abroad, worried that consular officers have not been informed of the rule change. Fortunately, finally, the Department of State has issued guidance, making it clear that HIV will no longer be a reason to deny visas, starting on January 4, 2010. Anyone who is HIV-positive and has an interview at a consulate after January 4, 2010, should print and bring the Q and A with them. If anyone has any problems with their consulate, please let Immigration Equality know right away.
Also, we have just learned that the Centers for Disease Control sent a letter to the doctors who perform “green card” medical exams, instructing them NOT to test for HIV anymore after January 4, 2010, and telling them to write, “no longer required,” in the HIV test box. Again, if you have a medical exam scheduled after January 4, 2010, you may want to print out this letter and bring it along to ensure that you are not wrongly tested and that the doctor completes the form correctly. If anyone has any problems at their medical exam, let Immigration Equality know right away.
Happy Holidays!
maybe they can get a move on and issue the green cards that have already been approved too but are waiting for this ban to be lifted, or is that going to take an extra few months too?
Comment by mykaila — December 27, 2009 @ 12:39 pm
i was stopped from paying for my immigrant visa that i should have received because of the green card lottery due to my Hiv status. my husband who is discordant however received his and is travelling soon. what should i do? Kampala, Uganda
Comment by Deborah — December 28, 2009 @ 7:14 am
How about applicants case pending to waiver requirments? should goahead and claim the green card after Jan 4,2010 or what is next?
Comment by kin — December 29, 2009 @ 12:21 pm
One huge step in the correct direction
Comment by david — January 3, 2010 @ 12:08 pm
[...] helpful to print out an bring the CDC letter to any medical exam scheduled after January 4, 2010. Immigration Equality explains: [T]he Centers for Disease Control sent a letter to the doctors who perform “green card” [...]
Pingback by Farewell to the HIV Travel Ban — January 4, 2010 @ 12:16 pm
[...] and their immigration issues, and the Immigration Equality blog also gives information on what the lifting of HIV+ travel ban means and how and when the change in US immigration law will come into [...]
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