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Coronavirus Updates: March 17, 2020

NOTE: This blog post is over one year old. Information may be out of date.

Service Suspensions

  • The United Kingdom has cancelled all routine immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments at the US Embassy in London until further notice. Those with an urgent matter can follow the guidance provided at www.ais.usvisa-info.com/en-GB, or call +44 20 3608 6998 to request an emergency appointment.

  • Canada has started cancelling routine nonimmigrant visa appointments at the US Consulate in Toronto.

  • South Africa has cancelled most nonimmigrant visa appointments until May 31, 2020.

  • Amsterdam, Austria, Australia, Bahamas, Belgium, Brazil, Colombia, Denmark, Dominican Republic, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Philippines, Poland, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Sweden, and Switzerland have all cancelled most immigrant and nonimmigrant visa appointments until further notice.

If you’ve had a visa appointment cancelled due to the coronavirus at a US Embassy or Consulate not listed above, please email Tessa. Those with upcoming US visa appointments should monitor the consulate’s website for the latest information on consular services.

H-1B Premium Processing Suspended

USCIS has temporarily suspended premium processing for FY2021 H-1B cap petitions, and will resume the service in a two-phased approach in late May 2020. Petitioners will be able to request premium processing for H-1B petitions requesting a change of status from F-1 beginning no later than May 27, 2020. Starting no earlier than June 29, 2020, USCIS will begin accepting premium processing requests for all other cap-subject H-1B petitions.

COVID-19 and Public Charge

Per a statement issued March 16, 2020, USCIS will not consider testing, treatment, or preventative care related to COVID-19 as part of a public charge inadmissibility determination, even if such treatment is provided or paid for by one or more public benefits.

USCIS encourages all those, including aliens, with symptoms that resemble Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) (fever, cough, shortness of breath) to seek necessary medical treatment or preventive services. Such treatment or preventive services will not negatively affect any alien as part of a future Public Charge analysis.

Local Updates

Williamson and Davidson Counties have been hit hard by the coronavirus, with a combined 63 confirmed cases as of March 17, 2020. The Tennessee Department of Health has launched a Coronavirus Public Information Line, available daily from 10AM - 10PM. Further, Vanderbilt has established a hotline for patients and employees, open 7 days a week from 7AM - 7PM. Call volume is very high on both hotlines, so you may be on hold for a long time.

Vanderbilt Health has established designated assessment sites throughout the Metro Nashville area. Please call ahead so that staff can meet you with a mask for your safety and the safety of other patients.

  • Walk-In Clinic Mt. Juliet | 64 Belinda Pkwy #200A, Mt. Juliet, TN 37122 | (615) 754-6560

  • Walk-In Clinic Melrose | 2608 8th Ave S #102A, Nashville, TN 37204 | (615) 875-5515

  • Walk-In Clinic Spring Hill | 3098 Campbell Stn Pkwy #100, Spring Hill, TN 37174 | (615) 302-1111

  • Walk-In Clinic Bellevue | 7069-B Hwy 70 S, Nashville, TN 37221 | (615) 514-5352

  • Walk-In Clinic Cool Springs | 1834 W McEwen Dr #110, Franklin, TN 37067 | (615) 875-4200

  • Walk-In Clinic Brentwood | 134 Pewitt Dr #200, Brentwood, TN 37027 | (615) 371-2481

  • Walk-In Clinic Franklin | 919 Murfreesboro Rd, Franklin, TN 37064 | (615) 791-7373

  • Walk-In Clinic Nolensville | 940 Oldham Dr, Nolensville, TN 37135 | (615) 776-8088

  • Primary Care Clarksville | 800 Weatherly Drive, #201B, Clarksville, TN 37043 | (615) 875-4036

  • Walk-In Clinic Belle Meade | 4534 Harding Pike, Nashville, TN 37205 | (615) 875-1000

  • Primary Care Gallatin | 300 Steam Plant Road, #430, Gallatin, TN 37066 | (615) 875-3570

Claire Costanzocoronavirus, public charge, local news