Ban on Paying Some Visa Holders for Plasma Remains in Place (1)

Biopharmaceutical companies’ lawsuit challenging a recent ban on certain temporary visa holders donating plasma if they receive payment in return will be dismissed, after a federal court in Washington, D.C., said the plaintiffs lacked standing to sue.

In June, U.S. Customs and Border Protection released an internal memo stating that donating plasma constitutes prohibited “labor for hire” for individuals on B-1 or B-2 visas if the donor receives a payment.

CSL Plasma uses blood plasma to develop medical therapies and treatments, and Biomat USA and its affiliates operate hundreds of plasma collection centers. The ban goes against longstanding CBP practice ...