As of November 8, 2021, new rules will allow non-citizens who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 to enter the United States as tourists. The details for flying and driving into the USA are below.
Flying into USA
The geographic COVID-19 travel bans will be rescinded and replaced with COVID-19 vaccination requirements for all international air travelers to the United States. The travel bans restricted travel of those from China, Iran, the Schengen Area, UK and Ireland, Brazil, South Africa, and India. Moving forward, with limited exceptions,travelers will be required to be fully vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination before boarding a plane to the United States.
Proof of vaccination can be in the following forms:
- Verifiable digital or paper records: This includes, but is not limited to, examples such as vaccination certificates or digital passes accessible via QR code (such as the UK NHS COVID Pass and the European Union Digital COVID Certificate).
- Non-verifiable paper records: A paper vaccination record or a COVID-19 vaccination certificate issued by a national or subnational level or by an authorized vaccine provide (such as the CDC vaccination card).
- Non-verifiable digital records: Digital photos of vaccination card or record, or a downloaded record or vaccination certificate from an official source (e.g., public health agency, government agency, or other authorized vaccine provider), or a record shown on a mobile phone app without a QR code.
The following vaccines are currently acceptable:
- Janssen/Johnson & Johnson (Single Dose)
- Pfizer-BioNTech
- Moderna
- AstraZeneca
- Covishield
- BIBP/Sinopharm
- Sinovac
Individuals will be considered fully vaccinated after two weeks of receipt of the last dose of a vaccine, the first dose of an approved single-dose vaccine, or any combination of two doses of an approved vaccine (mix and match).
There are some exceptions to the vaccine requirement. Most notably:
- Children: Children under the age of 18.
- Contraindications: Those for whom approved COVID-19 vaccination is medically contraindicated.
- Humanitarian and Emergency Exceptions: Those granted humanitarian or emergency exceptions by the Director of the CDC in limited circumstances for individuals who need to travel to the U.S. for their health and safety and are unable to complete the vaccine requirement before doing so.
- Limited Vaccine Availability: Citizens of a country with less than 10% of the population vaccinated with any available COVID-19 vaccine, who seek to enter the United States pursuant to a nonimmigrant visa, except for a B-1/B-2 visa.
- National Interest Exceptions: Those whose entry would be in the national interest, as determined by the Secretaries of State, Transportation, Homeland Security or their designees.
- Airline Crew Members: Individuals seeking entry to the United States as a crew member on official duty assigned by the airline or aircraft operator that involves operation of aircraft, or the positioning of crew not operating the aircraft.
There are no exceptions to the vaccine requirement for religious reasons or other moral convictions.
All vaccinated individuals still must produce a negative viral test result within three calendar days of travel to the United States, or before boarding the first flight in a series of connection to the United States.
Children between the ages of 2 and 17 will be required to take a pre-departure test. If the child is not fully vaccinated but traveling with a fully vaccinated adult, they can show proof of a negative viral test taken within three calendar days before departure.
Driving Into the USA
Effective November 8, 2021, non-citizen travelers who are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 can enter the United States for both essential and non-essential travel via land borders and ferry terminals.
Border officers will require proof of full COVID-19 vaccination that is approved or authorized by the FDA, as well as vaccines listed as EUL for the WHO. Children under 18 years of age will be excepted from this requirement.
There is no requirement for a negative COVID-19 test for driving into USA.
If you have any questions about flying or driving into USA, call Silver Immigration today.