As the United States reopens international borders, the US has announced new details of its entry requirements for the scheduled reopening on 8 November 2021.
On 25 October, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued official orders for implementing the new travel policy to safely regulate and facilitate international travel in the pandemic era.
The move will ease the current travel bans on visitors from 33 countries and will welcome fully vaccinated visitors.
The US will reopen to travellers from the United Kingdom, Ireland, the European Schengen Area, Brazil, China, India, and South Africa. The land border restriction with Canada and Mexico will also be eased on 8 November.
Travellers will need to wear masks when travelling to the United States but there is no quarantine mandate for arrivals.
The CDC issued orders set forth the new system’s requirements that all non-immigrant, non-US citizens seeking to enter the United States must be fully vaccinated and supply documented proof of their vaccination status. The agency said that exemptions to the vaccination requirements would be very limited, but would include children under the age of 18.
The CDC also issued the acceptable proof of vaccination to enter the country, see the table below.
Acceptable Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination
Documentation Type
Examples
Verifiable records (digital or paper)
Vaccination certificate with QR code1, digital pass via smartphone application with QR code1 (e.g., United Kingdom National Health Service COVID Pass, European Union Digital COVID Certificate)
Non-verifiable paper records
Printout of COVID-19 vaccination record or a COVID-19 vaccination certificate issued at national or subnational level or by an authorized vaccine provider (e.g., the CDC vaccination card)
Non-verifiable digital records
Digital photos of vaccination card or record downloaded vaccine record or vaccination certificate from an official source (e.g., public health agency, government agency, or other authorized vaccine providers), or a mobile phone application without QR code
In addition to proving travellers are fully vaccinated, all inbound international passengers including US citizens and legal permanent residents will be required to present a negative COVID-19 test taken no more than 72 hours prior to their departure for the US, regardless of their citizenship.
Returning US residents who are unvaccinated or only partially vaccinated will be subject to stricter requirements than they are now, and will need to produce a negative test taken no more than 24 hours before boarding their flight.
The CDC also announced that it’s introducing new contact-tracing practices and will rely on airlines to collect inbound international travellers’ basic contact information before they board their US-bound flights.
The government will require airlines to keep the information on their system for 30 days to enable health officials to follow up with any travellers exposed to COVID-19.
Exemption to the Vaccination Requirement
The government also stated exemptions to vaccine requirements would be rare, but travellers under the age of 18 and travellers from nations with low vaccination availability, such as under 10% of the population vaccinated, would be exempt from the vaccination requirement.
For anyone travelling to the United States who cannot demonstrate proof of full vaccination, they will have to produce documentation of a negative test within one day of departure.
White House statement
The US government will not require children under two to take a COVID-19 test before departure, but children aged 2 to 17 will require a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of departure to the United States if they’re travelling with fully vaccinated adults otherwise they will need to show evidence of a negative COVID-19 test taken within one day of departure.
The new travel system only refers to international air travel to the United States and does not affect visa issuance. The US State Department issued a statement reiterating that embassies and consulates will not necessarily be able to issue US visas more quickly which has been a known issue throughout the pandemic. How visa issuance is affected by the new vaccine travel requirements remains to be seen.
What are your thoughts on this issue? Talk to us in the comment section below.
Check out the deals we have found below and tell us your travel plans.
IaM can help with your visa application to the United States, the UK & other countries
If you need help with a US visa, a UK Visa, or visa to Europe, including help with appointment booking obligations, IaM can help. For more information and advice on US immigration, UK immigration law and US visa applications or if you need any help or assistance please, reach out to your Visa Coordinator at IaM.
Some of our posts include affiliate links. If you choose to purchase any of these products, we might get a small commission.For more information, check out ourTOS.
can i get a k1 visa when i am already on vacation in america .
because all i see is that with a k1 visa you can bring them in to usa .
but what if your lover is already in usa on vacation and you want a k1 visa how to get it .
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptRead More
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
Unlock Your Path to Success.
Get Your FREE Immigration Advice Guide Now! FREE Step-by-Step Immigration Advice Guide
Say goodbye to visa refusal anxieties. Our comprehensive DIY guide equips you with everything you need to:
Understand the visa application process inside out
Secure your appointment without hassle
Ensure your visa application is successful
Don’t let visa confusion hold you back. Grab your FREE guide now and take the first step towards a smooth immigration journey.
2 Responses
can i get a k1 visa when i am already on vacation in america .
because all i see is that with a k1 visa you can bring them in to usa .
but what if your lover is already in usa on vacation and you want a k1 visa how to get it .
Yes, you can start your application in the USA.