Since 8 Nov 2021, the USA has lifted travel restrictions and is now open for tourism — effectively ending the travel ban for 33 countries, including China, the United Kingdom, and European Union countries.
All fully vaccinated foreign travelers and non-immigrant, non-U.S. citizen travelers — regardless of citizenship — can enter the United States, as long as they show proof of vaccination and present a negative COVID-19 test result taken no more than three days before their flight departs.
Unvaccinated international travelers will not be allowed to board their flight to the USA, unless they meet the criteria for exemptions listed by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Travelers must have received a vaccine approved or authorized by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) or World Health Organization (WHO), which currently includes the following vaccines: Janssen/Johnson & Johnson (Single Dose), Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, AstraZeneca, Covishield, BIBP/Sinopharm, and Sinovac. A person is considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the last dose of a multi-dose, or the first dose of a single dose, approved vaccine. Receipt of doses from any two different approved vaccines is acceptable.
Essential travel for unvaccinated individuals across land and ferry borders will be allowed until January 21, 2022, at which time the vaccine requirement will be imposed for all travelers. Certain travelers are not required to show proof of vaccination to board a flight to the United States. At this time, these include:
• U.S. citizens U.S. nationals Legal Permanent Residents (Green Card Holders) Children under 18.
• Those who participated or are participating in CDC-approved clinical trials.
• Those for whom approved COVID-19 vaccination is medically contraindicated as determined by a licensed physician.
• Those granted humanitarian or emergency exceptions by the Director of the CDC Citizens of countries where less than 10% of the population is vaccinated, and who seek entry pursuant to a nonimmigrant visa (not including B-1/B-2 travelers).
• Members of the U.S. armed forces and their spouses and children Those whose entry would be in the national interest, as determined by the Secretaries of State, Transportation, or Homeland Security or their designees.
• Diplomats or individuals on official government travel (A-1, A-2, C-3, E-1 (TECRO or TECO), G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1 through NATO-4, NATO 6) Individuals invited by the United Nations Sea crew members (C-1 and D).
• Airline crew members.
Remzi Guvenc Kulen, Esq.
Kulen Law Firm, P.C.
