The US is scheduled to alter its travel regulations on Nov. 8, ushering in a new system that will allow millions of fully vaccinated foreign nationals to visit the US.
In a tweet on Friday, White House associate press secretary Kevin Munoz wrote, “The US’ new travel policy that requires vaccination for foreign national travelers to the United States will begin on Nov 8. This announcement and date applies to both international air travel and land travel. This policy is guided by public health, stringent, and consistent.”
Most inbound travel from dozens of countries, including most European Union member states, the United Kingdom, and China, has been prohibited since early 2020 under the new travel system. Meanwhile, travellers from countries that were not banned will face stricter entrance hurdles as a result of a new vaccine requirement.
Entry requirements
To fly to the United States, foreign nationals will need to show proof of vaccination status. According to a White House official who was not authorized to comment on the record, they will also need to provide a pre-departure negative COVID test performed no more than three days before boarding.
International travellers crossing land borders with Canada and Mexico or travelling by passenger ferry for non-essential reasons will be asked to be vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination, according to the White House official. Foreign nationals crossing land borders for both essential and non-essential reasons must be completely vaccinated by January.
Vaccines approved by the US Food and Drug Administration and the World Health Organization will be accepted for air travel, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The same is likely to be true for land travel, according to a White House official.
Currently, the WHO has approved the following vaccinations for emergency use:
- Moderna
- Johnson & Johnson
- Pfizer-BioNTech
- Oxford-AstraZeneca/Covishield
- Sinopharm
- Sinovac
The CDC said on Friday that it would tolerate a vaccination mix-and-match method. Those who have received any combination of FDA or WHO-approved vaccines are deemed fully vaccinated.
Unvaccinated U.S. passengers will face more strict testing requirements under the new travel system.
Americans who have been vaccinated must still produce documentation of a negative coronavirus test performed no more than three days prior to travel. If they are not yet vaccinated, they must take a test one day before departure and another test when they arrive. To board overseas planes to the United States, Americans will not be required to present proof of vaccination.
– India’s new age travel digital media
