U.S. Government Issues New Rules For Travelers Coming Into Country

Last week, the White House and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security issued specific rules for vaccinated travelers entering the country by air, land, or sea. These rules will take effect on November 8, 2021. According to a White House fact sheet, air travelers will have to:

• Show proof of vaccination before boarding their flight to the United States;
• Have received a vaccine approved by the Food and Drug Administration or the World Health Organization; and
• Show proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of their departure.

Children under 18 will be exempted from the vaccine requirement, but will have to show a negative COVID test.

Non-tourist travelers from nearly 50 countries with nationwide vaccination rates of less than 10 percent also will be eligible for exemption from the rules. Those receiving an exemption will generally need to be vaccinated within 60 days of arriving in the United States. The countries eligible for an exemption include Nigeria, Egypt, Algeria, Armenia, Myanmar, Iraq, Nicaragua, Senegal, Uganda, Libya, Ethiopia, Zambia, Congo, Kenya, Yemen, Haiti, Chad, and Madagascar.

Travelers entering by land or port, meanwhile, will have to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination and verbally attest to their reason for travel and to their COVID-19 vaccination status during a border inspection. Any non-citizen attempting to enter the United States without appropriate documentation may be subject to expulsion or removal. Travelers arriving at a U.S. land port of entry or ferry terminal should be prepared to present any other relevant documents as requested by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer.

More information for travelers entering the United States by land and sea is here.