Just in time for the summer holiday travel season, the Biden administration is set to announce today an end to the COVID-19 testing requirement for air travelers to the United States. As of midnight this Sunday, June 12th, 2022, the United States will no longer require proof of a negative COVID-19 test taken within 24 hours of entering the country for all air travelers.
Read moreCOVID-19 Testing Requirements for International Travel
In response to the Omicron variant of COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control (“CDC”) has amended its testing requirements for air passengers traveling to the US from international destinations. The vaccination requirements remain in place with the only change being when a person must be tested before they arrive in the US by plane.
Beginning December 6, 2021, all inbound international airline passengers, including US Citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents, ages two and older will be required to submit a negative COVID test taken within one day of travel to the United States, in order to board their flight.
Read moreAs the US Opens for International Travel, Some Remain in Limbo
As previously reported, international travel to the United States was reopened for vaccinated visitors on Monday, November 8, 2021, as a result of President Biden’s Presidential Proclamation. Previously, tourists and visitors who were physically present in the United Kingdom, Ireland, countries in the European Schengen Area, Brazil, China, India, Iran, and South Africa during the fourteen-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into US were subject to travel restrictions as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. These restrictions, which barred entry for most non-US nationals have been officially lifted, for those who are fully vaccinated. Travel remains restricted for people who were vaccinated with non-WHO-approved vaccines, such as the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, and the Chinese CanSino vaccine.
Read moreThe White House Announces New Travel Policies Lifting COVID-19 Restrictions for Vaccinated Travelers
On October 25, 2021, President Joseph Biden issued a presidential proclamation detailing his previously announced plan to replace the current COVID-19 travel restrictions, which were issued on a country-by-country basis, with a globally consistent policy centered around vaccination and testing requirements. The new international air travel policy will be put into effect for any flights departing on or after 12:01 AM EST on Monday, November 8, 2021.
Read moreWhite House Announces U.S. to Lift COVID-19 Travel Bans on Vaccinated Travelers
In a highly-anticipated and welcomed statement, Jeff Zients, the White House coronavirus response coordinator, announced that the United States (U.S.) will be easing the COVID-19 travel restrictions in place barring entry for most non-US nationals who were physically present in Brazil, China, Iran, Ireland, countries in the European Schengen Area, South Africa, India, and the United Kingdom during the fourteen-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the Unites States.
Read moreUSCIS Announces COVID-19 Vaccination Required for Immigration Medical Examinations
United States Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced that effective October 1, 2021, COVID-19 vaccinations are required for immigration medical examinations which are a part of the green card application process. The Service has updated its policy guidelines to require that “applicants subject to the immigration medical examination must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before the civil surgeon can complete an immigration medical examination and sign Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record.”
Read moreRemoval of Certain Country Related Travel Restrictions and Requirement to Show Negative COVID-19 Test for All International Air Passengers Effective January 26, 2021
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an order last week, effective January 26, 2021, requiring proof of a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 for all international air passengers arriving from a foreign country to the US. Under this order, nearly all travelers aged two or older including US citizens must show a negative viral test within three days of departure or documentation of recovery from COVID-19. The CDC will consider waivers of testing requirements for passengers coming from countries with little or no testing capacity, including certain places in the Caribbean.
Read moreThe US Now Requiring Negative COVID-19 Test for Air Travelers from the UK
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) announced that effective December 28, 2020, American and foreign national air passengers arriving from the United Kingdom to the United States must test negative for coronavirus via the PCR or antigen test no more than seventy-two hours before departure from the UK to the US. The CDC notes that this order comes after UK public health authorities announced the discovery of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 which may be up to seventy percent more transmissible than previously circulating variants. Numerous countries have announced new restrictions on UK travelers due to this new variant.
The CDC notes that this “additional testing requirement will fortify our protection of the American public to improve their health and safety and ensure responsible international travel.” In a statement, CDC explains: "Passengers are required to get a viral test (i.e., a test for current infection) within the 3 days before their flight from the U.K. to the U.S. departs, and provide written documentation of their laboratory test result (in hard copy or electronic) to the airline. Airlines must confirm the negative test result for all passengers before they board. If a passenger chooses not to take a test, the airline must deny boarding to the passenger."