U.S. Plans to Lift Border Ban, New Rules Clarified for Foreign Travelers
President Joe Biden outlined new rules for foreign travelers entering the country when the U.S. borders reopen on Nov. 8. The plan to reopen U.S. borders will apply to both air and land travel. President Biden signed the proclamation to reverse the ban that’s been in place since former President Trump implemented it in March 2020. Biden extended it when he took office in January of this year.
On Monday, Biden said the U.S. will implement a system that requires most incoming visitors to be vaccinated from COVID-19. All passengers will have their vaccination status checked prior to boarding their flight to the U.S. from a foreign country. Airlines will keep passengers’ personal information for 30 days to aid in contact tracing if health officials need to follow up with anyone who may be exposed to the virus.
Travelers must provide evidence of a jab with a U.S.-approved vaccine at least two weeks prior to their departure. But even vaccinated travelers will be required to have a negative COVID-19 test result within 72 hours of departure. Approved viral tests should be an antigen, PCR, or LAMP. Unvaccinated travelers, foreign or American, are required to provide a negative COVID-19 result from a test taken within one day of departure.
The lift in the ban allows several foreign nationals from countries, including the U.K., Ireland, China, India, Iran, Brazil, and South Africa to cross the U.S. border if all new rules are followed. Anyone arriving from outside these countries will face stricter entry requirements.
Source: Travel Weekly
