Last updated: 10/15/2021
The New York Times reported on October 15, 2021 that the Biden Administration will lift the geographic COVID-related travel bans (covering Schengen, U.K., Ireland, Iran, South Africa, Brazil, China, and India) on November 8, 2021, for fully-vaccinated travelers. A negative COVID test will also continue to be required before travel. We will update this post as further details are released.
Frequently Asked Questions:
When will the ban be lifted? The New York times is reporting that the ban will be lifted on November 8, 2021.
Which vaccines will qualify? FDA Authorized/Approved and WHO Approved vaccines will qualify, specifically: Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, Pfizer-BioNTech, Oxford-AstraZeneca/Covishield, Sinopharm, and Sinovac.
How will vaccine status be verified? It is expected that the airlines will verify vaccine status as part of the boarding process.
Will there be any exceptions to the vaccine requirement? There will be limited exceptions for children and for humanitarian reasons.
How will vaccine exceptions be administered? It is not yet known if the airlines will do this or if U.S. Embassies will play a role as they did with National Interest Exceptions to the travel ban.
Will a negative COVID test still be required? Yes.
What does this mean for existing visa holders or ESTA travelers? Whenever the ban is lifted, existing visas and/or approved ESTAs may be used for travel without need of a National Interest Exception. Please contact our office if you have questions about travel.
What does this mean for my upcoming visa appointment? We are awaiting guidance from the Department of State on the resumption of consular services and availability of visa appointments. Please contact our office if you have questions about your visa appointment.
Are the Canada/Mexico land borders still closed? On October 12, DHS announced that the Canada/Mexico land borders will re-open for vaccinated travelers in November. A negative COVID test will not be required for land border travel.
Are there any travel requirements for U.S. citizens returning to the United States? Yes. The New York Times is reporting that “[u]nvaccinated Americans traveling from overseas will need to test negative for the coronavirus one day before returning home and show proof that they have bought a test to take after arriving in the United States.”
Reminder: Changes are rapidly evolving and may not be immediately posted here.
© Jewell Stewart & Pratt PC 2021