Sep 15, 2021, 1:47 pm
Last edit by: NewbieRunner
New thread for discussing 1-day test requirements for travellers arriving in the US by air
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/coronavirus-travel/2060730-us-require-air-travelers-provide-negative-test-within-1-day-departure.html
Entry ban from eight southern African countries starting on November 29, 2021
Most non-U.S. citizens who have been in South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique or Malaw within the prior 14 days will not be allowed into the United States.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/11/26/a-proclamation-on-suspension-of-entry-as-immigrants-and-nonimmigrants-of-certain-additional-persons-who-pose-a-risk-of-transmitting-coronavirus-disease-2019/
Entry ban by air to be lifted on November 8, 2021 - All travelers should refer to CDC for travel requirements.
3 day pre-flight testing requirement will continue (US citizens/LPR not vaccinated will have to test no earlier than 1 day prior) Children under 2 years old do not need to test.
Children under 18 are exempt from vaccination requirement
Accepted vaccines will include:
There is a face mask mandate when flying to/from the USA, with effectively no exemptions, and including children two and above years old
Airlines need to provide some sort of contact tracing information for potential follow-up cases
Update on U.S. travel policy requiring COVID-19 vaccination
Last Updated: October 25, 2021
As announced by the White House today, the new travel policy requiring foreign nationals traveling to the United States to demonstrate proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 will take effect November 8. The CDC’s website explains that, for purposes of entry into the United States, the accepted vaccines will include FDA approved or authorized and WHO Emergency Use Listing vaccines.
COVID-19 Travel Restrictions and Exceptions - U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs
Last updated: October 25, 2021
The presidential proclamations described on this page will no longer be in effect on November 8, 2021. For additional information, please see Safely Resuming Travel by Vaccine Requirement and Rescission of Travel Restrictions on Brazil, China, India, Iran, Ireland, the Schengen Area, South Africa, and the United Kingdom (travel.state.gov).
To protect the public health, there are four presidential proclamations that suspend entry into the United States of all noncitizens who were physically present in any of 33 countries during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States. They are Presidential Proclamation 9984 (China); Presidential Proclamation 9992 (Iran); Presidential Proclamation 10143 (Schengen Area, United Kingdom, Ireland, Brazil, and South Africa); and Presidential Proclamation 10199 (India).
What we know so far is
- Confirmed to start on 8 November
- Children under 18 are exempt from the vaccine restrictions, so the varying international standards on jab ages won't be an issue here.
- Vaccines that are OK will include Pfizer, Moderna, AZ, J&J and the two Chinese vaccines.
- Some exemptions from vaccinations are potentially allowed, notably for US citizens, though my guess is airlines will be expecting to see vaccine certificates
- 3 day pre-flight testing requirement will continue, so this needs to be a documented antigen/Lateral Flow test or PCR.
- 3 days is potentially more than 72 hours, departure on a Friday afternoon means a test on Tuesday morning or thereafter.
- NHS Lateral Flows and PCRs can't be used.
- Children over 2 years old travelling with vaccinated travellers have to be tested on the same basis (3 days).
- 1 day testing for unvaccinated USA legal residents (testing on or the day before departure), including their children.
- All passengers need to sign an attestment to confirm their negative test result and also a statement to confirm full vaccination status.
- Children who are not vaccinated do not need to get vaccinated but do need to get a "viral test" 3 to 5 days after arrival in the USA
- As a result there is a separate attestion question for unvaccinated children to confirm that the viral test is arranged.
- Vaccination certificates must come from an official source. The NHS COVID Pass app and EU DCC are specifically mentioned as acceptable.
- Vaccination is counted as two weeks from dose2, or 2 weeks after the sole dose in the case of J&J.
- Antibody certification is not a replacement for the need for vaccination, at least for non USA residents.
- 14 clear days need to elapse before travel. So if jabbed on 1 October then 15 October is when you are good to go.
- Booster vaccinations are not a factor here, they don't count towards or against the primary dose process.
- There is a face mask mandate when flying to/from the USA, with effectively no exemptions, and including children two and above years old.
- Airlines need to provide some sort of contact tracing information for potential follow-up cases.
- These restrictions do not apply at the land border.
Note that a lot of interpretation onus falls on airlines. For example there is no language requirement for vaccine certificates as far as the CDC is concerned, however you can imagine Air France may be hesitant in accepting a vaccine certificate issued in the Welsh language, to take one example.
CDC link
https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2...el-System.html
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/coronavirus-travel/2060730-us-require-air-travelers-provide-negative-test-within-1-day-departure.html
Entry ban from eight southern African countries starting on November 29, 2021
Most non-U.S. citizens who have been in South Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Mozambique or Malaw within the prior 14 days will not be allowed into the United States.
https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/11/26/a-proclamation-on-suspension-of-entry-as-immigrants-and-nonimmigrants-of-certain-additional-persons-who-pose-a-risk-of-transmitting-coronavirus-disease-2019/
Entry ban by air to be lifted on November 8, 2021 - All travelers should refer to CDC for travel requirements.
3 day pre-flight testing requirement will continue (US citizens/LPR not vaccinated will have to test no earlier than 1 day prior) Children under 2 years old do not need to test.
Children under 18 are exempt from vaccination requirement
Accepted vaccines will include:
- AstraZeneca
- BIBP/Sinopharm
- Covishield
- Janssen/J&J
- Moderna
- Pfizer-BioNTech
- Sinovac
There is a face mask mandate when flying to/from the USA, with effectively no exemptions, and including children two and above years old
Airlines need to provide some sort of contact tracing information for potential follow-up cases
Update on U.S. travel policy requiring COVID-19 vaccination
Last Updated: October 25, 2021
As announced by the White House today, the new travel policy requiring foreign nationals traveling to the United States to demonstrate proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 will take effect November 8. The CDC’s website explains that, for purposes of entry into the United States, the accepted vaccines will include FDA approved or authorized and WHO Emergency Use Listing vaccines.
COVID-19 Travel Restrictions and Exceptions - U.S. Department of State, Bureau of Consular Affairs
Last updated: October 25, 2021
The presidential proclamations described on this page will no longer be in effect on November 8, 2021. For additional information, please see Safely Resuming Travel by Vaccine Requirement and Rescission of Travel Restrictions on Brazil, China, India, Iran, Ireland, the Schengen Area, South Africa, and the United Kingdom (travel.state.gov).
To protect the public health, there are four presidential proclamations that suspend entry into the United States of all noncitizens who were physically present in any of 33 countries during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States. They are Presidential Proclamation 9984 (China); Presidential Proclamation 9992 (Iran); Presidential Proclamation 10143 (Schengen Area, United Kingdom, Ireland, Brazil, and South Africa); and Presidential Proclamation 10199 (India).
What we know so far is
- Confirmed to start on 8 November
- Children under 18 are exempt from the vaccine restrictions, so the varying international standards on jab ages won't be an issue here.
- Vaccines that are OK will include Pfizer, Moderna, AZ, J&J and the two Chinese vaccines.
- Some exemptions from vaccinations are potentially allowed, notably for US citizens, though my guess is airlines will be expecting to see vaccine certificates
- 3 day pre-flight testing requirement will continue, so this needs to be a documented antigen/Lateral Flow test or PCR.
- 3 days is potentially more than 72 hours, departure on a Friday afternoon means a test on Tuesday morning or thereafter.
- NHS Lateral Flows and PCRs can't be used.
- Children over 2 years old travelling with vaccinated travellers have to be tested on the same basis (3 days).
- 1 day testing for unvaccinated USA legal residents (testing on or the day before departure), including their children.
- All passengers need to sign an attestment to confirm their negative test result and also a statement to confirm full vaccination status.
- Children who are not vaccinated do not need to get vaccinated but do need to get a "viral test" 3 to 5 days after arrival in the USA
- As a result there is a separate attestion question for unvaccinated children to confirm that the viral test is arranged.
- Vaccination certificates must come from an official source. The NHS COVID Pass app and EU DCC are specifically mentioned as acceptable.
- Vaccination is counted as two weeks from dose2, or 2 weeks after the sole dose in the case of J&J.
- Antibody certification is not a replacement for the need for vaccination, at least for non USA residents.
- 14 clear days need to elapse before travel. So if jabbed on 1 October then 15 October is when you are good to go.
- Booster vaccinations are not a factor here, they don't count towards or against the primary dose process.
- There is a face mask mandate when flying to/from the USA, with effectively no exemptions, and including children two and above years old.
- Airlines need to provide some sort of contact tracing information for potential follow-up cases.
- These restrictions do not apply at the land border.
Note that a lot of interpretation onus falls on airlines. For example there is no language requirement for vaccine certificates as far as the CDC is concerned, however you can imagine Air France may be hesitant in accepting a vaccine certificate issued in the Welsh language, to take one example.
CDC link
https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2...el-System.html
US reopened on 8 November 2021 (& subsequent entry restrictions for non-citizens)
Aug 24, 2021, 8:10 am
#2116
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2014
Programs: Top Tier with all 3 alliances
Posts: 11,669
CDC adds 6 destinations to 'very high' Covid-19 travel risk list, including Bahamas | CNN Travel
Aug 24, 2021, 8:11 am
#2117
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 42
I’ve given up waiting. Was planning on having 3 weeks in the States with 1 week being in Florida for my 5yo to see Disney.
now booked to have 2 weeks (15night) in the Dutch Antilles and 1 week in Florida.
Think I’m actually looking forward to this more than our original plans.
now booked to have 2 weeks (15night) in the Dutch Antilles and 1 week in Florida.
Think I’m actually looking forward to this more than our original plans.
Aug 24, 2021, 8:28 am
#2118
Join Date: Mar 2009
Location: LAX
Posts: 3,267
No one should expect the travel ban to be lifted until we see widespread employer vaccination mandates (Walmart would be a good sign), FDA EUA for pediatric vaccination, and widespread vaccination mandates in schools. All that will take 6 months, more or less.
Aug 24, 2021, 9:09 am
#2119
Join Date: Apr 2021
Location: Malaga Spain, Lake County Florida
Posts: 153
I´m not trying to go off topic or debate vaccines here, just saying I can´t see vaccine mandates getting off the ground in the first place meaningfully and even if they did its really doubtful they would allow reopening anymore than the incredibly high vaccine uptake made to the situation.
The situation is and has been for a very long time political.
Aug 24, 2021, 9:10 am
#2120
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 188
In all honesty, the only place I see people being upset about the ban (from the perspective of a US citizen) is on here. There is zero mention from anywhere within the US that I've seen. There may be a lot of damage being done to US relations with EU partners but it has a basically zero to do with the travel ban. MUCH bigger problems going on right now.
Last edited by l etoile; Aug 24, 2021 at 11:30 am Reason: Removed response to deleted quote
Aug 24, 2021, 9:30 am
#2121
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 188
Cant see this happening , nurses, firefighters even doctors are now starting making a stand against mandates and many will quit before being forced to take a vaccine or show vaccine status, I was watching videos coming out of different LA firehouses this morning where they have begun mandating city employees to take vaccines, there's a real blowback happening there today, I am a retired firefighter and know firefighters act together, one quits they all quit, once that starts its over for mandates.
I´m not trying to go off topic or debate vaccines here, just saying I can´t see vaccine mandates getting off the ground in the first place meaningfully and even if they did its really doubtful they would allow reopening anymore than the incredibly high vaccine uptake made to the situation.
The situation is and has been for a very long time political.
I´m not trying to go off topic or debate vaccines here, just saying I can´t see vaccine mandates getting off the ground in the first place meaningfully and even if they did its really doubtful they would allow reopening anymore than the incredibly high vaccine uptake made to the situation.
The situation is and has been for a very long time political.
I fully expect many vaccine mandates coming up.
Aug 24, 2021, 9:33 am
#2122
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: LAX
Programs: DL DM, 2 MM; OW Emerald; MVP Gold 100k;Marriott/SPG LTPlat; HH Diamond
Posts: 968
I wouldn't say that US citizens are allowed to do what they like, we are allowed to do what other countries will allow us to do, subject to change at any time. Reciprocal implies punitive, and to my knowledge the travel ban has never been about punishing anyone. Heck, we were locked down most of last year and I didn't even see my own children and grandchildren living in another state until July 2021 after being fully vaccinated. This is not personal and I'm not sure why some on here believe that it is.
Aug 24, 2021, 9:56 am
#2123
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: Switzerland
Programs: AY+ Platinum, SK Gold, BAEC Silver, airbaltic VIP, Radisson VIP
Posts: 6,531
This situation or rather the lack of positive development is starting to worry me regarding our early 2022 plans.
I have enrolled at a vocational school in Denver where I‘ll be attending a 6 weeks course from March to mid April 2022 to become a FAA Flight Dispatcher. Originally, the plan was to do a road trip before and after this course. I‘ll be traveling with my wife from early February to April 2022 from Switzerland.
Given the uncertainty, at this point I don‘t quite know what is best to do given we have flights booked already.
1) Wait
2) Start the application process for a NIE which I think I could obtain, but I don‘t know if that would be possible for my wife too? Traveling alone is not an option.
3) Start the application process for an M1 student visa for myself and an M2 spouse visa for my wife
Options 2) and 3) require to cancel any touristic activities and would result in change of flights anyway, hence why I am reluctant in doing so and would rather wait out at this point.
I have enrolled at a vocational school in Denver where I‘ll be attending a 6 weeks course from March to mid April 2022 to become a FAA Flight Dispatcher. Originally, the plan was to do a road trip before and after this course. I‘ll be traveling with my wife from early February to April 2022 from Switzerland.
Given the uncertainty, at this point I don‘t quite know what is best to do given we have flights booked already.
1) Wait
2) Start the application process for a NIE which I think I could obtain, but I don‘t know if that would be possible for my wife too? Traveling alone is not an option.
3) Start the application process for an M1 student visa for myself and an M2 spouse visa for my wife
Options 2) and 3) require to cancel any touristic activities and would result in change of flights anyway, hence why I am reluctant in doing so and would rather wait out at this point.
Aug 24, 2021, 11:48 am
#2124
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
This situation or rather the lack of positive development is starting to worry me regarding our early 2022 plans.
I have enrolled at a vocational school in Denver where I‘ll be attending a 6 weeks course from March to mid April 2022 to become a FAA Flight Dispatcher. Originally, the plan was to do a road trip before and after this course. I‘ll be traveling with my wife from early February to April 2022 from Switzerland.
Given the uncertainty, at this point I don‘t quite know what is best to do given we have flights booked already.
1) Wait
2) Start the application process for a NIE which I think I could obtain, but I don‘t know if that would be possible for my wife too? Traveling alone is not an option.
3) Start the application process for an M1 student visa for myself and an M2 spouse visa for my wife
Options 2) and 3) require to cancel any touristic activities and would result in change of flights anyway, hence why I am reluctant in doing so and would rather wait out at this point.
I have enrolled at a vocational school in Denver where I‘ll be attending a 6 weeks course from March to mid April 2022 to become a FAA Flight Dispatcher. Originally, the plan was to do a road trip before and after this course. I‘ll be traveling with my wife from early February to April 2022 from Switzerland.
Given the uncertainty, at this point I don‘t quite know what is best to do given we have flights booked already.
1) Wait
2) Start the application process for a NIE which I think I could obtain, but I don‘t know if that would be possible for my wife too? Traveling alone is not an option.
3) Start the application process for an M1 student visa for myself and an M2 spouse visa for my wife
Options 2) and 3) require to cancel any touristic activities and would result in change of flights anyway, hence why I am reluctant in doing so and would rather wait out at this point.
Aug 24, 2021, 12:12 pm
#2125
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Watchlisted by the prejudiced, en route to purgatory
Programs: Just Say No to Fleecing and Blacklisting
Posts: 102,095
My flights in July and August from the Schengen zone to the US have had lots of European adult students on them with NIEs available for multiple use. One of the last bunches I saw taking off from CPH and arriving in the US this summer were even going in for programs that historically have had a lot of remote learning in the mix even prior to the pandemic: MBA programs.
Aug 27, 2021, 6:34 am
#2126
Join Date: Aug 2021
Posts: 1
Travelling to USA for Birth of Grandchild
I am a UK citizen (also with Irish and UK passport)
I wish to travel over before or after the birth of my grandchild in October.
My daughter is married to a US citizen and is a resident herself.
The US Embassy will not answer my email about whether this reason permits me to apply for an ESTA to travel
Is anyone able to advise if this is possible? Or if not who to contact?
Thanks in advance
I wish to travel over before or after the birth of my grandchild in October.
My daughter is married to a US citizen and is a resident herself.
The US Embassy will not answer my email about whether this reason permits me to apply for an ESTA to travel
Is anyone able to advise if this is possible? Or if not who to contact?
Thanks in advance
Last edited by bmr25; Aug 27, 2021 at 8:01 am Reason: Spelling
Aug 27, 2021, 8:42 am
#2127
Join Date: Sep 2000
Location: Stuck on this planet - mainly in STR and LAX
Posts: 5,019
I am a UK citizen (also with Irish and UK passport)
I wish to travel over before or after the birth of my grandchild in October.
My daughter is married to a US citizen and is a resident herself.
The US Embassy will not answer my email about whether this reason permits me to apply for an ESTA to travel
Is anyone able to advise if this is possible? Or if not who to contact?
Thanks in advance
I wish to travel over before or after the birth of my grandchild in October.
My daughter is married to a US citizen and is a resident herself.
The US Embassy will not answer my email about whether this reason permits me to apply for an ESTA to travel
Is anyone able to advise if this is possible? Or if not who to contact?
Thanks in advance
You could spend 2 weeks in a country from where you can enter the US (like Mexico - at least currently as far as I know). This has been discussed here.
Aug 27, 2021, 10:33 am
#2128
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2014
Location: UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 12,262
You will not get an NIE for this unless you have a US spouse
Maybe a vacation in Mexico or Caribbean for 14 days first is your best option
Maybe a vacation in Mexico or Caribbean for 14 days first is your best option
Aug 27, 2021, 11:25 am
#2129
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ZOA, SFO, HKG
Programs: UA 1K 0.9MM, Marriott Gold, HHonors Gold, Hertz PC, SBux Gold, TSA Pre✓
Posts: 13,811
I am a UK citizen (also with Irish and UK passport)
I wish to travel over before or after the birth of my grandchild in October.
My daughter is married to a US citizen and is a resident herself.
The US Embassy will not answer my email about whether this reason permits me to apply for an ESTA to travel
Is anyone able to advise if this is possible? Or if not who to contact?
Thanks in advance
I wish to travel over before or after the birth of my grandchild in October.
My daughter is married to a US citizen and is a resident herself.
The US Embassy will not answer my email about whether this reason permits me to apply for an ESTA to travel
Is anyone able to advise if this is possible? Or if not who to contact?
Thanks in advance
ESTA is determined by CBP, not State Department. However, in light of your situation, your ESTA will be denied.
Aug 27, 2021, 11:35 am
#2130
Moderator, Iberia Airlines, Airport Lounges, and Ambassador, British Airways Executive Club
Join Date: Feb 2010
Programs: BA Lifetime Gold; Flying Blue Life Platinum; LH Sen.; Hilton Diamond; Kemal Kebabs Prized Customer
Posts: 63,821
A good friend of mine was in a near exact position and used quite considerable political clout to get to talk to someone senior in the London Embassy. And the answer was still No to NIE. I gather some exceptions were allowed at one point until Washington managed out any inconsistency in approach. Her eventual answer was 2 weeks in the Caribbean instead, which worked out quite well in the end. Canada is an option from 7 September, hopefully.
Welcome to Flyertalk bmr25.
Welcome to Flyertalk bmr25.