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)
Sep 13, 2021, 2:27 pm
#2221
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: أمريكا
Posts: 26,763
Since banning travelers from the UK to the US "because delta!" is pure political theatre, there's no reason why removing the ban should not be similarly political.
Sep 13, 2021, 3:34 pm
#2222
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA 1K, MM *G for life, BAEC Gold
Posts: 10,224
As a UK resident, I keep yo-yoing between the option of going to the US this year via Canada (14 day stay) or booking flights direct to New York for mid November in the hope the ban will be lifted by then. Prices for flights to US remain very low. The only problem with the Canada route is obviously it would cost me quite a bit more with the additional Airbnbs and added hassle etc. I noticed looking at flights for UK to Canada prices are still very low even with Canada fully open to Europe... I am wondering if the US ban is lifted, will ticket prices suddenly sky rocket because it will be getting close to the Christmas period? It's unlikely the airline will honour the original price if you need to move the dates forward. Either way I need to make the trip to see loved ones. If anyone is looking at the same scenario or has any thoughts on the best option it would be good to hear them!
Cheers.
Cheers.
Sep 13, 2021, 5:26 pm
#2223
Join Date: Jun 2013
Posts: 11
Folks,
just like a few people here, I am looking at the option of 2 weeks in Canada. The lucky candidate is my mother in law, who would come from Italy (via CDG).
Before I pull the trigger, please help me understand a few things:
- first of all, anyone who actually managed to do it successfully via Canada here?
- in general, for people who stayed the 2 weeks out, what does the US port authority look at as a proof of not having been physically present in a banned country in the 14 days preceding the entry?
- would it matter the port of entry in US? She would go from Toronto to RDU
- any Canadian here? So she would stay (with my wife and kids) on a airbnb in Toronto. Any part of that city they should avoid?
- ESTA: I read somewhere in this discussion about ESTA cancellation, but I am still confused. Her ESTA expires in mid October, assuming she flyes before then, is she ok?
thank a lot!
just like a few people here, I am looking at the option of 2 weeks in Canada. The lucky candidate is my mother in law, who would come from Italy (via CDG).
Before I pull the trigger, please help me understand a few things:
- first of all, anyone who actually managed to do it successfully via Canada here?
- in general, for people who stayed the 2 weeks out, what does the US port authority look at as a proof of not having been physically present in a banned country in the 14 days preceding the entry?
- would it matter the port of entry in US? She would go from Toronto to RDU
- any Canadian here? So she would stay (with my wife and kids) on a airbnb in Toronto. Any part of that city they should avoid?
- ESTA: I read somewhere in this discussion about ESTA cancellation, but I am still confused. Her ESTA expires in mid October, assuming she flyes before then, is she ok?
thank a lot!
Sep 13, 2021, 5:30 pm
#2224
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Danville, CA, USA;
Programs: UA 1MM, WN CP, Marriott LT Plat, Hilton Gold, IC Plat
Posts: 15,720
Sep 13, 2021, 5:34 pm
#2225
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
Folks,
just like a few people here, I am looking at the option of 2 weeks in Canada. The lucky candidate is my mother in law, who would come from Italy (via CDG).
Before I pull the trigger, please help me understand a few things:
- first of all, anyone who actually managed to do it successfully via Canada here?
- in general, for people who stayed the 2 weeks out, what does the US port authority look at as a proof of not having been physically present in a banned country in the 14 days preceding the entry?
- would it matter the port of entry in US? She would go from Toronto to RDU
- any Canadian here? So she would stay (with my wife and kids) on a airbnb in Toronto. Any part of that city they should avoid?
- ESTA: I read somewhere in this discussion about ESTA cancellation, but I am still confused. Her ESTA expires in mid October, assuming she flyes before then, is she ok?
thank a lot!
just like a few people here, I am looking at the option of 2 weeks in Canada. The lucky candidate is my mother in law, who would come from Italy (via CDG).
Before I pull the trigger, please help me understand a few things:
- first of all, anyone who actually managed to do it successfully via Canada here?
- in general, for people who stayed the 2 weeks out, what does the US port authority look at as a proof of not having been physically present in a banned country in the 14 days preceding the entry?
- would it matter the port of entry in US? She would go from Toronto to RDU
- any Canadian here? So she would stay (with my wife and kids) on a airbnb in Toronto. Any part of that city they should avoid?
- ESTA: I read somewhere in this discussion about ESTA cancellation, but I am still confused. Her ESTA expires in mid October, assuming she flyes before then, is she ok?
thank a lot!
Sep 13, 2021, 7:06 pm
#2226
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: أمريكا
Posts: 26,763
For optics, the smart thing would be for him to test before departure, regardless of whether it's required or not (presumably it is).
Sep 14, 2021, 2:16 am
#2227
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
Diplomatic passports/visas are the dispensation on official visits. For most of his life and until just a few years before he was PM, he was a US citizen. He was a natural-born US citizen with all the global tax burden that comes with the status of being a US citizen.
Let's see if things open up in October, but already things have been and are being cancelled for October meetings/conferences in the US -- ostensibly because of the problems with getting international attendees from the restricted locations.
Let's see if things open up in October, but already things have been and are being cancelled for October meetings/conferences in the US -- ostensibly because of the problems with getting international attendees from the restricted locations.
Last edited by GUWonder; Sep 14, 2021 at 2:27 am
Sep 14, 2021, 3:25 am
#2228
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: London & Sonoma CA
Programs: UA 1K, MM *G for life, BAEC Gold
Posts: 10,224
Is that a NIE or is it different for powerful celebs?
Sep 14, 2021, 3:36 am
#2229
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: WAW
Posts: 26
Folks,
- first of all, anyone who actually managed to do it successfully via Canada here?
- in general, for people who stayed the 2 weeks out, what does the US port authority look at as a proof of not having been physically present in a banned country in the 14 days preceding the entry?
- would it matter the port of entry in US? She would go from Toronto to RDU
- any Canadian here? So she would stay (with my wife and kids) on a airbnb in Toronto. Any part of that city they should avoid?
- ESTA: I read somewhere in this discussion about ESTA cancellation, but I am still confused. Her ESTA expires in mid October, assuming she flyes before then, is she ok?
thank a lot!
- first of all, anyone who actually managed to do it successfully via Canada here?
- in general, for people who stayed the 2 weeks out, what does the US port authority look at as a proof of not having been physically present in a banned country in the 14 days preceding the entry?
- would it matter the port of entry in US? She would go from Toronto to RDU
- any Canadian here? So she would stay (with my wife and kids) on a airbnb in Toronto. Any part of that city they should avoid?
- ESTA: I read somewhere in this discussion about ESTA cancellation, but I am still confused. Her ESTA expires in mid October, assuming she flyes before then, is she ok?
thank a lot!
In my case it was airline that checked my lenght of stay based on entry stamps to Turkey. Please be aware that you need 15 nights / full 14 24h days outside of Shengen zone as day of arrival does not count.
Canada has CBP preclearance so flights arrive as domestic flights to USA. Only Covid tests will be needed (antigen or PCR ).
ESTA - no problem with October expiration. Just do not check on-line for the flight as this will automatically flag ESTA as invalid.
Sep 14, 2021, 4:29 am
#2230
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
Lots of high and low profile professional sports world players have been issued NIEs for at least competition purposes.
Sep 14, 2021, 4:40 am
#2231
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: HAM
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 8
I've been on Cyprus since August 24th, outside the Schengen zone. Actually, last Thursday I would have flown to the US via DOH with Qatar Airways.
For various reasons I decided at short notice (the evening before) to cancel the flight and not fly until October. On the day of the flight, I received an email from DHS that my ESTA had expired.
So it seems that Qatar Airways forwarded my passport details to DHS. I have just tried to apply for a new ESTA, but so far the status is still on "Pending". My GE status however is still "Approved". Does anyone here have any experience of how to best deal with the situation? Should I contact the DHS and describe the situation?
For various reasons I decided at short notice (the evening before) to cancel the flight and not fly until October. On the day of the flight, I received an email from DHS that my ESTA had expired.
So it seems that Qatar Airways forwarded my passport details to DHS. I have just tried to apply for a new ESTA, but so far the status is still on "Pending". My GE status however is still "Approved". Does anyone here have any experience of how to best deal with the situation? Should I contact the DHS and describe the situation?
Sep 14, 2021, 4:45 am
#2232
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
So it seems that Qatar Airways forwarded my passport details to DHS. I have just tried to apply for a new ESTA, but so far the status is still on "Pending". My GE status however is still "Approved". Does anyone here have any experience of how to best deal with the situation? Should I contact the DHS and describe the situation?
In practice, if you are not traveling until October there is little point in applying for the ESTA now, since it will just naturally expire earlier.
Sep 14, 2021, 6:13 am
#2233
Community Director
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Norwich, UK
Programs: A3*G, BA Gold, BD Gold (in memoriam), IHG Diamond Ambassador
Posts: 8,476
So it seems that Qatar Airways forwarded my passport details to DHS. I have just tried to apply for a new ESTA, but so far the status is still on "Pending". My GE status however is still "Approved". Does anyone here have any experience of how to best deal with the situation? Should I contact the DHS and describe the situation?
The US would therefore have expected you to be on the flight, they would have determined you were trying to enter when not entitled, and their method of preventing you doing that was to cancel your ESTA.
You could have written to US CBP after your originally intended flight had landed, explaining the situation as by then they would know you didn't fly anyway. They might well have just restored your existing ESTA. Now you've re-applied it would probably be more sensible just to let it roll through the system - there's no reason to suppose it'll be refused.
Sep 14, 2021, 6:22 am
#2234
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
I've been on Cyprus since August 24th, outside the Schengen zone. Actually, last Thursday I would have flown to the US via DOH with Qatar Airways.
For various reasons I decided at short notice (the evening before) to cancel the flight and not fly until October. On the day of the flight, I received an email from DHS that my ESTA had expired.
So it seems that Qatar Airways forwarded my passport details to DHS. I have just tried to apply for a new ESTA, but so far the status is still on "Pending". My GE status however is still "Approved". Does anyone here have any experience of how to best deal with the situation? Should I contact the DHS and describe the situation?
For various reasons I decided at short notice (the evening before) to cancel the flight and not fly until October. On the day of the flight, I received an email from DHS that my ESTA had expired.
So it seems that Qatar Airways forwarded my passport details to DHS. I have just tried to apply for a new ESTA, but so far the status is still on "Pending". My GE status however is still "Approved". Does anyone here have any experience of how to best deal with the situation? Should I contact the DHS and describe the situation?
As long as your "cancelled" ESTA was approved and would have been valid for your future travel (if not but for its historical cancellation prior to scheduled departure), it can be reinstated when and where the operating carrier checking you in for the US flight has to deal with the US CBP for those foreign visitors entitled to an exemption to the US travel restrictions at the time of travel; but this is only applicable if you're entitled to an exemption to the US travel restrictions.
CBP can remotely reinstate the ESTA and even waive the ESTA requirement for those eligible to travel to the US; and if eligible for an exemption, it is recognized after the airlines will contact the CBP in the routine manner if/when it's necessary for your trip on the day of departure itself.
Sep 14, 2021, 6:41 am
#2235
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,685
I've been on Cyprus since August 24th, outside the Schengen zone. Actually, last Thursday I would have flown to the US via DOH with Qatar Airways.
For various reasons I decided at short notice (the evening before) to cancel the flight and not fly until October. On the day of the flight, I received an email from DHS that my ESTA had expired.
So it seems that Qatar Airways forwarded my passport details to DHS. I have just tried to apply for a new ESTA, but so far the status is still on "Pending". My GE status however is still "Approved". Does anyone here have any experience of how to best deal with the situation? Should I contact the DHS and describe the situation?
For various reasons I decided at short notice (the evening before) to cancel the flight and not fly until October. On the day of the flight, I received an email from DHS that my ESTA had expired.
So it seems that Qatar Airways forwarded my passport details to DHS. I have just tried to apply for a new ESTA, but so far the status is still on "Pending". My GE status however is still "Approved". Does anyone here have any experience of how to best deal with the situation? Should I contact the DHS and describe the situation?