Sep 15, 21, 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 14, 21, 7:23 am
#2236
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: Canada, USA, Europe
Programs: UA 1K
Posts: 31,452
In theory a valid question, but on my multiple trips to the US via Canada and the Caribbean, no one actually checked any stamps. Once I was asked by the GE chap in Miami 'where have you been the last 14 days?' and I replied (truthfully) 'sailing around the Grenadines.'
Sep 14, 21, 10:28 am
#2237
Join Date: Dec 2017
Programs: Flying Blue Platinum
Posts: 141
Not really what we are wanting to hear but story in the UK Daily Mail about the chances of UK (and those from the EU) citizens being allowed direct entry into the USA in the near future.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-ban-2022.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-ban-2022.html
Sep 14, 21, 11:05 am
#2238
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2015
Location: BOS, YVR, ZRH
Programs: *G
Posts: 15,296
Not really what we are wanting to hear but story in the UK Daily Mail about the chances of UK (and those from the EU) citizens being allowed direct entry into the USA in the near future.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-ban-2022.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-ban-2022.html
Sep 14, 21, 11:13 am
#2239
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Northern England
Posts: 1,488
Sep 15, 21, 2:30 am
#2241
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: HAM
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 8
QR will almost certainly have forwarded your passport number and personal details around 72 hours before your flight. The process, in normal times as well, is that the US analyses the API data the airlines send, and then sends an "okay to fly" notification back. The 72 hours is a US requirement to enable the analysis to take place in time.
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.
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 15, 21, 2:36 am
#2242
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: HAM
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 8
I kindly asked the border agent to stamp my passport and got this lovely stamp. I could obviously just provide my flight details during check-in, but an official stamp seemed like the better option.
Sep 15, 21, 4:21 am
#2243
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: HAM
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 8
Just leave things as is with the ESTA and the re-application.
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.
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.
I am wondering why my ESTA wasn't cancelled at all though, my departure airport LCA isn't an airport in the Schengen area, so why the cancellation. I flew to the US twice this year from Mexico and haven't had this issue.
Sep 15, 21, 4:43 am
#2244
Join Date: Jan 2014
Posts: 2,164
Thanks. I guess even with this, you could then leave Cyprus immediately (without a stamp) and return for your flight. Interesting "loophole" for anyone who wants to risk an entry ban.
Sep 15, 21, 6:26 am
#2245
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: HAM
Programs: BAEC Silver
Posts: 8
In theory a valid question, but on my multiple trips to the US via Canada and the Caribbean, no one actually checked any stamps. Once I was asked by the GE chap in Miami 'where have you been the last 14 days?' and I replied (truthfully) 'sailing around the Grenadines.'
Also, I just called Qatar Airways and asked them to remove my passport number and date of birth from my reservation for October, so hopefully my ESTA won't get cancelled this time.
Last edited by nick_n; Sep 15, 21 at 6:37 am
Sep 15, 21, 9:34 am
#2246
Join Date: May 2009
Location: South Park, CO
Programs: Tegridy Elite
Posts: 5,678
Not really what we are wanting to hear but story in the UK Daily Mail about the chances of UK (and those from the EU) citizens being allowed direct entry into the USA in the near future.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-ban-2022.html
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...-ban-2022.html
White House considered requiring vaccines for international air travelers
I don't know, I've seen more commentary lately from both left and right sides of the spectrum criticizing the travel ban. I'm not so sure that most Americans would interpret requiring foreign visitors to be vaxxed as a "vaccine passport"...the folks concerned about that seem more worried about having to show vaccine papers to go to the grocery or restaurant domestically. Besides, if anything was going to have a potential political impact it would be last week's vaccine mandate. Adding in "oh and foreigners have to be vaccinated to enter" seems like it would be lost in the noise. But I'm not a political junkie so what do I know lol.
Sep 15, 21, 11:51 am
#2247
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: BER
Programs: OW Sapphire, *A Gold
Posts: 747
https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...cid=uxbndlbing
18 months later they’re still considering, thinking and exploring, meanwhile the EU comission rolled out a digital system in a few months, across 30+ countries. This is beyond ridiculous now.
18 months later they’re still considering, thinking and exploring, meanwhile the EU comission rolled out a digital system in a few months, across 30+ countries. This is beyond ridiculous now.
Sep 15, 21, 11:57 am
#2249
Join Date: Aug 2019
Location: BER
Programs: OW Sapphire, *A Gold
Posts: 747
