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)
Oct 22, 2021, 12:28 pm
#2611
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: Stoke on Trent, UK (MAN ), BUE, BKK, DBV
Programs: LH HON***,UA,BA.EK Gold,AV.
Posts: 11,637
I am planning a trip for UK family to visit me in the US in December, both fully (triple) vaccinated in plenty of time, am I correct (based on current thinking) that they'll need "fit to fly" tests per airline requirements in both directions but otherwise no additional testing - or is a Day 2 test out required on their return to the UK?
Oct 22, 2021, 12:34 pm
#2612
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Kent, UK
Programs: M&S Elite+
Posts: 3,654
I am planning a trip for UK family to visit me in the US in December, both fully (triple) vaccinated in plenty of time, am I correct (based on current thinking) that they'll need "fit to fly" tests per airline requirements in both directions but otherwise no additional testing - or is a Day 2 test out required on their return to the UK?
Oct 24, 2021, 12:12 am
#2613
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Northern England
Posts: 1,531
So tomorrow (Monday) is two weeks before the 8th November. Is it clutching at straws to think that the authorities might choose it as a good day to release the details of what rules will being coming into play then? For example, what type of test, how will you prove test and vaccination status, rules for children, etc etc. Otherwise it’s rather cutting things a bit fine.
those details -- for the airlines, for airline passengers, and for people coming to the land border -- will be available well in advance of November 8
https://travel.state.gov/content/tra...ccination.html
those details -- for the airlines, for airline passengers, and for people coming to the land border -- will be available well in advance of November 8
https://travel.state.gov/content/tra...ccination.html
Oct 24, 2021, 1:00 am
#2614
formerly a193991
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Zulu Romeo Hotel
Programs: Hyatt LT Globalist; LX SEN (*A Gold), AA LTG, SBB-CFF-FFS First Class GA
Posts: 4,568
So tomorrow (Monday) is two weeks before the 8th November. Is it clutching at straws to think that the authorities might choose it as a good day to release the details of what rules will being coming into play then? For example, what type of test, how will you prove test and vaccination status, rules for children, etc etc. Otherwise it’s rather cutting things a bit fine.
those details -- for the airlines, for airline passengers, and for people coming to the land border -- will be available well in advance of November 8
https://travel.state.gov/content/tra...ccination.html
those details -- for the airlines, for airline passengers, and for people coming to the land border -- will be available well in advance of November 8
https://travel.state.gov/content/tra...ccination.html
Last edited by 59Impala; Oct 24, 2021 at 5:31 am
Oct 24, 2021, 1:42 am
#2615
Join Date: Jun 2018
Posts: 44
Definition of 72 hours
Wondering if anyone else has speculated how the PCR test "within 72 hours" for USA entry after 8th November (if that is what it will be) will be calculated? Maximum 72 hours before you get on the outbound flight or max 72 hours before scheduled arrival in the US? After taking a PCR test in Norway which is sent for analysis, certificates take 1 - 2 days to come through. There are quicker tests done on site but the certificates they give for these are of another standard than the ones I reckon the US will require.
Oct 24, 2021, 2:21 am
#2616
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Northern England
Posts: 1,531
Wondering if anyone else has speculated how the PCR test "within 72 hours" for USA entry after 8th November (if that is what it will be) will be calculated? Maximum 72 hours before you get on the outbound flight or max 72 hours before scheduled arrival in the US? After taking a PCR test in Norway which is sent for analysis, certificates take 1 - 2 days to come through. There are quicker tests done on site but the certificates they give for these are of another standard than the ones I reckon the US will require.
It’s likely to be 72 hrs or 3 days prior to departure rather than arrival, since it’s likely to be the airline that will be doing the checking. This was the case for fit to fly return tests for back to the U.K.
if it ends up being an in clinic PCR, then certainly for me thanks to our rural location this makes it very difficult. Again the exact detail of what the certificate needs to show is not yet available
Oct 24, 2021, 10:20 am
#2617
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: FRA/SXB
Programs: FB Gold
Posts: 1,995
My guess is that both antigenic and PCR tests will be accepted, in line with current regulations for US citizens/residents.
Oct 24, 2021, 12:27 pm
#2618
formerly a193991
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: Zulu Romeo Hotel
Programs: Hyatt LT Globalist; LX SEN (*A Gold), AA LTG, SBB-CFF-FFS First Class GA
Posts: 4,568
Wondering if anyone else has speculated how the PCR test "within 72 hours" for USA entry after 8th November (if that is what it will be) will be calculated? Maximum 72 hours before you get on the outbound flight or max 72 hours before scheduled arrival in the US? After taking a PCR test in Norway which is sent for analysis, certificates take 1 - 2 days to come through. There are quicker tests done on site but the certificates they give for these are of another standard than the ones I reckon the US will require.
this is the definition as per cdc.gov: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019...travelers.html
Why does the Order specify 3 days rather than 72 hours? What is considered 3 days?
The 3-day period is the 3 days before the flight’s departure. The Order uses a 3-day timeframe instead of 72 hours to provide more flexibility to the traveler. By using a 3-day window, test validity does not depend on the time of the flight or the time of day that the test was administered.
For example, if a passenger’s flight is at 1pm on a Friday, the passenger could board with a negative test that was taken any time on the prior Tuesday or after.
The 3-day period is the 3 days before the flight’s departure. The Order uses a 3-day timeframe instead of 72 hours to provide more flexibility to the traveler. By using a 3-day window, test validity does not depend on the time of the flight or the time of day that the test was administered.
For example, if a passenger’s flight is at 1pm on a Friday, the passenger could board with a negative test that was taken any time on the prior Tuesday or after.
Oct 24, 2021, 11:13 pm
#2619
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: أمريكا
Posts: 26,763
I don't see any reason why the testing regime (except for the new 24 hour requirement for unvaccinated Americans) would change as a result of allowing only vaccinated non-citizens in. It will almost certainly continue to be supervised antigen or PCR.
Oct 25, 2021, 1:06 am
#2620
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: where lions are led by donkeys...
Programs: Lifetime Gold, Global Entry, Hertz PC, and my wallet
Posts: 20,340
Well wouldn't it be nice if someone woke up and just announced whatever the heck it is going to be!
Oct 25, 2021, 6:14 am
#2621
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
Posts: 6,900
Have to ask for a friend who is vaccinated with Sputnik which is not in US/WHO list of vaccines - if after entering after the 8th of Nov, what are the options/processes?
Last edited by invisible; Oct 25, 2021 at 6:22 am
Oct 25, 2021, 6:38 am
#2622
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Mar 2014
Location: 4éme
Posts: 12,038
No idea where your friend lives but here’s what Russians are doing.
Russians flock to Serbia for Western-made COVID-19 vaccines
Last edited by NewbieRunner; Oct 25, 2021 at 9:41 am Reason: Font size
Oct 25, 2021, 7:20 am
#2623
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Virginia City Highlands
Programs: Nothing anymore after 20 years
Posts: 6,900
Oct 25, 2021, 7:27 am
#2624
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2015
Location: BOS, YVR, ZRH
Programs: *G
Posts: 17,398
Tickets being booked for the 10th won't do them much good if they're not allowed in... They'd be turned away at the airport.
Oct 25, 2021, 7:42 am
#2625
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: Northern England
Posts: 1,531