The United States will start allowing fully vaccinated travelers on November 8, according to a declaration issued today. This follows a statement made on September 20 indicating that the Biden administration will welcome these travelers back in “early November.”
There are still some unanswered issues about what constitutes acceptable vaccine proof and how the entire process will go, despite the fact that November 8 has been designated as the deadline. As of currently, the following information is available on the reopening of US borders:
After reopening its borders to fully vaccinated travelers on Nov. 8, the United States will make an announcement later today about a new travel policy that allows foreigners who have received the flu vaccine to resume land and air travel to the United States.
A White House official wrote in an email that the notice and date were applicable to international air travel as well as travel across the Southwest and Northern land borders of the United States with Mexico and Canada. This creates a global health-based, rigorous, and consistent policy for international travel.
The United States will reopen for business on November 8th.
By the end of November, the US will let only individuals who have been properly vaccinated enter the nation, whether land or air. According to the Biden administration, this is part of “establishing a global foreign travel policy informed by public health that is severe and consistent.”
This is welcome news for concerned passengers, particularly Europeans, who have been waiting breathlessly for confirmation that their trip arrangements can begin. British Airways, the European airline with the most flights to the US, has seen a significant increase in new bookings this year. With the Airbus A380 returning to service in the United States after an 18-month sabbatical, this includes delivering its largest aircraft to Miami International Airport and Los Angeles International Airport in December (LAX).
We anticipate that additional information on which vaccines will be permitted into the US, as well as the specific types of documentation required, will be released prior to November 8. For the time being, it is fair to presume that all FDA-approved and WHO-recognized Emergency Use Listing (EUL) drugs, as well as those labeled for air travel, will be accepted. Consider the following vaccines to be permitted:
Pfizer, Moderna, BioNTech’s SK Bio, Serum Institute of India, Johnson & Johnson, and AstraZeneca.
At the moment, it is unknown whether vaccinations such as the Chinese Sinovac or the Russian Sputnik V would be included in the future.
While the European Union has built a digital COVID Certificate that enables EU citizens and residents to get a formal vaccine certificate in seconds using a simple app, the United States has yet to develop a similar digital method for demonstrating vaccination proof.
At this time, a photocopy of your vaccination record or an immunization certificate from another country may be recognized as proof of vaccination status.
A precedent must be established for accepting the first European.
Is it possible for foreign visitors to enter each state with the same vaccination?
Assuring that European immigrants are treated uniformly across the country raises another challenge. When you arrive in the United States, regardless of where you want to travel, you will be required to produce proof of immunization. Municipal limitations vary by state and city.
Wearing masks, keeping immunization certificates on hand, and the capacity of indoor areas are all still severely regulated in some nations. Proof of immunization or a recent negative COVID-19 test, among others, is required to enter the majority of indoor establishments such as restaurants and bars in cities such as New York, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.
As a result, before traveling to any city or state, ensure that you are familiar with the COVID-19 protocols in effect there. Proof of vaccination should suffice for individuals who have been fully vaccinated and take precedence over any testing methods, which are normally reserved for people who have not been fully vaccinated.
Traveling within the United States is probably certainly less onerous than traveling around Europe, which is also worth noting. Europe has more than half of the United States states, and each country has its unique set of entrance requirements.
What if I have received all of my immunizations yet am required to submit to a negative antigen/lateral flow test in order to enter Italy but not in order to enter Spain? Are you aware of this? While this type of mismatch is vexing, it should never happen again in the United States of America.
Is testing going to be necessary for foreign visitors?
All travelers to the United States, including those who have had all required vaccinations, must present documentation of a negative COVID-19 test within three days of arrival.
Similar screening procedures have been in place for all visitors to the United States, including citizens of the country, since January 2021. You must submit the airline with documentation of a negative nucleic acid amplification or antigen test result within three days of your anticipated departure date from the United States.
Anyone crossing international borders, even if it isn’t necessary, must be completely vaccinated by January 1.
All foreigners crossing the land border, no matter how required or not, must be fully vaccinated by the end of January.
Although the White House affirmed that all FDA-approved and licensed vaccines, as well as those with a EUL, will be permitted for aviation travel, the CDC and the federal government will offer more instructions regarding acceptable proof of immunizations.
Finally, it boils down to this:
As of last week, Europeans who have been vaccinated have received formal confirmation of the date when they would be able to visit their American relatives again following an 18-month prohibition. November 8 is the date, and we may begin organizing our excursions on that date. Additional information is not yet accessible, but travelers who are properly vaccinated can still travel to the United States with confidence.
