Travel restrictions in the United States are about to be lifted

Recently, the White House announced that it will lift the travel restrictions on international tourists who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 from November 8, ending the 21-month historical restriction that most parts of the world are prohibited from entering the United States. All international travelers will be required to provide evidence of negative COVID-19 test and prove that they have been fully vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccine within three days of boarding the flight to the United States. At present, the six vaccines approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) are all approved by the United States, including Mardner, Pfizer, Johnson & Johnson, AZ, Sinopharm of China and Sinovac of China. Originally, this restriction only applied to air transport, but now it also applies to shipping and land borders (Canada-Mexico border).

Alejandro N. Mayorkas, Secretary of Homeland Security, announced that under the guidance of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and other public health experts, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) will amend Article 19 to allow passengers who have been vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccine and hold proper documents to enter the United States by land and ferry. In November, the US Customs (CBP) will begin to allow fully vaccinated passengers from Mexico or Canada to enter the United States by land and ferry. Passengers will be required to have appropriate documents to provide proof of vaccination. This new travel system will make a consistent and strict agreement for all foreign travelers going to the United States (whether by air, land or ferry), and explain the wide availability of COVID-19 vaccine. Visitors who are not fully vaccinated will still be banned from entering the United States from Canada or Mexico at the land border.

If flying, foreign passengers need to show their vaccination certificates before boarding the plane, and they need to show their recent COVID-19 test negative certificates. Foreign tourists crossing the land border do not need to show the latest negative test certificate at present. There are a few exceptions: children, participants in COVID-19 vaccine clinical trials, and humanitarian exceptions will be provided for those who travel for important reasons and cannot get vaccination in time. Individuals who are exempted from vaccination may need to be vaccinated on arrival. The new regulations do not require foreign tourists to enter the United States for isolation. The CDC will also finalize and publish a new contact tracking order, requiring airlines to collect the contact information of every passenger who comes to the United States, so as to track the passengers who have been exposed to COVID-19 mutation or other pathogens. These requirements will apply globally.

Although the United States is trying to fully open to the outside world, it does not mean that the epidemic is over. The law firm reminds everyone that even if you have been fully vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccine, you still need to take preventive measures. Because many people still die in COVID-19, even though they have been completely vaccinated. But vaccination can still reduce the risk. If you haven't been vaccinated, you'd better act quickly. Especially now that travel restrictions have been lifted, more people will enter the United States. In order to ensure everyone's safety, everyone should continue to take necessary precautions, try to avoid taking off masks and finish vaccinating before traveling.