Immigration Alert: U.S. Covid-19 Travel Bans Lifted

On October 25, 2021, President Biden signed a new proclamation to advance the safe resumption of global travel to the United States in response to the worldwide easement of COVID-19 restrictions.  In the proclamation, President Biden revoked the previous COVID-19 country-specific suspensions and limitations on entry into the U.S. enacted under the previous four presidential proclamations, dating back to January of 2020.  In accordance with this new proclamation, international air travel to the U.S. for previously restricted noncitizen nonimmigrants will resume on November 8, 2021, with certain COVID-19 vaccination requirements.

The new U.S. air travel policy will rely primarily on vaccination requirements for noncitizen nonimmigrants to limit the risk and transmission of COVID-19 into and throughout the U.S.  This includes foreign nationals visiting the U.S. or entering for a temporary purpose.  Furthermore, unvaccinated noncitizen nonimmigrants traveling to the U.S. by air are suspended from entering the U.S., with certain exceptions.  The airlines will require proof of vaccination or exemption from all noncitizen nonimmigrants in order to board a plane to the U.S.  According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), acceptable vaccines will include Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and World Health Organization (WHO) approved vaccines.  Finally, enhanced testing will be implemented, and all air travelers will need to provide negative test results along with proof of vaccination.

Please contact the Immigration Department at the Law Firm of Widerman Malek for assistance and additional information regarding the requirements, procedures, and vaccination exemptions enacted under this new proclamation.  The Presidential Proclamation is available at:

https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/10/25/a-proclamation-on-advancing-the-safe-resumption-of-global-travel-during-the-covid-19-pandemic/