The United States has officially reopened its borders to European tourists from November 8. The government also opened land crossings with Canada and Mexico on the same day.
Foreseeing a great volume of arrivals, the Department of Homeland Security has advised visitors about “expecting longer-than-normal wait times, familiarizing themselves with the new guidelines, and having appropriate documentation ready during a border inspection.”
Also read: Latin American countries open for tourism
U.S. Reopening to Europe – Latest Updates
US Reopening – Latest Updates
December 8 – The US has tightened its entry restrictions for all EU travelers
Due to the lack of sufficient information about the Omicron variant, the United States has banned flights from Southern African countries and further strengthened entry restrictions for all travelers.
Starting December 6, all foreign arrivals to the US aged 2 years and above must present a negative COVID-19 test taken within 1 day of travel, regardless of vaccination status or citizenship.
Travelers entering the United States who have recovered from COVID-19 in the 90 days prior to travel may instead present proof of recovery from a licensed health care provider.
Read our full post: U.S. Announces New Travel Restrictions for All International Visitors
New Entry Requirements
The lack of digital technology that helps passengers navigate the entry process through customs is causing bottlenecks at American airports.
Vaccine and COVID-19 test
- European visitors are required to present both a COVID-19 test and proof of having received a WHO-approved vaccine at least 14 days prior to the trip.
- Passengers aged 2 and above must present a negative COVID-19 test taken within 1 day of departure to the U.S.
Note: Only people with severe anaphylactic reactions to the components of the vaccine would be exempted from presenting the vaccines certificated.
Contact tracing
Visitors must provide airlines with personal details such as emails, phone numbers, and U.S. addresses in case authorities need “to follow up with travelers who have been exposed to COVID-19 variants or other pathogens.”
This new process has doubled the amount of time a passenger used to spend in the airport, say experts.
Also read: Countries without Travel Restrictions (No quarantine, no vaccine, no test)
U.S. Reopening to Europe – Update Archives
September 8 – The U.S continues to be closed to 39 countries but entering from dozens of others is still possible.
On Tuesday, President Biden delivered a speech that was called by the national media as the “biggest announcement about COVID-19,” but not even a word about the borders reopening was said.
So far, the U.S. remains closed to 39 countries including China, Iran, Ireland, Brazil, South Africa, India and the entire European Schengen area.
This means that all people who can afford to stay 14 days in countries such as Turkey, Dubai, Aruba, Canada, as well as other more budget-friendly options such as Mexico, Colombia, Perú, Ecuador, and multiple Caribbean islands can still enter the country without only an antigen test taken 48 hours prior to departure.
August 20 – U.S. faces multilateral pressure to reopen to European Travelers
Official sources within the White House have confirmed for Reuters that “at this point”, the US authorities will not lift the travel restriction on flights from the European Union.
In consequence, the U.S. has been facing multilateral pressure from lawmakers to border mayors to European officials as well as citizens seeking to meet up family members in the U.S., but so far, the government has refused to give an approximate reopening date.
“The interagency working groups are currently developing a policy process, and we will be ready when it is the right time to consider reopening travel. And that’ll be guided, as always, by science and public health,” White House Covid-19 coordinator Jeff Zients said earlier this month.
This means that entering the U.S. through third-party countries is the only option left for travelers for now.
Source: CNN
August 11 – U.S. may soon allow inbound travel for vaccinated EU visitors
Washington is reportedly working on a plan to safely re-open for fully vaccinated visitors, a White House official told Reuters last week.
Last week, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that this situation should be solved soon because both the U.S. and the EU are going through similar epidemiology situations.
“The epidemiological situation in the U.S. and the EU today is very similar. We need to solve the problem as soon as possible and we are in contact with our American friends. That shouldn’t drag on for weeks.”
Although the U.S. has been working with their EU counterparts for several weeks now, the country has refused to give any approximate reopening date so far.
Source: Forbes