The United States lifts as of this Monday, after 20 months, travel restrictions on foreigners, who must comply with a series of health requirements due to the coronavirus pandemic. The new criteria benefit tourists from the European Union, the United Kingdom, China, India and Brazil, who until now were prohibited from entering the country, but it harms travelers from countries that have been immunized with a vaccine that It is not supported by the WHO or the US Drug Regulatory Body (FDA). The following are the keys that foreigners who want to travel to the US must be clear about if they do not want to be surprised at the boarding gate.
Is it mandatory to be vaccinated?
Yes. Before traveling, foreigners must present to the employees of the contracted airline the vaccination certificate of the complete schedule, either in digital or paper format. They should have received the single dose of Johnson & Johnson, or the second of any of the other brands, two weeks before.
Do you just have to present the vaccination certificate?
No. Travelers must show a negative PCR test performed within three days of boarding. If the person has recently been infected, they can present a COVID recovery certificate made within the last 90 days before boarding the first flight to the United States and a letter from a health worker stating that they were authorized to travel. The State Department advises that they will also accept molecular nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) and antigen tests.
Will exceptions be made?
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Yes. Those under 18 years of age and travelers from countries with a vaccination rate of less than 10% due to the lack of availability of vaccines will be able to enter without being inoculated (the WHO updates the list in which there are about 50 countries). The US Government clarified that the latter need to have a “specific and convincing” reason for wanting to enter the country. They will not be asked for a vaccination certificate, but they will be asked for a negative covid test carried out one day before traveling, except for children under two years of age.
Are there exceptions for medical matters?
Yes. Unvaccinated adults who have medical contraindications, such as allergies, will be accepted to receive a vaccine. Also those who travel for emergency or humanitarian reasons, such as patients for medical treatment on which their lives depend.
Does the United States accept any vaccine?
No. Only vaccines licensed by the US drug regulator or the World Health Organization: Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca, Sinopharm, and Sinovac. This requirement excludes hundreds of millions of people in places like India, Russia, Mexico or Argentina, who have received the vaccine from other brands such as Sputnik V.
Should I apply for the ESTA?
Yes. Travelers can apply for the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), even before booking the flight. The form, which collects data on the passenger’s medical history and possible criminal history, is required by the United States Department of Homeland Security. The digital travel authorization for tourists and business travelers can be requested online and applies to stays of less than 90 days. It is valid for two years, unless the passport of the interested party expires before.
What are the rules for unvaccinated Americans?
Americans traveling from abroad and are not immunized must test negative on the test of the covid one day before returning to their country and show documentation that proves that they bought a test to be carried out after their arrival.
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