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Tourists from all over the world arrived in the United States on Monday, following the lifting of months-long travel restrictions imposed to combat the coronavirus outbreak.
If you’re planning a trip to the United States to meet family or simply to sightsee, here’s what you should know before you go.
COVID-19 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS: VISITING THE UNITED STATES
Is it necessary for me to get fully vaccinated against Covid-19 before entering the United States?
Before boarding a flight to the United States, most overseas tourists will need to be fully vaccinated and provide confirmation of vaccination. When taking the immigration medical exam, anyone asking for a green card must also present confirmation of full vaccination.
If I am an American citizen or a lawful permanent resident, do I need to be fully vaccinated?
If you’re a US citizen or have a green card, you’ll need to present confirmation of full immunization or a negative Covid test within 24 hours of departure. Those who have been fully immunized must present confirmation of immunization and a negative Covid test within 72 hours of departure.
Who is exempt from having to get vaccinated?
The following groups are exempt from the requirement to produce proof of vaccination:
- Children under the age of 18
- Certain Covid-19 vaccine trial participants
- Those traveling for emergency or humanitarian reasons
- Those traveling from countries with low vaccine availability
- Members of the military and their immediate families
- Airline and ship crew
- Diplomats and their families
For further information, go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website.
What immunizations are permitted?
Any vaccines approved by the CDC or the World Health Organization (WHO) for emergency use will be accepted. These are the ones that are currently in use:
- Pfizer-BioNTech
- Moderna
- Johnson & Johnson
- AstraZeneca
- Covaxin
- Covishield
- BIBP/Sinopharm
- Sinovac
What types of immunization proof are acceptable?
Before flying internationally, passengers should produce a paper or digital immunization record to airlines. Their full name and date of birth, the vaccine type, and the dates when the immunizations were given should all be included in the record.
Is a pre-departure Covid test required for children?
Before traveling, children aged 2 to 17 must take a Covid test. Unvaccinated children traveling with fully vaccinated adults must present documentation of a negative test within three days of departure. Children traveling alone or with unvaccinated adults must present documentation of a negative test performed within one day of departure.
What are the many types of Covid tests that are accepted?
Within 90 days of departure, travelers must either provide a negative Covid test or proof of recovery from Covid. Antigen testing and nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATS), such as PCR tests, are accepted. Learn more about which tests are acceptable here.
What is the new contract tracing system and how does it work?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) mandates airlines to collect phone numbers, email addresses, and physical addresses from passengers so that they can be contacted while in the US.
