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On September 20, 2021, the White House announced its plans to rescind the COVID-19 travel restrictions that have been impacting travel to the United States since March 2020. Specifically, in early November, the Administration will rescind the geographic restrictions impacting individuals entering the United States from China, Iran, the Schengen Area, the U.K., Ireland, Brazil, South Africa, and India.
Instead, the Administration will require individuals to provide proof that they have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, as well as provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test within three (3) days of their flight to the United States. The CDC will be charged will providing the list of acceptable vaccines. Exceptions to this new vaccination requirement will be narrow and will require agreement to obtain the vaccination upon arrival to the United States.
The rescission of these travel restrictions will also negate the current requirements for travelers not exempted from the current travel bans, to obtain National Interest Exceptions (“NIEs”) at the applicable U.S. Embassy and/or Consulate. How these changes will impact current delays and backlogs at U.S. Embassies and Consulates across the globe is yet to be seen, as many are still only operating at partial capacity.
If you have any questions about these forthcoming travel changes, or how they may apply to you or your employees, please contact Rob Seiger at 856-816-0331 or rseiger@archerlaw.com, or Ashley Rotchford at 856-616-2683 or arotchford@archerlaw.com.
DISCLAIMER: This client advisory is for general information purposes only. It does not constitute legal or tax advice, and may not be used and relied upon as a substitute for legal or tax advice regarding a specific issue or problem. Advice should be obtained from a qualified attorney or tax practitioner licensed to practice in the jurisdiction where that advice is sought.