Photo: Scott Olson (Shutterstock)
Two recent changes in travel regulations mean that people can now visit the United States for non-essential reasons, even if they aren’t citizens. Both policies took effect Nov. 8 (and if you want a good cry, check out any of the videos of families reuniting after almost two years apart).
The first important change is that the U.S. will no longer decide who can enter based on what country they are coming from. Instead, a statement from the White House says the administration will “adopt an air travel policy that relies primarily on vaccination to advance the safe resumption of international air travel to the United States.” The order means people will no longer be denied entry based on country, but they can be denied entry for not being vaccinated.
The second important change extends the same policy to the land borders with Mexico and Canada, and to ferry crossings. Until recently, these borders were closed to non-citizens if they were entering for nonessential reasons, such as tourism or visiting family and friends.
Who can visit, and how?
The regulations get a bit complicated, but the CDC has a flowchart here and a quiz to help you figure out which category you fall into. In most cases, if you’re fully vaccinated, you’re good to go.
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U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, lawful permanent residents, and immigrants don’t need a vaccine to enter the country, but they do need a negative viral test within one day of departure. If you are vaccinated, you still need a negative test but it can be from anytime in the three days before departure.
If you don’t fall into those categories—meaning you live in another country and are visiting the U.S., rather than returning home—you need to be fully vaccinated if you are over 18. There are a few exceptions to the rule, including people who are unable to be vaccinated due to a documented medical condition, and people with certain visas who are traveling from countries where COVID-19 vaccines are not widely available. The CDC has a list of valid reasons for exceptions, and extra regulations that may apply (for example, you may be required to self-quarantine after arrival and to get vaccinated if you’ll be in the country for 60 days).
Does it matter which vaccine you got?
There are only three COVID vaccines currently authorized for use in the United States. If you’ve gotten a full series of any of those (one shot for J&J, two shots for Moderna or Pfizer) and it’s been two weeks since your last dose, you are considered fully vaccinated. (Whether you have gotten a third dose or a booster doesn’t make a difference for this regulation; the first two shots are good enough.)
Other countries have different vaccines, so you’re also considered fully vaccinated 14 days after completing a series of any COVID-19 vaccine that is listed for emergency use by the World Health Organization. This includes AstraZeneca, Covaxin, Covishield, Sinopharm, and Sinovac (the full list is here).
If you’re in a phase 3 clinical trial for Novavax or Covavax and you know that you got the vaccine (not the placebo), that counts, too. And if your country does mix-and-match vaccines, you’re considered fully vaccinated 14 days after the second dose, as long as the doses were at least 17 days apart.
