WASHINGTON (AP) – The Biden administration is introducing new international travel policies that affect both Americans and non-citizens planning to fly to the United States.
The blanket rules coming into effect in November will replace a hodgepodge of confusing restrictions. Some details of the plan announced on Monday are currently being worked out, but here are some questions and answers about what to expect:
WHAT IS THE NEW POLICY IN BRIEF?
All adult foreigners traveling to the United States must be fully vaccinated prior to departure on their flight. This is in addition to the current requirement that travelers must provide evidence of a negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of departing for the United States
Once vaccination requirements are in place, the White House will relax any country-specific restrictions on international travel that non-nationals who have been to the UK, European Union, China, India, Iran, Republic of Ireland, Brazil or South Africa in the past 14 days before entering the USA
HOW DOES THAT AFFECT THE AMERICAN?
Fully vaccinated Americans are only required to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test performed within 72 hours of leaving for the United States
What about unvaccinated Americans?
U.S. citizens and permanent residents who are not fully vaccinated can still fly to the U.S., but they will see more stringent testing and contact tracing protocols. They must be tested within 24 hours of boarding a flight to the US and tested upon return to the country. However, it remains to be seen how the federal government will enforce mandatory testing on return.
HOW DOES THE CHILDREN AFFECT?
The new US policy only requires that adult foreigners be fully vaccinated to enter the US.
WHICH VACCINES ARE ACCEPTED?
The CDC says the US will accept full vaccination of travelers with any World Health Organization emergency-approved COVID-19 vaccine, including those used in the US by Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson. Other vaccines are also approved by the WHO and are widely used around the world, including by AstraZeneca and China’s Sinovac, with varying degrees of effectiveness against COVID-19 and its more transmissible Delta variant. The WHO is reviewing the Russian Sputnik-V vaccine but has not approved it.
HOW WILL THIS EFFECT ON FARES?
Adit Damodaran, an economist at travel research firm Hopper, predicted that rising demand will likely lead to higher airfares on flights from Europe, although the rush to book flights due to the Delta variant and high COVID-19 rates in the US is slowing the tariffs could rise, this would mean a price turnaround since the beginning of the pandemic.
WILL AIRLINES COLLECT DATA ABOUT PASSENGERS?
The CDC requires airlines to collect information about passengers and provide it to the health authority if they need to conduct a contact trace. The airlines had opposed a similar change last year when it was proposed by the CDC and eventually blocked by the Trump administration.
What about travel across land borders?
The government’s restrictions on crossing land borders from Mexico and Canada to the US are expected to remain unchanged for the time being. This means that some fully vaccinated people from the two American neighbors will soon be able to fly to the USA, but may not be able to make the same journey by car.
HOW WILL THIS IMPACT ON THE TRAVEL INDUSTRY?
Analysts and industry representatives believe it will help. The US Chamber of Commerce said lifting current restrictions on international travelers will help sustain the US economy. As of Monday, the US was well on its way to losing $ 175 billion in export revenue from international visitors this year, according to the US Travel Association.
HOW DO CURRENT RESTRICTIONS AFFECT INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL?
You made it easier for Americans to visit Europe than the other way around. International travel in the US was down 54% in August compared to two years ago, and arrivals from non-US residents were down 74%, according to Airlines for America.
HOW WILL THE CHANGES EFFECT BUSINESS TRAVEL?
Business travelers from Europe have some catching up to do. Vaccinated overseas executives no longer have to prove that their trip to the US is in the US “national interest” – a time-consuming process.
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Koenig answered from Dallas. Associate press writer Mike Stobbe in New York contributed to this report.
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