Requirement for Proof of Negative COVID-19 Test or Recovery from COVID-19 for All Air Passengers Arriving in the United States
If you plan to travel internationally, get tested before you travel by air into the United States (US), or be prepared to show proof of a recent positive viral test and a letter from your healthcare provider or a public health official stating that you were cleared to travel.
On January 12, 2021, CDC issued an Order requiring all air passengers arriving to the US from a foreign country to get tested no more than 3 days before their flight departs and to provide proof of the negative result or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 to the airline before boarding the flight. This Order will go into effect on January 26, 2021.
This Order applies to all air passengers, 2 years of age or older, traveling into the US, including US citizens and legal permanent residents.
Termination by Trump Administration of Restrictions on Entry of Certain Travelers from the Schengen Area, the U.K., Ireland, and Brazil to Take Effect 1/26, but may be Subject to Change under new Presidential Administration
Effective 12:01 am (ET) on January 26, 2021, travel restrictions applicable to the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, and Brazil will be terminated, while leaving in place the restrictions applicable to the People’s Republic of China and Iran. Therefore, the following Proclamations are terminated on January 26, 2021: Proclamation 9993 of March 11, 2020; Proclamation 9996 of March 14, 2020; and Proclamation 10041 of May 24, 2020. The lifting of the travel restrictions applicable to the Schengen Area, the United Kingdom, the Republic of Ireland, and Brazil does not supersede the CDC order issued on January 12, 2021, also effective on January 26, 2021 requiring proof of a negative COVID-19 test or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 for all air passengers arriving from a foreign country.
Note however that on January 19, 2021 a representative of the then incoming Biden Administration informally stated that on the advice of its medical team, the Administration does not intend to lift these restrictions. As this is a fluid situation, counsel should be consulted.
For more information, click here.
President Trump Issues Memorandum on Deferred Enforced Departure for Certain Venezuelans
On January 19, 2021, through a Presidential Memorandum, DHS and DOS Secretaries were directed to take action to defer, with certain exceptions, for 18 months the removal of any Venezuelan national, or individual without nationality who last habitually resided in Venezuela, who is present in the United States as of January 20, 2021.
For more information, click here.
If you have any questions, please contact Gunster Immigration attorneys Sarah Tobocman, Mariana Ribeiro, Beatriz Osorio, and Maria Romero.
