Today President Biden announced that the United States will be putting in place strict protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19 from passengers flying internationally into the United States, by requiring that adult foreign nationals traveling to the United States be fully vaccinated. This policy means that the US Government will no longer implement the current 212(f) travel policies for individual countries as of early November, and will be moving to a consistent, stringent requirement for all international air travelers coming to the United States.
Specifically:
Starting in early November, foreign nationals traveling to the United States will be required to be fully vaccinated and to show proof of vaccination prior to boarding an airplane, as well as, to show proof of a negative test taken within 3 days of boarding a flight.
U.S. Citizens who are unvaccinated travelers upon returning to the United States will be required to provide, prior to boarding an airplane, the following:
• Proof of a negative test result taken within one day of their departure, and
• Proof that they have purchased a viral test to be taken after arrival.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will also issue a Contact Tracing Order that will require airlines to collect comprehensive contact information for every passenger coming to the United States and to provide that information promptly to CDC upon request, in order to follow up with travelers who have been exposed to COVID-19 variants or other pathogens.
These requirements will apply globally, hence the current covid-19 travels bans with the Schengen area countries, China, Iran, Ireland, Brazil, India and South Africa will no longer be applicable.