The United States is expecting a flood of international visitors today as the country’s land and air borders reopen to travelers for the first time since early 2020.
Important points:
- The US closed its land, air and sea borders in March last year
- Country-specific travel bans for 26 Schengen countries in Europe, China, India, South Africa, Iran, Brazil, Great Britain and Ireland have been retained for incoming and outgoing travelers
- It is finally opening its land and air borders to incoming and outgoing travelers
COVID-19 concerns caused the US to close its borders to international travelers from countries like Brazil, China, India, South Africa, the UK and much of Europe more than a year and a half ago.
Australian travelers, like American travelers entering Australia, were barred from entering the United States without exception.
But it didn’t stop Actors and other celebrities are discouraging from crossing the Pacific by air.
Australians and US citizens no longer need an exception, but a vaccination certificate.
With a few exceptions, foreign air travelers must provide evidence of vaccination status before boarding a plane to the United States. All travelers must show a negative virus test result.
The US is also opening its land borders with Canada and Mexico – which were only open for “essential” travel – to vaccinated people.
Most travel to the United States from Canada and Mexico is by land rather than air.
The goal is to restore more normal travel while limiting the spread of COVID-19, the US government says.
In the meantime, the travel industry and European allies have pushed for an end to the country-specific bans.
Americans have been allowed to fly to Europe for months, and Europeans are pushing the US to change its policies.
Travelers should expect long lines after the restrictions are lifted. (Reuters: Kevin Mohatt / File)
“It gets a little sloppy at first”
United Airlines expects around 50 percent more international inbound passengers than last Monday when there were around 20,000.
And Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian warned travelers not to prepare for the first long lines.
“It will be a bit sloppy at first. I can assure you, unfortunately there will be queues,” said Bastian, adding that it would be clarified.
Delta said it has seen international point-of-sale bookings increase 450 percent in the six weeks since it was reopening in the US, compared to the six weeks prior.
White House spokesman Kevin Munoz said on Twitter: “As we expect high demand when the US lifts its existing flight and land travel restrictions on Monday, we are taking critical steps to be prepared by providing additional resources.”
Foreigners wishing to visit the United States must provide proof of vaccination with a US FDA-cleared, FDA-cleared, or WHO emergency-listed vaccine.AP: Mike Morones)
The Biden government has warned travelers crossing by land or ferry from Canada and Mexico in preparation for longer waits starting today.
Country-specific travel bans had banned most of the non-US citizens who had been in 33 countries in the past 14 days: the 26 Schengen countries in Europe without border controls, China, India, South Africa, Iran, Brazil, Great Britain and Ireland.
Trade group US Travel said these countries accounted for 53 percent of all foreign visitors to the United States in 2019, and border communities were hit hard by the loss of tourists crossing from Mexico and Canada.
As of March 2020, the group estimated that the decline in international visits “resulted in nearly $ 300 billion in lost export revenue.”
US airlines are stepping up flights to Europe and other destinations affected by the restrictions.
How to fly long distances, stay safe from COVID and actually feel good
As we venture into international travel plans, experts offer advice on how to stay safely in the air.
Continue reading
It is expected that many international flights will be almost full or full today, with heavy passenger traffic in the weeks to come.
The airlines will review vaccination documents for international travelers as they are currently doing for COVID-19 test results.
At land border crossings, U.S. Customs and Border Protection will ask if travelers have been vaccinated and will randomly check some documents.
Children under the age of 18 are exempt from the new vaccination regulations.
Even non-tourists from almost 50 countries with nationwide vaccination rates of less than 10 percent are exempt from an exception.
What you need to know about the coronavirus:
Loading form …
Reuters / AP
