Summary
As reported earlier; as of November 8, 2021 If you are a non-U.S. citizen who is a nonimmigrant (not a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident, or traveling to the United States on an immigrant visa), you will need to show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before you travel by air to the United States from a foreign country.
This can affect foreign crew members flying to the US to join a ship; unless the individual meets the following exemption:
- Sea crew members traveling with to a C-1 and D nonimmigrant visa.
Documentation needed for a sea crew member traveling with a C-1 and D nonimmigrant visa:
The crew member will need to show:
•
His/Her C-1 and D visa; AND
An official letter from your employer (paper or digital) indicating your entry to the United States is required for the purpose of operating a vessel that will depart from a U.S. seaport.
Reference: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/proof-of-vaccination.html#vaccine-proof
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) —> (Click here)
The President’s Proclamation and CDC Implementation Order are attached.
Information will be updated as received.
RWB
Additional details:
Current Status:
- At this time, all air passengers ages 2 or older, regardless of citizenship or vaccination status, must show a negative result of a COVID-19 viral test or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before they board a flight to the United States. For more information about these testing requirements, visit Requirement for Proof of Negative COVID-19 Test or Documentation of Recovery from COVID-19.
As of November 8, 2021:
- If you are a non-U.S. citizen who is a nonimmigrant (not a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident, or traveling to the United States on an immigrant visa), you will need to show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before you travel by air to the United States from a foreign country.
Exemptions:
- Some categories of noncitizen, nonimmigrants are excepted from this requirement. If you meet the criteria for one of these categories, you will need to fulfill additional requirements to travel by air to the United States.
Categories of noncitizen nonimmigrants that meet the criteria for an exception under the Proclamation and CDC’s Order include:
- Persons on diplomatic or official foreign government travel
- Children under 18 years of age
- Persons with documented medical contraindications to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine
- Participants in certain COVID-19 vaccine trials
- Persons issued a humanitarian or emergency exception
- Persons with valid visas [excluding B-1 (business) or B-2 (tourism) visas] who are citizens of a foreign country with limited COVID-19 vaccine availability
- Members of the U.S. Armed Forces or their spouses or children (under 18 years of age)
- Sea crew members traveling with to a C-1 and D nonimmigrant visa
- Persons whose entry would be in the national interest, as determined by the Secretary of State, Secretary of Transportation, or Secretary of Homeland Security (or their designees)
If you travel by air to the United States under one of these exceptions, you will be required to attest that you are excepted from the requirement to present Proof of Being Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19 based on one of the exceptions listed above. Based on the category of the exception, you may further be required to attest that:
- You will be tested with a COVID-19 viral test 3–5 days after arrival in the United States, unless you have documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days;
- You will self-quarantine for a full 7 days, even if the test result to the post-arrival viral test is negative, unless you have documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days; and
- You will self-isolate if the result of the post-arrival test is positive or if you develop COVID-19 symptoms.
Based on the category of the exception, if you intend to stay in the United States for longer than 60 days you may additionally be required to attest that
- You agree to be vaccinated against COVID-19; and
- You have arranged to become fully vaccinated against COVID-19 within 60 days of arriving in the United States, or as soon thereafter as is medically appropriate, unless (for children) you are too young to be vaccinated.
A parent or other authorized person should attest on behalf of a passenger under 18 years old. An authorized person may attest on behalf of any passenger who is unable sign their own attestation (e.g., because they are too young, or because of physical or mental impairment).
If you are a noncitizen nonimmigrant and are fully vaccinated, make sure your vaccine and proof of vaccination are acceptable to board a flight to the United States (see below).
What is ‘Fully Vaccinated’?
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Are you Fully Vaccinated for Air Travel to the United States?
You are considered fully vaccinated:
- 2 weeks (14 days) after your dose of an accepted single-dose COVID-19 vaccine.
- 2 weeks (14 days) after your second dose of an accepted 2-dose series COVID-19 vaccine; or
- 2 weeks (14 days) after you received the full series of an “active” (not placebo) COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S.-based AstraZeneca or Novavax COVID-19 vaccine trials
- 2 weeks (14 days) after you received 2 doses of any “mix-and-match” combination of accepted COVID-19 vaccines administered at least 17 days apart*
If you don’t meet these requirements, you are NOT considered fully vaccinated.
*CDC has not recommended the use of mix-and-match COVID-19 vaccine primary series. However, such strategies are increasingly common in many countries outside of the United States. Therefore, for the purpose of interpreting vaccination records for travel to the United States, CDC will accept combinations of accepted COVID-19 vaccines.
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Accepted COVID-19 Vaccines
| Accepted COVID-19 Vaccines | ||
| Vaccines Approved or Authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration | Vaccines Listed for Emergency Use (EUL) by the World Health Organization | |
| Single dose |
|
|
| 2-dose series |
|
|
Acceptable Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination
| Acceptable Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination | |
| Documentation Type | Examples |
| Verifiable records (digital or paper) | Vaccination certificate with QR code1, digital pass via Smartphone application with QR code1 (e.g., United Kingdom National Health Service COVID Pass, European Union Digital COVID Certificate) |
| Non-verifiable paper records | Printout of COVID-19 vaccination record or a COVID-19 vaccination certificate issued at national or subnational level or by an authorized vaccine provider (e.g., the CDC vaccination card) |
| Non-verifiable digital records | Digital photos of vaccination card or record, downloaded vaccine record or vaccination certificate from official source (e.g., public health agency, government agency, or other authorized vaccine provider), or a mobile phone application without QR code1 |
- The QR code in a verifiable vaccination record links to information confirming the credential was generated from an immunization record in an official database and is protected from tampering.
All forms of proof of COVID-19 vaccination must have
- + Personal identifiers (at a minimum, full name and date of birth) that match the personal identifiers on the passenger’s passport or other travel documents.
- + Name of official source issuing the record (e.g., public health agency, government agency, or other authorized vaccine provider).
- + Vaccine manufacturer and date(s) of vaccination.
How the 14 days are calculated:
- + Your last dose must have been given a full 14 days before the day you board your flight to the United States.
- + You are considered fully vaccinated on the 14th day after the vaccination series was completed. For example, if your last dose was any time on October 1st, then October 15th would be the first day that you meet the 14-day requirement.
Sincerely,
“Capt Ron”
Ronald W. Branch, CAPT. USCG (Ret.)
President
Louisiana Maritime Association (LAMA)
Ron.branch@louisianamaritime.org
Website: The Watch Stander
This E-Mail transmission (and/or the documents accompanying it) may contain information belonging to the sender that is confidential, privileged and/or exempt from disclosure under applicable law. The information is intended only for the use of the individual(s) or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or action taken in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited. If you have received this E-Mail transmission in error, please immediately notify us by return E-Mail or telephone to arrange for the return of its contents (including any documents).
Begin forwarded message:
From: Ron Branch <ron.branch@louisianamaritime.org>
Subject: Vaccine Requirement for International Travelers
Date: October 20, 2021 at 10:35:30 AM CDT
All,
The White House announced that vaccines will be required for international travelers coming into the United States, with an effective date of November 8, 2021.
International travelers will be required to provide proof of vaccination in addition to negative COVID-19 test before boarding a flight.
For purposes of entry into the United States, vaccines accepted will include FDA approved or authorized and WHO Emergency Use Listing vaccines. FDA approved vaccines include those produced by Pfizer, BioNTech, Moderna, Johnson and Johnson, as well as those approved for emergency use including AstraZeneca, Serum Institute of India, Sinopharm (Beijing), and Sinovac.
Note: This policy will affect foreign crew members flying into the US to join a ship.
I asked CBP and received this…
==============================
Ron,
We have seen reports in the news about the expansion of air and land travel into he US starting in November but have received no specific information yet.
Troy Simon
Assistant Port Director
Port of New Orleans
New Orleans Field Office
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Office: (504) 670-2214
==============================
LAMA will continue to monitor and provide updates as received.
References:
CDC —> https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/international-travel-during-covid19.html
CNN —> https://www.cnn.com/2021/10/15/politics/us-border-travel-restrictions-november-8/index.html
Sincerely,
“Capt Ron”
Ronald W. Branch, CAPT. USCG (Ret.)
President
Louisiana Maritime Association (LAMA)
Ron.branch@louisianamaritime.org
Website: The Watch Stander
This E-Mail transmission (and/or the documents accompanying it) may contain information belonging to the sender that is confidential, privileged and/or exempt from disclosure under applicable law. The information is intended only for the use of the individual(s) or entity named above. If you are not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any disclosure, copying, distribution or action taken in reliance on the contents of this information is strictly prohibited. If you have received this E-Mail transmission in error, please immediately notify us by return E-Mail or telephone to arrange for the return of its contents (including any documents).
