As outlined in our earlier alert, there is now a vaccine requirement for foreign nationals seeking nonimmigrant entry to the United States after international air travel.  

On December 2, 2021, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) issued an update to their prior guidance regarding COVID-19 testing. The new policy requires that all individuals traveling into the United States two years or older via air, regardless of vaccination status or citizenship will be required to take a COVID-19 viral test and show a negative result to the airline, no more than one day before boarding a flight. This is a change from the prior requirement particularly for vaccinated individuals who had to get a COVID-19 viral test no more than three days prior to boarding a flight.  This change became effective on December 6, 2021, at 12:01 am (ET).

Those who recently recovered from COVID-19 may instead travel with documentation of their recovery, alongside a letter from a licensed healthcare provider or public health official stating that they are cleared for travel. The positive COVID test result should be from a sample taken no more than 90 days before the flight’s departure to the United States.

MVA continues to monitor the ongoing COVID-19 related impacts to U.S. immigration and will continue to provide alerts on these topics.