Effective December 31, 2021, the United States began permitting noncitizen arrivals from Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. A Presidential Proclamation went into effect on November 29, 2021, suspending entry into the United States for individuals who were present in the aforementioned Southern Africa countries within a 14-day window before their planned date of entry. The Presidential Proclamation was a result of the World Health Organization’s report identifying an area of increased presence of COVID-19 variants in Southern Africa countries.

All non-immigrant travelers will still be required to provide proof of vaccination before boarding a flight to the United States. Additionally, all incoming airline passengers must provide a negative COVID-19 viral test taken within one calendar day of travel or documentation from a licensed health care provider demonstrating recovery from COVID-19 in the 90 days before travel.

The Burr & Forman LLP immigration team continues to monitor travel restrictions affecting foreign nationals’ ability to enter the United States.

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