Biden Administration Lifts Travel Restrictions for Vaccinated Individuals

On October 25, 2021, the Biden Administration issued a proclamation ending various travel bans that restricted the entry of nonimmigrants into the U.S. who within 14 days prior to seeking entry into the U.S. had been in countries such as China, Brazil, India, Iran, South Africa, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the Schengen Area. The proclamation issued by President Biden states, “…it is in the interests of the United States to move away from the country-by-country restrictions previously applied during the COVID-19 pandemic and to adopt an air travel policy that relies primarily on vaccination to advance the safe resumption of international air travel to the United States.” Effective November 8, 2021, all adult nonimmigrant travelers entering the U.S. via air travel are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 with only limited exceptions. This proclamation ends approximately 18 months of travel restrictions put into place last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic.