To combat the spread of the coronavirus and to protect the U.S. labor market the US government had increasingly taken measures and imposed a ban on entry into the United States from January 31, 2020 until November 7, 2021.
Since November 8, 2021 the US has eased entry requirements and for many nations travel is possible again with compliance of a variety of COVID-19 and sanitary guidelines.
Read below to learn about the implications for travelers, visa applicants, and visa holders when entering the United Staes now.
US President Joe Biden signed the "Proclamation on Advancing the Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic" on Monday, October 25, 2021, replacing the Corona Travel Ban with new uniform rules for all U.S. travelers worldwide beginning November 8, 2021, with this Presidential Proclamation 10294.
In accordance with the Presidential Proclamation, three regulations issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which is part of the US Department of Health and Human Services, are taking effect:
As of November 8, 2021, travel to the U.S. will only be permitted for individuals fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (with very few exceptions).
All international travelers who can present a valid COVID-19 vaccination record will benefit from the travel relief – regardless of whether they wish to enter the country on a U.S. visa or under the Visa Waiver Program with an ESTA authorization.
This means that tourist travel, family visits, transit travel, etc. with a visa or ESTA from the former Travel Ban countries (Brazil, China, India, Iran, Ireland, Schengen Area, United Kingdom) is once again possible – provided corona vaccination and a negative test result.
The US embassies and U.S. consulates of the former affected Travel Ban countries have gradually resumed issuing visas for all US visa categories, depending on capacity.
Since November 8, 2021 entry by land via Mexico or Canada is again be possible for foreign persons fully vaccinated against COVID-19 – including non-essential purposes (e.g. tourist entries). Currently, the only exceptions to this rule include children under 18 years of age, U.S. citizens and Green Card holders.
The official vaccination status in accordance with CDC standards must be proven at the border, as well as a verbal confirmation of the reason for travel and the accuracy of the information.
During a transition period until January 2022, foreign individuals may continue to enter the U.S. by land under essential travel purposes – even if they are unvaccinated. However, beginning January 22, 2022, this provision will be eliminated. This means that entry into the United States – regardless of the reason for entry – will then be uniformly possible only for fully COVID-19 vaccinated foreign persons traveling via land to the United States.
Entry into the United States is no longer be possible for COVID-19 unvaccinated international travelers or persons who do not have complete vaccination, with a few exceptions.
In addition, entry into the United States will be denied unless a negative Corona test or certificate of recovery result can be provided.
First of all, individuals are considered fully vaccinated
This means that entry can take place from the 15th day after the final dose.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) only vaccines approved or authorized by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and those listed in the World Health Organization's (WHO) Emergency Use Listing (EUL) are accepted. These currently include:
Click here for the list of CDC-approved vaccines.
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), individuals with so-called "mix-and-match" combinations can be considered fully vaccinated two weeks after receiving the last dose if they have received a vaccine approved by the named FDA / WHO (e.g., AstraZeneca / BioNTech) and provided that the second vaccination was administered no earlier than 17 days after the initial dose.
Proof of complete COVID-19 vaccination must be provided prior to departure, i.e., at check-in or via the respective airline app. Thus, verification of vaccination documentation is the responsibility of the airlines.
The CDC has listed exactly which documents are considered proof of vaccination (= Verifiable Vaccination Credential) and which proofs are not accepted.
Proof should preferably and usually be provided via a digital vaccination certificate with QR code (e.g. European COVID-19 vaccination certificate). However, other paper documents such as an official vaccination card or certificate (e.g. yellow vaccination certificate, CDC vaccination certificate, etc.) can also be used as proof.
This proof of vaccination (digital or paper) must in any case be issued by an official source / authority and include the name and date of birth of the traveler(s) as well as the vaccine product and date of administration for all doses received by the traveler(s).
As the airlines are responsible for checking vaccination certificates, no vaccination certificates are required as part of the visa application process, according to current information. At the U.S. border, on the other hand, routine checks by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) may occur. It is therefore advisable to have the proofs ready for the border control.
The new regulation lists a very limited number of people who can travel to the United States without a full COVID-19 vaccination record, i.e., unvaccinated:
The airlines are responsible for verifying the proof required for exemptions at check-in.
Persons exempt from the vaccination requirement must be vaccinated against COVID-19 no later than 60 days or as soon as medically feasible if staying in the US for more than 60 days. Exceptions apply to US citizens, Green Card holders, US military personnel, airline crew members, persons with medical contraindications and children under the age of 18.
As of June 12, 2022, the official COVID-19 testing requirement for international travelers entering the U.S. has now been permanently waived.
It also eliminates the alternative of submitting evidence of recovery status in lieu of a negative COVID-19 test.
From January 2021 - June 2022, COVID-19 testing was mandatory for airline passengers worldwide who wished to enter the U.S. from abroad. In order to contain the spread of new variants of SARS-CoV-2 (e.g., omicron), the requirements for travelling to the US were tightened, just like vaccination, negative testing and face masks.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a new order, "Requirement for Airlines and Operators to Collect Contact Information for All Passengers Arriving into the United States," on October 25, 2021. This will require airlines and other aircraft operators to collect contact information from U.S. travelers (from age 2) prior to their arrival in the US from abroad, retain it for 30 days, and submit the information to CDC upon request, beginning November 8, 2021. The contact tracing system will be implemented for all travelers regardless of vaccination status.
The following information is required from US travelers prior to travel:
To see which COVID-19 requirements apply to your entry, check the CDC's online tool in your individual case.
The local quarantine regulations and hygiene measures – i.e. after entry into the United States – differ since November 8, 2021 depending on the vaccination status of the persons traveling:
| Vaccinated | Recovered | Unvaccinated | |
| Behavior in case of contact with a COVID-19 positive person |
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The monitoring and verification of the necessary documents regarding the vaccination status, possible exemptions, etc. is mainly done by the airlines before departure. Thus, according to current information, in the course of the introduction of the new regulations, nothing changes in the issuance of visas. This means that it can be assumed that no relevant evidence (e.g. vaccination certificates, etc.) will need to be submitted in the visa application process. This means that, as it stands now, unvaccinated individuals can continue to apply for and receive U.S. visas, but may not be allowed to enter the United States with them.
More detailed instructions from the US Department of State must be awaited before US embassies and US consulates worldwide will reconsider visa applications that have been suspended due to COVID travel restrictions.
As expected, with the lifting of the travel ban, visa appointments for almost all visa categories have now been released (including B-1/B-2 visas), but with limited availability. Depending on the US embassy or US consulate, one has to expect long waiting times. Requests for emergency appointments are possible, but are given priority for medical or humanitarian emergencies (e.g. family death).
From January 31, 2020 to November 7, 2021, entry into the United States from certain regions has been increasingly restricted as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic (Presidential Proclamations 9984, 9992, 9993, 9996, and 10041). As a result, foreign U.S. travelers from numerous countries were unable to enter the United States.
The US government had banned all foreign travelers who are not US citizens and who have been in any of the following countries within 14 days prior to their planned U.S. entry:
Only a few selected US travelers were exempt from the entry ban, such as US citizens, Green Card holders and their close family members, and persons whose entry was of national interest (National Interest Exception (NIE)).
Only a few weeks after the end of the international travel ban for many regions, the new Omikron COVID-19 virus variant again resulted in restrictions for the South Africa area. All travelers who have been in certain South African countries for 14 days prior to U.S. entry have been banned from entering the country between November 29, and December 31, 2021.
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the US authorities have been operating in a more or less restricted manner, and in some cases numerous field offices around the world were closed for several months. Below we provide an overview of which applications are currently possible or have been made more difficult or suspended until further notice.
Even in the end of 2021 some US embassies and US consulates worldwide have still restricted their visa services and public access. In close coordination with the relevant authorities and while ensuring the safe return of embassy and consulate staff, a gradual reopening took place.
Which US consulates are open in which form and to what extent, which visa categories or applicants are processed at all and under which conditions, varies from country to country.
The available appointment capacities have been considerably reduced since the outbreak of the Corona crisis and there is a backlog of certain visa applications. Whether appointments are available in your home country and for which visa categories depends on several factors and is subject to constant change (including local pandemic situation, local conditions and restrictions). Therefore, it is advisable to regularly check your visa profile for bookable appointments and to check the website of the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for the current application status.
Applicants worldwide should continue to be prepared for the possibility that already booked appointments at the US consulate will be canceled again by e-mail and / or SMS and that further delays may occur.
At the same time, we will of course keep our customers informed about further cancelations of appointments.
By the way, postponement of appointments are free of charge. Visa fees already paid or proof of payment for individuals who have not been able to attend an appointment since March 2020 due to the pandemic and the resulting closure of US consulates are exceptionally valid until September 30, 2023 (instead of one year) in the country where the fee was paid. In some countries (e.g., Argentina, Brazil, India, Canada, Mexico, etc.), the one-year expiration period has been extended under a Visa Fee Validity Extension due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, this has to be checked in detail depending on the country.
You should also check with the US consulate in your home country to find out what security regulations apply during interviews. The US embassy and the US consulates in Germany have implemented appropriate hygiene and distance rules. Applicants (except children under the age of six and persons who cannot wear a mask) are required to wear a medical mask. However, there is no test requirement.
Of course, we will continue to keep you informed about the latest developments. Stay healthy.
Sources
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/international-travel/index.html
https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/cruise/pdf/Vax-Order-10-30-21-p.pdf
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/testing-international-air-travelers.html
An application for a B-1 / B-2 visa always consists of two steps:
The B visa application can be submitted online at any time using the DS-160 form. However, a visa application is only processed at the U.S. consulate after the personal visa interview. You can view the respective appointment availability of the individual consulates online after paying the visa fee. Due to the current situation, capacities are probably still very limited.
You can find more detailed information on visa application on the website of the visa service provider or on the websites of the U.S. consulates worldwide.
Tip: Check whether visa-free entry with ESTA is an alternative, as the application for ESTA approval is possible without restrictions.
Foreign nationals holding valid, unexpired visas may continue to travel internationally – provided they comply with the new entry rules under Presidential Proclamation 10294, which went into effect on November 8, 2021.
For individuals who have been fully vaccinated, travel facilitations will be implemented beginning November 8, 2021.
Please note that vaccinated persons must still present a negative COVID-19 test or confirmation of recovery from corona disease upon entry into the United States. Thus, vaccination is not a substitute for mandatory testing upon entry into the United States.
Updated on 30.9.2022
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Comments
Hello,
is it true that the processing of B1/B2 Visas are currently paused, so it doesn't make any sense to send an application? The US embassy website says "emergencies appointments only"
thank you
Hello,
if you are a holder of a valid B-2 tourist visa and would like to travel to the U.S. as a tourist, you can theoretically do so, provided you are not subject to the entry restrictions associated with COVID-19 (Corona Travel Ban). The Corona Travel Ban denies tourists from various countries (Schengen Area, Brazil, China, Iran, Ireland, UK) entry into the United States until further notice.
Your US Visa Service Team
Hello is the USA accepting Travelers with tourist visas ,B1/B2 into the country at the moment
Hello.
A friend is attempting to fly from Germany to the UAE. Wait the two weeks and then fly from the UAE to the US. Is this allowed?
Hello,
we cannot give a conclusive answer to your inquiry. First of all, it is important to note that the Corona Travel Ban does not allow entry into the U.S. from the Schengen area unless you qualify for a general exemption (e.g. as U.S. citizen or Green Card holder) or for a National Interest Exemption (NIE) based on an important reason for travel. A recovered COVID-19 infection (if necessary, also with appropriate proof) is not relevant for the quarantine requirements of the United States. However, the individual state law in the U.S. must be observed. You should also ask the German Federal Foreign Office about your return to Germany. As of now, the United States is still considered a high-risk area, that means that all travelers to Germany are required to register online prior to their entry (and carry proof of registration), proceed directly to their destination and go into quarantine (see https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/einreiseundaufenthalt/coronavirus).
Your US Visa Service team
I live in Germany and would like to travel to the U.S. for about 10 - 12 days and return to Germany. I had Covid-19 in April and recovery from it. Would I still have to go in quaratine if i am there for such a Sshort period of time?
Hallo,
zunächst einmal ist es wichtig zu wissen, wo Sie sich innerhalb von 14 Tagen vor Ihrer USA-Einreise aufhalten. Wenn Sie beispielsweise aus Deutschland abfliegen möchten, sind Sie grundsätzlich vom US-Einreiseverbot für bestimmte Länder bzw. Regionen infolge der COVID-19-Pandemie (Corona Travel Ban) betroffen. Sie müssten daher prüfen, ob Sie z. B. aufgrund Ihrer engen Verwandtschaft mit einem Green Card Inhaber ggf. unter eine Ausnahme fallen. Vom Corona Travel Ban sind jedoch ausschließlich Eltern von unverheirateten und unter 21 Jahre alten Green Card Inhabern ausgenommen. Daher ist sowohl das Alter als auch der Familienstand Ihres Sohnes von Belang. Schlussendlich bliebe Ihnen noch die Möglichkeit einer Einreise aus nationalem Interesse (National Interest Exception). Wer sich für eine NIE-Sondergenehmigung qualifiziert, können Sie hier nachlesen: www.usvisaservice.de/visum-usa/national-interest-exception
Wir hoffen, dass Ihnen diese Informationen weiterhelfen.
Ihr US Visa Service Team
Darf man als deutscher Staatsangehöriger aus Krankheitsgründen ausreisen und welche Dokumente sind ggf erforderlich?
Hallo,
wenn Sie ein gültiges B-2 Visum besitzen, können Sie den Corona Travel Ban theoretisch umgehen, wenn Sie sich mindestens 14 Tage nachweislich (z. B. Einreisestempel, Buchungsbelegen etc.) in einem Land aufhalten, das nicht vom Travel Ban betroffen ist, und von dort aus direkt in die USA fliegen. Diese Option ist in der Praxis jedoch mit Risiken behaftet, da jederzeit kurzfristig durch die US-Behörden weitere Länder, in denen die COVID-19 Fallzahlen stark steigen, zur Corona-Einreisesperre hinzugefügt werden können und Sie die jeweiligen, sich womöglich ändernden Reiserestriktionen und Quarantänebestimmungen des Landes, in dem Sie sich für 14 Tage aufhalten möchten, befolgen müssen.
Ihr US Visa Service Team
Hallo,
ich besitze ein B2-Visum und bin Eigentümer einer Wohnung in Arizona. Am 06. Juli bin ich 2 Tage vor Ablauf meiner Aufenthaltsgenehmigung aus den USA ausgereist. Ich will die Wohnung jedoch über Herbst und Winter nicht unbewohnt lassen, schon aus Sicherheitsgründen nicht. Angenommen ich halte mich 14 Tage vor Antritt meines Flugs in die USA in einem nicht vom Corona Travel Ban betroffenen Land auf und reise von dort aus in die USA ein. Könnte das funktionieren?
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