| Effective November 8, 2021, adults traveling to the U.S. by air must provide proof of full vaccination against COVID-19 under a presidential proclamation issued on October 25, 2021.
The new policy applies to all inbound, adult air travelers to the U.S. The policy also extends to those traveling from COVID-19 travel-restricted regions. Vaccination documentation will be collected by the airlines. Travelers do not need to apply for clearance at a U.S. Consulate or Embassy unless requesting an exception for humanitarian or emergency travel.
Exceptions under the proclamation order include the following:
1. U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (LPRs) and immigrant visa holders
2. Persons on diplomatic or official foreign government travel
3. Children under 18 years of age
- Documentation reviewed by the airline
4. Persons with documented medical contraindications to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine
- A letter from a licensed physician documenting the medical contraindication, to be reviewed by the airline
5. Participants in certain COVID-19 vaccine trials
- Official documentation (e.g., clinical trial letter, participant card, or modified vaccination card) of clinical trial participation, to be reviewed by the airline
6. Persons issued a humanitarian or emergency exception
- Requires CDC approval by applying through U.S. Consulate
7. Persons with valid visas [excluding B-1 (business) or B-2 (tourism) visas] who are citizens of a foreign country with limited COVID vaccine availability, as determined by the CDC.
8. 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)
- Requires official U.S. Government letter (paper or digital) documenting approval of the exception.
Fully vaccinated adult travelers, including U.S. citizens and permanent residents, must present a negative COVID test taken within 72 hours of travel to fly to the U.S. Adults who qualify for an exemption to the vaccine requirement must produce a negative COVID test taken no more than 24 hours before travel. All children ages 2-17 are required to provide a negative COVID test prior to traveling to the U.S. Airlines will also implement new contact tracing practices for all passengers.
What vaccines are acceptable and how can I document this?
Currently, only vaccines approved for emergency use by the World Health Organization (WHO) will satisfy the vaccination requirement for air travel to the U.S. See a list of acceptable vaccines on the CDC website.
Airlines will accept digital or paper documentation as evidence of vaccination status. Documentation must match the traveler’s biographical information on their travel documents and include the name of the source certifying the record, vaccine manufacturer, and date(s) the vaccine was administered.
When am I considered fully vaccinated?
The CDC considers an individual to be fully vaccinated 14 days after the last dose of an FDA approved vaccine series. For individuals who received vaccines from two different manufacturers, a minimum of 17 days must have passed between the doses.
Based on a sincerely held religious belief, I have not received the COVID vaccine. Will there be exceptions?
Religious or moral objections to the COVID vaccine do not qualify for an exemption to travel by air to the U.S.
Will I still have to provide COVID-19 test results before traveling? Will I need to quarantine when I enter the U.S.?
The CDC requires fully vaccinated air travelers coming to the U.S. from abroad, including U.S. citizens, to have a negative COVID test result or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before they board a flight to the U.S. Fully vaccinated travelers do not need to self-quarantine upon arrival in the U.S.
Still unsure whether you can board a flight to the United States? Complete a quick anonymous travel assessment by answering a few questions; you will receive a customized response.
What is USC’s current policy on COVID-19 vaccines?
Please review USC COVID-19 Resource Center and USC Student Health websites for the latest information about vaccine requirements at USC. If you have additional questions about COVID-19 or to notify the university of a case, please call 213-740-6291 or email covid19@usc.edu.
The information above was adapted from a memo issued by the USC Faculty and Staff Visa Services on November 3, 2021. |