Effective December 6, 2021, air travelers flying to the U.S. are required to show documentation of a negative viral COVID test result taken within one day of their flight’s departure before boarding their flight. This new rule applies to all air travelers, regardless of nationality or vaccination status. This new rule applies to all travelers – U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents (LPRs), and foreign nationals, such as F-1 and J-1 students and scholars.
Frequently Asked Questions about COVID-19 Vaccinations and Testing for International Travel.
Most other countries and airlines also require a negative viral COVID test before allowing travelers to board a plane departing the U.S. Please check with your airline and destination country for testing, documentation, and quarantine requirements before you depart.
Below is some information that may be helpful as you make travel plans this winter break:
Student Health COVID Testing
USC Student Health ongoing surveillance testing is available during regular Pop Testing hours. Results are typically available within 24 hours but are not guaranteed. The timing of test result availability depends on testing volume and laboratory capacity on any given day. Testing does not take place on Sundays or major holidays (December 24, 25, 31 & January 1).
Medical stamps, passport number, and CLIA lab certification can be added to test result documentation upon request. To request this information be added to your test result documentation, please email eshchim@usc.edu with the following information in the subject line: Testing Documentation for Travel, full name and USC ID #.
Travel COVID Testing at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
Rapid pre-travel COVID testing is available for a cost at LAX airport.
Travel is still in a fluid state and requirements and restrictions may change between now and when you travel. Please follow the U.S. Department of State and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention websites for updates on U.S. travel requirements.
Presidential Proclamation Restricting Travel From 8 African Countries
On November 26, 2021, citing the appearance of the COVID Omicron variant, President Biden issued a Proclamation suspending the entry to the U.S. of noncitizens who have been physically present in any of the following countries during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States: Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Prior National Interest Exceptions (NIE) for these countries are now void and will not work under Proclamation 10315.
If you have been in any of the eight countries affected by the Proclamation in the past 14 days or have plans to travel to these countries soon, we recommend you revise your travel plans.