U.S. Government Terminates Certain COVID-19 Arrival Restrictions

In order to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in the U.S., U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), working with the U.S. Center for Disease Control (CDC), designated 15 U.S. airports that travelers returning to the U.S., who were present in certain countries that experienced a surge in COVID-19 cases, could enter in order to undergo COVID-19 health screening. The countries included the following:

• The People's Republic of China (PRC) (excluding the Special Administrative Regions of Hong Kong and Macau);
• The Islamic Republic of Iran;
• The Schengen Area countries of Western and Central Europe;
• The United Kingdom, excluding overseas territories outside of Europe;
• The Republic of Ireland;
• The Federative Republic of Brazil.

The purpose of directing flights from these countries to a limited number of U.S. airports was to focus public health resources to conduct enhanced COVID-19 health screenings in order to protect the U.S. population.

Recently, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) announced that, effective September 14, 2020, flights that carry passengers, present in the above listed countries, are no longer required to land only at the 15 designated U.S. airports.  Rather, individuals who are present in these countries may now land at any U.S. airport for inspection by CBP and the COVID-19 health screening.  CBP contends that by not restricting entry to the 15 U.S. airports, it will allow public health resources to be more effective and will stimulate air travel.  CBP indicates that all other health measures to protect the public health will remain in place.

Please note that the announcement by CBP and TSA does not rescind the country-specific COVID-19 health proclamations that were issued suspending the issuance of U.S. visas and/or entry of individuals into the U.S., who are present in the above listed countries, unless the individual is exempt from the proclamations (Examples:  Green Card holders; Spouses, Children, Parents of U.S. Citizens or Green Card holders; foreign nationals traveling to the U.S. at the invitation of the U.S. government for purposes related to the containment or mitigation of the COVID-19 virus, etc.), or has obtained a National Interest Exception (NIE) from the U.S. Department of State prior to boarding a flight to the U.S.

Originally published by Fakhoury Global Immigration, September 2020

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