From vaccines to testing: What travelers need to know before the new US travel system launches on Nov. 8

[JeanneAdil 6,581]

On 10/20/2021 at 4:27 PM, millefleur said:

Read more here: https://www.yahoo.com/now/vaccines-testing-travelers-know-us-202115155.html

Yep,  it happened,   CBSN Los Angeles announced this morning that people are selling fake vaccination cards for $100 so they can be used to get into restaurants and sporting events,   etc

[millefleur 5,047]

1 hour ago, JeanneAdil said:

Yep,  it happened,   CBSN Los Angeles announced this morning that people are selling fake vaccination cards for $100 so they can be used to get into restaurants and sporting events,   etc

It's not shocking given how easy it is to falsify the cards. I don't even know how border control can tell the difference between and authentic and a fake when it's just a piece of ordinary paper.

[JeanneAdil 6,581]

US government will eventually figure out there's a problem  and do as they always do "overcorrect"

[Chancy 6,242]

The details are finally out!  Requirement for Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination for Air Passengers -- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/proof-of-vaccination.html

 

The vaccination requirement only applies to non-citizens traveling with non-immigrant visas (with some exceptions).  Non-citizens with NIV and who are not able to present proof of being fully vaccinated, will not be allowed to board their flight to the US.

 

USCs, LPRs, and new immigrants (ie. non-citizens traveling with IV) are exempted.  BUT, anyone who is not able to present proof of being fully-vaccinated, must present negative COVID test results taken not more than 1 day before travel (change from previous requirement of 3 days).

 

Acceptable Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination -- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/proof-of-vaccination.html#vaccine-proof

 

The CDC also put up a handy Travel Assessment page to help travelers find out (based on their immigration and vaccination status) if they can board their flight to the US -- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/international-travel/travel-assessment/index.html

 

[Adventine 3,201]

7 hours ago, millefleur said:

It's not shocking given how easy it is to falsify the cards. I don't even know how border control can tell the difference between and authentic and a fake when it's just a piece of ordinary paper.

 

I imagine that, in the near future, CBP will have access to all the state Department of Health databases that contain vaccine information. That would screen out US residents with fake vaccine cards.

 

As for people who got vaccinated outside the US, ideally, the airlines and/or exit immigration in their departure countries would be able to screen them before they depart for the US. But the implementation will vary wildly, for sure.

[slavaskii 886]

16 hours ago, Chancy said:

The details are finally out!  Requirement for Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination for Air Passengers -- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/proof-of-vaccination.html

 

The vaccination requirement only applies to non-citizens traveling with non-immigrant visas (with some exceptions).  Non-citizens with NIV and who are not able to present proof of being fully vaccinated, will not be allowed to board their flight to the US.

 

USCs, LPRs, and new immigrants (ie. non-citizens traveling with IV) are exempted.  BUT, anyone who is not able to present proof of being fully-vaccinated, must present negative COVID test results taken not more than 1 day before travel (change from previous requirement of 3 days).

 

Acceptable Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination -- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/proof-of-vaccination.html#vaccine-proof

 

The CDC also put up a handy Travel Assessment page to help travelers find out (based on their immigration and vaccination status) if they can board their flight to the US -- https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/international-travel/travel-assessment/index.html

 

Am I reading this travel assessment right that they did actually ban travelers from Eastern Europe with Sputnik? I know it’s not directly stated, but it’s pretty clearly implied through the ‘test’ - if you’re not traveling with an approved vaccine, you then are told you can’t enter unless being on a list, and Russia and Belarus *are not on the list*. That’s actually... what? I’m grateful I don’t have this issue but I’m actually dumbfounded. Are they actually forcing such travelers to have to get vaccinated in Europe prior to entry?

[Chancy 6,242]

2 minutes ago, slavaskii said:

Are they actually forcing such travelers to have to get vaccinated in Europe prior to entry?

 

Their house, their rules.  Why are you surprised now?  In my home country and others in Asia, most foreigners are not allowed in at all, vaccinated or not.

 

[top_secret 2,458]

One could argue that "Sputnik V" is a product of Russian espionage and that it is actually a shot of J & J followed by a shot of AstraZenica.  It is probably perfectly good vaccine that is based on sound scientific research.  (research by Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Oxford University)

[slavaskii 886]

4 hours ago, Chancy said:

 

Their house, their rules.  Why are you surprised now?  In my home country and others in Asia, most foreigners are not allowed in at all, vaccinated or not.

 

My surprise is simply that the US has all the approved vaccines (i.e., 'all the cards'), and it would be illogical to assume that every person seeking entry would have equal access to the same vaccines. This is why the EU approach permits entry with a covid test, though some member states (like Poland) still require an additional quarantine. I'd wager that many people from Eastern Europe, Africa, and Asia who are now de facto banned from US travel would happily have consented to vaccination on arrival. I don't argue against a 'my house my rules' approach, I just feel like this has unfortunately serious implications for a country like the United States.

1 hour ago, top_secret said:

One could argue that "Sputnik V" is a product of Russian espionage and that it is actually a shot of J & J followed by a shot of AstraZenica.  It is probably perfectly good vaccine that is based on sound scientific research.  (research by Janssen Pharmaceuticals and Oxford University)

I've heard conflicting things about Sputnik (and don't know if this is the appropriate thread to discuss it...), but I would nonetheless say it should've been included in the list solely because it was (a) the first COVID vaccine and (b) so many people have it and cannot get another because of it. What I will say is that Sputnik is undoubtedly more effective than any of the Chinese vaccines, and their inclusion is thus bewildering to me. 

 

I digress. I just find it awfully sad that we've allowed a new travel ban to take effect that most people don't realize the full extent of. I feel absolutely awful for all those affected by this, particularly because this new approach seems to classify anyone who can't come as doing so out of choice, whereas that's simply untrue for so many. 

Edited November 6, 2021 by slavaskii

[Chancy 6,242]

11 minutes ago, slavaskii said:

I just find it awfully sad that we've allowed a new travel ban to take effect that most people don't realize the full extent of. I feel absolutely awful for all those affected by this.

 

I'm especially curious about K1 visa holders who do not meet the criteria as being fully vaccinated.  Will they be processed as non-immigrant or immigrant travelers?  There is no explicit exemption for K1 in the CDC rules I've seen so far.

 

[millefleur 5,047]

**One non-contributory post removed.**

 

VJ Moderation

[RedEagle1 0]

On 10/20/2021 at 2:27 PM, millefleur said:

Read more here: https://www.yahoo.com/now/vaccines-testing-travelers-know-us-202115155.html

Greetings. I happen to be allergic to ingredients used in the formula for many vaccines and other medications. I happen to also know that if you have an appropriate letter from your health care provider, they cannot force you to take the vaccine, have the vaccine, or the like. Additionally, forcing people to not travel as they please is against our Constitutional Right to the pursuit of happiness. Of course, those rules apply within the United States and for U.S. Citizens trying to return to the United States. 

 

[Carpe Vinum 2,327]

On 10/22/2021 at 12:14 PM, millefleur said:

My Covid vax card doesn't even have a sticker. It's just a penned in date and signature from the pharmacist. I got it at Walgreens. Maybe other places are putting the sticker?

1st dose sticker. 2nd dose written in. Both doses Pfizer done at VA same location. Shrugs)))