Effective June 12, 2022, the U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lifted the requirement of presenting a negative COVID-19 viral test taken one day prior to air travel into the United States for all travelers regardless of citizenship.1 This ends the negative test requirement prior to departure on a U.S.-bound aircraft that had been in place since January 2021. The requirement for proof of COVID-19 vaccination for all non-U.S. citizen, non-immigrants (not a U.S. citizen, U.S. national, lawful permanent resident, or traveling to the United States on an immigrant visa) entering the U.S. by air remains in place. See, GMS Flash Alert 2021-268, October 28, 2021.
WHY THIS MATTERS
This announcement applies to U.S.-bound travelers of all citizenships but is particularly important news for foreign nationals traveling into the United States by shortening their list of pre-entry requirements. It eliminates the need to plan in advance the type of test and where and when it will be administered, thus greatly simplifying travel.
As a result of the announcement, much of the uncertainty surrounding international travel is removed for foreign nationals who no longer need to evaluate the necessity of their international trips as closely as before.
KPMG NOTE
The lifting of the negative test requirement comes with the caveat that it could be reimposed should another highly transmissible variant of the COVID-19 virus emerge. The CDC also continues to recommend COVID-19 testing prior to air travel as an additional safety measure. The Biden Administration is expected, in coordination with the CDC, to analyze the COVID-19 situation in the United States in 90 days to determine whether the negative test requirement prior to U.S. bound air travel should be reinstated.
KPMG Law LLP in Canada is tracking this matter closely. We will endeavor to keep readers of GMS Flash Alert posted on future important developments when they occur.
FOOTNOTE
1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “CDC Rescission: Requirement for Negative Pre-Departure COVID-19 Test Result or Documentation of Recovery from COVID-19 for all Airline or Other Aircraft Passengers Arriving into the United States from Any Foreign Country” (June 10, 2022). See also, K. Collins, “US will end Covid-19 testing requirement for air travelers entering the country,” CNN (online) (June 11, 2022), at: https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/10/politics/us-to-end-pre-departure-testing-requirement/index.html . (By clicking on this link, you are leaving the KPMG website for an external site, that KPMG is not affiliated with nor is it endorsed by KPMG. The use of the external site and its content may be subject to the terms of use and/or privacy policies of its owner or operator.)
* Please note the KPMG International member firm in the United States does not provide immigration or labour law services. However, KPMG Law LLP in Canada can assist clients with U.S. immigration matters.
The information contained in this newsletter was submitted by the KPMG International member firm in Canada.
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