U.S. to Open its Land and Sea Borders

DHS announced today that, following guidance from the CDC and other public health experts, the United States will allow non-essential travelers who have been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and have proof of vaccinations to enter the country via land and ferry ports of entry (POEs) across the U.S. border.

The new policy will be implemented in two phases:

1) Starting in November, fully vaccinated travelers from Mexico or Canada will be allowed to enter the United States at land and ferry POEs for non-essential reasons. Travelers will be required to provide proof of vaccination. In this phase, individuals who have not been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 will not be allowed to travel for non-essential purposes from Canada and Mexico into the United States via land and ferry POEs. 

2) Beginning in early January 2022, the United States will allow all inbound foreign national travelers crossing U.S. land or ferry POEs to enter, whether for essential or non-essential reasons, with proof of full vaccination for COVID-19.  According to DHS, this approach will provide ample time for essential travelers such as truckers, students, and healthcare workers to get vaccinated.

The U.S. has closed its land and ferry ports of entry since the breakout of COVID except for essential travelers.  The new policy will make leisure travel from Canada and Mexico once again possible and prove to be timely during the holiday season.  

(Immigration laws and policies change regularly.  If you have any questions regarding this article, please visit www.1visa1.com to schedule legal consultation.)