USA Opens Its Skies for Fully Vaccinated Travelers from 33 Countries

Biden administration is lifting travel restrictions for fully vaccinated travelers from 33 countries, including UK and the European Union. This lifting of travel restrictions will take place from early November of this year. This is a major step by the U.S. administration. Some are seeing it as an attempt by the U.S. to ease tensions with its close allies in Europe.

India, China and Brazil are also included among the 33 listed countries. The tough pandemic related travel restrictions had started early last year. This announcement ends the nearly one and half year of blocking foreign travelers from entering the country. The announcement was made on 20 September 2021 by the White House Coronavirus Response Coordinator, Jeffrey Zients.

Non vaccinated US citizens can still be able to enter the country if they provide proof of a negative test within a day of travel. The restrictions on vehicle movements will still remain, between USA and its neighboring countries like Canada and Mexico.

The announcement was received with widespread approval across Europe as business travel and leisure travel can resume at full speed. The US is one of the most popular destinations for Europeans. It receives almost 5 million visitors a year from UK alone.

The lifting of restrictions is very timely as it could allow people to travel to New York for Christmas shopping and also provide a boost to the winter sports market where people usually throng to the country’s high quality ski resorts.