New Vaccination Requirement for Travel to U.S.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has announced a new Order for all air passengers traveling to the United States.

Air Travel

The Department of State (DOS) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have announced a new order for all air passengers traveling to the United States (U.S.). Effective November 8, 2021, all nonimmigrant, non-citizen air travelers to the United States will be required to be fully vaccinated, provide proof of vaccination status  and a negative COVID-19 test result prior to boarding an airplane to the U.S. This new order replaces the existing country-by-country restrictions, putting in place a consistent approach worldwide.

As of June 12, 2022, a negative COVID-19 test three (3) days before the flight is recommended, but not required.

Airlines will review each person’s proof of COVID-19 vaccination, or documentation of exception.

Land Travel

Effective November 8, 2021, fully vaccinated foreign travelers with appropriate vaccine-related documentation will be able to travel to the United States across the Northern and Southwest borders with Canada and Mexico.  U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) will be providing further details on what will be required of traveler. Please note that land borders are operating at reduced capacity and with limited hours. Visit CBP  for additional information on land border crossings.

Accepted Vaccines

The CDC has determined that for the purposes of entry into the United States, vaccines accepted will include those:

• FDA approved or authorized (includes Janssen/J&J, Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech), or
• Vaccines with an emergency use listing (EUL), or
• Approved by the World Health Organization (WHO), (includes Sinovac, Sinopharm, Covishield and others).

See the CDC’s website for the full list of accepted COVID-19 vaccines and required documentation.

Affected Individuals

• Passengers on planes that depart from their foreign destination at or after 12:01 AM Eastern Time on November 8.
• Nonimmigrants who are currently outside the United States and plan to travel by air to the U.S. on or after November 8, 2021.
• Nonimmigrants who are currently inside the Unites States and plan to travel abroad and re-enter the U.S. on or after November 8, 2021.

Exceptions

• Children under the age of 18.
• People medically unable to receive the vaccine.
• Emergency travelers who do not have timely access to a vaccine.

Implications for the immigrant population of UT Dallas

• F-1 students intending to begin or continue an academic program, if re-entering the U.S. on or after November 8, 2021, must provide proof of vaccination status prior to boarding an airplane to the United States.
• F-1 students on Post-Completion OPT or the STEM Extension of OPT, if re-entering the U.S. on or after November 8, 2021, must provide proof of vaccination status prior to boarding an airplane to the United States.
• Individuals present in the United State, in valid F-1 status, can remain in the U.S. working and studying as appropriate for their immigration category.
• Individuals present in the United States in a valid non-immigrant status can remain in the U.S., working and studying as appropriate for their immigration category
• Legal Permanent Residents can remain in the U.S. working and studying as appropriate for their immigration category

I’m a new, incoming student. So, what should I do?

• Get vaccinated with an approved vaccine. UT Dallas strongly encourages members of the University community in the U.S. and abroad to get a COVID-19 vaccine in addition to continuing to practice non-pharmaceutical interventions such as wearing a mask indoors, social distancing when possible, covering coughs and sneezes, and hand hygiene. See the CDC’s website for the full list of accepted COVID-19 vaccines and required documentation.
• Check to see if you are eligible for an exception. Citizens of certain countries, or under other circumstances may be eligible for an exception. See the CDC for information on exceptions.
• Plan for an on-time arrival or prepare to study in a future semester. If arriving after the start of classes due to vaccination requirements, you may face challenges at the port of entry. Arriving late makes it difficult to manage registration and payment deadlines, as well as TB test requirements and other requirements. Do not try to arrive more than 7 days the start of classes. If you are unable to arrive on-time or within the 7 days after your program start date, we recommend that you submit the “Visa Update eForm” through your iComet application to request an I-20 with a future semester start date.