USA Travel Restrictions: Can Indians travel to the United States?

Posted on Monday, January 10th, 2022 by Navneet Kaur 2 comments

Yes. In accordance with the USA travel restrictions and guidelines, all Indian travellers travelling from India to the US are required to be fully vaccinated and provide proof of vaccination status before boarding a flight to USA.

Important Note: The US Embassy and Consulates are continuously monitoring the COVID-19 situation in India. Also, the Indian government is closely monitoring the situation around the world for COVID-19 and its Omicron variants and has been able to update travel guidelines accordingly.

Important Guidelines To Follow Before Travelling 

Recently, the US government has relaxed a US travel ban on 33 countries including India. Now Indian passengers with negative RT-PCR test reports can book a flight from India to United States.

Also, travellers are advised to check for the latest updates on COVID-19, US India travels ban, and the United States Travel Restrictions for COVID-19 prior to their travel, which may change at any time with advance notice.

All passengers should submit a self-declaration form before the scheduled journey, containing 

• travel details for the last 14 days 
• a negative COVID-19 RT- PCR. 

* This RT-PCR test should have been done within 72 hours of the start of the journey. Each passenger will also have to submit a declaration regarding the authenticity of the report and found otherwise may be subject to criminal prosecution.

To undergo home quarantine/self-monitoring of their health for 14 days, or as warranted, before allowing them to travel through the airlines concerned. Passengers arriving or departing from at-risk countries will be informed by airlines that they will undergo post-arrival tests, strict isolation protocols if they test negative, if they test positive, etc.

Do’s and don’ts with the ticket will be given to the passengers by the respective airlines/agencies.

Airlines allow boarding only those passengers who have filled a self-declaration form, a negative RT-PCR test report or a vaccination certificate. After thermal screening at the time of boarding the flight, only asymptomatic passengers will be allowed to board. Appropriate precautionary measures like environmental sanitation and disinfection will be ensured at airports.

Appropriate announcements will be made regarding COVID-19 including precautionary measures at airports and in flights and during transit. During the flight, necessary precautions like wearing masks, environmental hygiene, respiratory hygiene, hand hygiene etc. are to be followed by the airline staff, crew and all passengers. All possible measures will have to be taken to ensure physical distance during boarding.

The thermal screening will be done in respect of all the passengers by the health officials present at the airport. The self-declaration form filled online will be shown to the airport health staff.

Important Information For Indian Travellers 

If you are a non-US citizen who is a nonimmigrant (not a US citizen, a US citizen, a lawful permanent resident, or traveling to the United States on an immigrant visa), you must first be vaccinated against COVID-19.

Certain categories of non-citizens, non-immigrants are excluded from this requirement. In accordance with US Travel Restrictions and USA Travel Guidelines, if you meet the criteria for one of these categories, you must also meet additional requirements to travel to the United States.

At this time, all air travellers aged 2 years or older, regardless of citizenship or vaccination status, must show a negative result of a COVID-19 test or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before flying to the United States.

Noncitizens, Nonimmigrants (Covered Individuals)

Nonimmigrants: Those who are nonimmigrants and wish to enter the United States by air are required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination before flying from India to the United States.

Categories of nonimmigrant nonimmigrants who meet the criteria include:

• Diplomatic or official foreign government visit;
• Children under 18;
• Individuals with documented medical contraindications to receiving the COVID-19 vaccine;
• Participants in some COVID-19 vaccine trials;
• Individuals issued humanitarian or emergency exceptions;
• Persons with valid visas [except B-1 (business) or B-2 (tourism) visas] who are citizens of a foreign country with limited COVID-19 vaccine availability.
• Members of the US Armed Forces or their spouses or children (under the age of 18);
• Marine crew members travelling with C-1 and D non-immigrant visas;
• Persons whose admission would be in the national interest, as determined by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Transportation, or the Secretary of Homeland Security (or their nominee).

If you travel by air under one of these exceptions, you must prove that you are fully immunized against COVID-19 based on one of the exceptions listed above. 

• You will be tested with a COVID-19 viral test 3-5 days after arrival in the United States unless you have documented recovery from COVID-19 within the past 90 days;
• You will self-quarantine for a full 7 days, even if the viral test result is negative unless you have documented recovery from COVID-19 in the past 90 days; And
• If the post-arrival test result comes back positive or if you develop COVID-19 symptoms, you will self-isolate.

According to the United States travel restrictions and travel guidelines, if you intend to stay in the United States for more than 60 days, you may additionally need to prove that

• You agree to be vaccinated against COVID-19; And
• You have arranged to be fully immunized against COVID-19 within 60 days of arrival in the United States, or if medically appropriate.

A parent or other authorized person must authenticate on behalf of the passenger under the age of 18. An authorized person may certify on behalf of any passenger who is unable to sign their own attestation (for example, because they are too young, or have caused physical or mental damage). As required by United States federal law, the U.S. All airlines or other airlines in the U.S. shall provide and collect passenger verification on behalf of the government.

If you are a nonresident nonimmigrant and fully vaccinated, make sure your vaccine and proof of vaccination are acceptable to fly to the United States.

Visit Travanya to get additional information on the requirements before, during and after arriving in the United States, the US travel ban from India and India travel ban from the US.

Passenger Obligation

Travellers who have travelled to or from certain countries in the past 14 days are not allowed to enter the USA. These include Iran, China, the European Schengen Area, the UK, the Republic of Ireland and Brazil. Check out the updated list here.

For tracking purposes, all passengers are required to fill in a health declaration form and a passenger disclosure and verification form which will be provided by the airlines.

Mandatory Quarantine & Testing Rules

1. Pre-Departure Test: An RT-PCR test is required for all passengers (2 years and above) taken within 72 hours of the journey. Alternatively, they can also provide proof of negative COVID-19, 90 days prior to travel. 
2. Post-Arrival Testing: Passengers are advised to undergo the Covid-19 test 3-5 days after travel and indoor quarantine for a full 7 days after travel. Even if their report comes negative, they will have to stay in home quarantine for the entire 7 days.
3. Information for those recovering from COVID: The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) does not recommend re-testing in 3 months after a positive COVID-19 test unless the traveller is showing no symptoms. So anyone who has had a positive COVID-19 test in the last 3 months and meets the criteria to end isolation has to have a copy of their positive result and a letter from a doctor/health department stating that They are clear for travel, they can go on board the flight.

Quarantine Protocol

As per USA travel restrictions and travel guidelines 10 days home quarantine without a test on arrival and 7 days home quarantine with the test on arrival is required.

Contact us on +91 800 023 5865 if you want to book your one-way or a round-trip flight from India to USA!

At Travanya, we will help you find the most suitable international flight deals and provide you with all you need to know about the US to India travel ban. Also, we will let you know about USA travel restrictions for Indian travellers.