New COVID-19 Testing Requirements for Air Travel to U.S.
On January 12, 2021, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued an order requiring all air passengers arriving to the US from a foreign country to get tested no more than 3 days before their flight departs and to provide proof of the negative result or documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 to the airline before boarding the flight. This order will go into effect on January 26, 2021.
Therefore, any students entering the U.S. after January 26, 2021 will need to be tested before traveling by air to the United States and be prepared to show proof of a negative viral test from your healthcare provider stating you were cleared to travel.
Please refer to the CDC for detailed information about this policy.
On January 25, 2021 the Presidential Proclamation by President Biden continues the 14-day U.S. entry restrictions on individuals, including nonimmigrants, who were recently present in the Schengen Area, UK, Ireland, Brazil, China or Iran and, adds South Africa (South Africa is effective as of January 30, 2021) to the list of countries.
SPECIAL NOTE: It may be possible for an individual otherwise covered by one of the geographic COVID-19 travel restriction proclamations (listed above) to receive a national interest expectation (NIE) to allow travel to the United States.
Students traveling from the Schengen Area, the UK, and Ireland with valid F-1 visa do not need to contact an embassy or consulate to seek an individual national interest exception to travel. Students seeking to apply for new F-1 visa should check the status of visa services at the nearest embassy or consulate; those applicants who are found to be otherwise qualified for an F-1 visa will automatically be considered for a national interest exception to travel.
This information stated above implies the following:
that an F-1 student who already has an F-1 visa can travel to the United States on that visa (if otherwise eligible) under a general national interest exception without needing to first visit a U.S. consulate.
that a national interest exception will be given almost automatically to an F-1 visa applicant who needs to apply for an F-1 visa.
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