New Process for Americans Returning From Restricted Countries
Americans returning from all restricted countries will now be subject to a new arrivals process.
The following countries have been designated as restricted with US travel bans currently in force:
- China
- Iran
- UK
- Schengen countries: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.
Those individuals not subject to the travel ban, including US citizens, lawful permanent residents, their spouses and children under 21, and certain other family members, are now required to travel through only the following 13 airports:
- Boston-Logan International Airport (BOS), Massachusetts
- Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD), Illinois
- Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW), Texas
- Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW), Michigan
- Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), Hawaii
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL), Georgia
- John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), New York
- Los Angeles International Airport, (LAX), California
- Miami International Airport (MIA), Florida
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR), New Jersey
- San Francisco International Airport (SFO), California
- Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA), Washington
- Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD), Virginia
New arrivals process
TSA, CBP and air carriers are working to identify affected passengers in advance of travel. Once identified, they will be rerouted to one of the 13 airports by their airline at no cost to the traveller.
On arrival in the US, they are to proceed to standard customs processing before continuing to enhanced entry screening.
This requires the individual to declare their medical history, current condition and personal contact information for local health authorities.
Passengers will then be given written guidance about COVID-19 and directed to proceed to their final destination and to immediately home-quarantine in accordance with CDC best practices.
Travel advice
NNU Immigration is actively monitoring the impact of COVID-19 and coronavirus-related issues on US immigration policy and applications.
As the situation continues to develop on a daily basis, please contact our US immigration specialists for the latest advice for your specific circumstances.
Last updated: March 24, 2020
Author
Founder & Principal Attorney Nita Nicole Upadhye is a recognized leader in the field of US business immigration law, (The Legal 500, Chambers & Partners, Who's Who Legal and AILA) and an experienced and trusted advisor to large multinational corporates through to SMEs. She provides strategic immigration advice and specialist application support to corporations and professionals, entrepreneurs, investors, artists, actors and athletes from across the globe to meet their US-bound talent mobility needs.
Nita is an active public speaker, thought leader, immigration commentator, and immigration policy contributor and regularly hosts training sessions for employers and HR professionals.
