OC Business Journal

Companies Welcome Travelers after Long-Awaited Restrictions are Lifted

On November 8, 2021, the U.S. lifted international travel restrictions allowing vaccinated individuals to enter the U.S. After almost 20 months, many travelers can finally unite with friends and family and businesses can try and emerge from the global health and economic crisis related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

As background, the U.S. government implemented several travel restrictions to prevent the further spread of the COVID-19 outbreak. These bans restricted entry for most international travelers who were present in specific countries. Unless the traveler fell under a limited exception, most international travelers were prevented from entry for the last year and a half. The travel restrictions had a significant impact on companies of all different sizes and across all industries. With the travel restrictions lifted, companies are able to resume in-person meetings and bring in employees who were unable to enter or return due to the bans. This provides a warm welcome for companies, as many employees have waited a year and a half to enter or return to the U.S., while others were waiting on pins and needles for a waiver. Companies and travelers should be aware of long waiting lines to obtain a visa as most U.S. embassies and consulates are still operating at lesser capacity.

The new rule allows foreign nationals who are fully vaccinated to travel by air into the U.S., with a few exceptions. Foreign nationals must receive a vaccine that is approved by either the U.S. Food and Drug Administration or the World Health Organization with limited exceptions for unvaccinated individuals.

In addition to the vaccination requirements, all air travelers 2 or older must show a negative COVID-19 viral test result or documentation of recovery from COVID-19, regardless of the traveler’s citizenship or vaccination status. Each traveler must provide proof of a negative viral COVID-19 test taken within three days of travel or documentation of COVID-19 recovery within 90 days.

Please note that travel restrictions differ for each country. Travelers should also take note of health and quarantine requirements for re-entry to other destination countries, after they depart the U.S.

Mitch Wexler is a Senior Partner with Fragomen, overseeing the firm’s Irvine, Los Angeles, and San Diego offices. Mitch is a Certified Specialist in Immigration and Nationality Law and has been practicing immigration exclusively for 36 years. Mitch can be contacted at Mwexler@fragomen.com. Fragomen is the world’s leading immigration law firm with 50+ offices around the world, with over 5,000 employees.

Tiffany Chang Wu is a Senior Associate with Fragomen’s Irvine office. She provides long-term strategy planning to employers and foreign nationals and helps them navigate complex business and family related immigration laws. Tiffany can be contacted at Tchang@fragomen.com.

HUMAN RESOURCES & LABOR LAW

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2021-11-29T08:00:00.0000000Z

2021-11-29T08:00:00.0000000Z

https://ocbusinessjournal.pressreader.com/article/282162179485990

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