REQUIREMENT FOR NEGATIVE PRE-DEPARTURE COVID-19 TEST RESULT OR DOCUMENTATION OF RECOVERY FROM COVID-19 FOR ALL AIRLINE OR OTHER AIRCRAFT PASSENGERS ARRIVING INTO THE UNITED STATES from any foreign country
AND
(OMB Control No. 0920-1318)
Request for Emergency Clearance
Submitted 11/2/2021
Contact:
Chip Daymude
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
1600 Clifton Road, NE
Atlanta, Georgia 30333
Phone: 404.718.7103
Email: [email protected]
1. Respondent Universe and Sampling Methods 2
2. Procedures for the Collection of Information 2
3. Methods to maximize Response Rates and Deal with No Response 2
4. Tests of Procedures or Methods to be Undertaken 3
5. Individuals Consulted on Statistical Aspects and Individuals Collecting and/or Analyzing Data 3
The respondent universe for this requirement is travelers and airlines carrying travelers from foreign countries to the United States.
Requirement for Negative Pre-Departure Covid-19 Test Result or Documentation of Recovery from Covid-19 For All Airline or Other Aircraft Passengers Arriving in The United States from Any Foreign Country
The Amended Testing Order updates the requirement for testing by requiring that passengers who are not fully vaccinated get a test no more than 1 day before departure to the United States. While passengers who are fully vaccinated can still have up to 3 days before departure to get a test, they must show proof of being fully vaccinated, as defined by CDC in Technical Instructions1.
For people previously diagnosed with COVID-19 who remain asymptomatic after recovery, CDC does not recommend retesting within 3 months after the date of symptom onset (or the date of first positive viral diagnostic test if their infection was asymptomatic) for the initial SARS-CoV-2 infection because of the possibility of persistent positive results after they are no longer considered infectious.2 For this reason, CDC has included the option that any passenger who has recently recovered from COVID-19 may present documentation of recovery from COVID-19 in the form of a positive viral test result conducted on a specimen collected no more than 90 calendar days before the flight; and a signed letter on official letterhead that contains the name, address, and phone number of a licensed healthcare provider or public health official stating that the passenger has been cleared for travel (Documentation of Recovery).
If somebody is not able to obtain documentation of recovery that fulfills the requirements, they may also show a negative COVID-19 viral test result from a sample taken no more than 3 days (or 1 day if they are not fully vaccinated) before their flight to the US departs. However, if they have recovered from COVID-19, but develop symptoms of COVID-19 they should isolate, not travel, and consult with a healthcare provider for testing recommendations. This guidance and CDC’s requirement may be updated as additional information about people who have recovered from COVID-19 becomes available.
Any passenger who tests positive should remain in isolation and delay travel until they meet criteria for discontinuing isolation and are cleared for travel. Passenger’s whose test results are not available before departure should delay their travel until results are available and will be denied boarding.
Exemptions for Negative COVID-19 Test or Documentation of Recovery
The Amended Testing Order has a list of categorical exemptions that would not be subject to this information collection. These include:
Crew members of airlines or other aircraft operators if they follow industry standard protocols for the prevention of COVID-19 as set forth in relevant Safety Alerts for Operators (SAFOs) issued by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Airlines or other aircraft operators transporting passengers with COVID-19 pursuant to CDC authorization and in accordance with CDC guidance.
U.S. federal law enforcement personnel on official orders who are traveling for the purpose of carrying out a law enforcement function, provided they are covered under an occupational health and safety program that takes measures to ensure personnel are not symptomatic or otherwise at increased risk of spreading COVID-19 during travel. Those traveling for training or other business purposes remain subject to the requirements of the Amended Testing Order.
U.S. military personnel, including civilian employees, dependents, contractors, and other U.S. government employees when traveling on U.S. military assets (including whole aircraft charter operators), if such individuals are under competent military or U.S government travel orders and observing U.S. Department of Defense guidance to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 as set forth in Force Protection Guidance Supplement 20 - Department of Defense Guidance for Personnel Traveling During the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic (April 12, 2021) including its testing guidance.
In addition to specific exemptions defined in the Amended Testing Order, a person may receive a time limited exemption for urgent humanitarian reasons. Exemptions may be granted on an extremely limited basis when emergency travel (like an emergency medical evacuation) must occur to preserve someone’s life, protect against a serious danger or physical safety, and testing cannot be completed before travel. Additional conditions may be placed on those granted such exemptions, including but not limited to providing consent to testing and/or self-quarantine after arrival in the United States, as may be directed by federal, state, territorial, tribal or local public health authorities to reduce the risk of transmission or spread. The information CDC needs to be able to determine whether an exemption under these terms includes personally identifiable information such as name and passport, contact information, vaccination status, and the circumstances for why they need the exemption (Attachment D).
Individuals can begin the process for requesting an exemption on urgent humanitarian grounds by contacting the United States Embassy where they are located. Embassy contact information can be found on Department of State’s website. CDC will work with the Department of State in reviewing this and other information to determine if an exemption to the Amended Testing Order is appropriate. Once CDC makes a determination regarding the exemption, the individual will receive a letter from CDC indicating approval or denial. If they are approved, they will be required to present the letter of approval to the airline. CDC has also added a place in Section 1 of the attestation for those who have a letter saying they received a humanitarian exemption attest that they received the humanitarian exemption from the U.S. Government.
CDC and the Department of State may collaborate on an electronic version of this information collection to facilitate submission by the passenger to the Consular staff at U.S. Consulates and Embassies if the volume of requests increase significantly.
A Presidential Proclamation Advancing Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic and CDC’s Amended Order Implementing Presidential Proclamation on Advancing Safe Resumption of Global Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic.
The purpose of this information collection is to confirm that noncitizen nonimmigrants seeking to come to the United States are fully vaccinated, and therefore less likely to import and transmit COVID-19 while in the United States. The Proclamation and CDC’s Amended Vaccination Order do not apply to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, U.S. lawful permanent residents, immigrants, or air crew on official duty. Therefore, it will only be noncitizen nonimmigrants who will have to provide proof of being fully vaccinated, matching identity, and attest to the truthfulness of the proof of vaccination as instructed by the airline before being allowed to board a flight to the United States as a public health prevention measure to mitigate the potential spread of COVID-19.
Exceptions to Proof of being Fully Vaccinated
There are some noncitizen nonimmigrants who may qualify for an exception to the proof of vaccine requirement and will have to provide additional documentation, as well as attest to taking certain actions after arrival in the United States. These categories include noncitizen nonimmigrants who are:
Under 18 years old must show date of birth on a passport or other travel documents,
Traveling for diplomatic and official foreign government travel must have
An approved visa classification3; or
Traveling with an official letter, such as a letter from the U.S. government or foreign government. If they have been invited by the United Nations, they will need to present a letter of invitation from the United Nations or other documentation showing the purpose of such travel.
Participating in certain COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial must have
Documentation they participated in a phase 3 trial of with a qualifying COVID-19 vaccine candidate
Documentation they received the full series of an active (non-placebo) qualifying COVID-19 vaccine candidate or an emergency use listed vaccine, with the name of the vaccine product and the date(s) received (showing it has been at least 2 weeks since they completed the series)
Have a medical contraindication to an accepted COVID-19 vaccine must have
A signed and dated letter on official letterhead that contains the name, address, and phone number of the licensed physician who signed the letter, and that states that the passenger has a contraindication to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. The name of the COVID-19 vaccine product and the medical condition must both be listed.
Must have sufficient personally identifiable information (at a minimum full name and date of birth) to confirm that the person referenced in the letter matches with the passenger’s passport or other travel documents.
Have obtained a humanitarian or emergency exception must have
an official U.S. Government letter (paper or digital) documenting approval of the exception.
A citizen of a Foreign Country with limited COVID-19 vaccine availability
A passport issued by a foreign country with limited COVID-19 vaccine availability; and
A valid nonimmigrant visa that is not a B-1 or B-2 visa.
A member or a spouse of a member of the U.S. Armed Forces must have
a U.S. military identification document, such as a military ID or Common Access Card (CAC) or a DEERS ID Card, or other proof of their status as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces or status as the spouse or child (under 18 years of age) of a member of the U.S. Armed Forces.
A sea crew member on a C-1 or D nonimmigrant visa must have
the appropriate nonimmigrant visa and
an official letter (paper or digital) from their employer indicating that their entry to the United States is required for the purpose of operating a vessel that will depart from a U.S. seaport.
A person whose entry is of national interest to the U.S. must have
an official U.S. Government letter (paper or digital) documenting approval of the exception.4
The testing requirement or documentation of recovery information is required if an individual seeks to travel by aircraft to the United States. The proof of vaccination requirement is required if an individuals is a noncitizen nonimmigrant and seeks to travel by aircraft to the United States.
4 This exception is implemented by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Transportation, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or their designees.
| File Type | application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document |
| Author | Samuel, Lee (CDC/OID/NCEZID) |
| File Modified | 0000-00-00 |
| File Created | 2021-12-04 |