The United States is preparing to reopen this Monday (08.11.2021) its land and air borders to travelers vaccinated against COVID-19, putting an end to 20 months of restrictions since it decreed the closure in March last year.
This brings to an end the long wait from regions such as Europe, which had been visibly upset by a reciprocal move from Washington since the European Union opened its doors to vaccinated Americans earlier this summer.
These travel restrictions, initially implemented by former President Donald Trump (2017-2021), were maintained by current President Joe Biden, who arrived at the White House last January.
Starting tomorrow, as reported by the White House, foreigners who want to enter the United States for visits considered non-essential, such as tourism or most family gatherings, will be able to do so both by air and through the land borders of Mexico and Canada.
International travelers who are vaccinated and flying from countries previously subject to travel restrictions due to the pandemic, a list that included the 26 European states in the Schengen area, as well as the United Kingdom, Ireland, Brazil, China, Iran, South Africa and India, will also be able to do so.
Border closures in 2020
To protect against the countries most affected by COVID-19, Trump quickly imposed travel restrictions from China as early as February 2020.
Then, on March 13, it was the turn of the countries in Europe belonging to the Schengen area. Great Britain and Ireland followed a few days later, while land borders were already largely closed with Mexico and Canada.
Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)