Presidential Proclamation Limits Entry of Noncitizens from South Africa; Renews Limits on Travellers Coming From Schengen Area, UK, Ireland, and Brazil

January 25, 2021

Citing a commitment to “science-based public health measures” today President Biden issued a “Proclamation on the Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Non-Immigrants of Certain Additional Persons Who Pose a Risk of Transmitting Coronovirus Disease.”

The Proclamation, which does not apply to citizens, permanent residents, and certain close family members, maintains travel restrictions on individuals from the Schengen Area, U.K., Ireland and Brazil, which were going to be lifted per a January 18 Proclamation issued by the outgoing Administration. The new Proclamation adds South Africa to the list of countries with restrictions for public health considerations. Previous restrictions on travel from China and Iran remain in effect.

The new restriction on travel from South Africa will go into effect on January 30, 2021. All restrictions will remain in effect until terminated, and the latest Proclamation orders the Secretary of Health and Human Services to review conditions in 30 days, and by the end of each month thereafter.

These restrictions accompany the Order of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), effective January 26, requiring all air passengers arriving in the U.S. 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. We reported on the CDC Order previously.

Weaver Schlenger will continue to provide travel updates on our website.