Fully vaccinated Indians can now travel to the United States from November 8 after the White House announced that the country would allow foreign nationals who have had both shots.
In what will be the beginning of the end of the unprecedented restrictions imposed early last year, a White House official said, the policy is guided by public health, stringent and consistent.
Here are 10 things to know about the latest development.
1) The policy was already outlined in early September, where White House officials said the country would lift restrictions on air travelers from 33 countries in early November.
2) From November 8, the US will accept fully vaccinated foreign air travelers from 26 so-called Schengen countries in Europe, including France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and Greece, as well as the UK, Ireland, China, India and France. South Africa, Iran and Brazil.
3) The US will consider vaccinating people arriving by plane if they receive shots that are either authorized by the Food and Drug Administration or have an emergency use list from the World Health Organization.
4) Unvaccinated foreigners will generally be barred from entry, while unvaccinated Americans will require a negative Covid-19 test.
5) The move is set to provide a major relief to the large Indian diaspora stuck in the US and were unable to travel to India for the past year and a half as there would be many difficulties in returning. Now, with the latest announcement, many Indians living in the US can plan a trip to the country and return when appropriate.
6) Indians traveling to the US must show proof of vaccination before flying, and proof of a recent negative Covid-19 test. Foreign visitors crossing the land border will not be required to show proof of a recent negative Covid-19 test.
7) Apex disease control body, US CDC plans to issue new rules soon on contact tracing for international air travelers.
8) Airlines battered by the coronavirus crisis have applauded the move, and have started preparing their schedules for winter and beyond.
9) The move to a vaccine-based entry system brings the US in line with the EU, which started using the Covid-Pass app in early summer, and the UK, which switched in recent weeks.
10) For the US, the November 8 date also applies to an opening along the land borders with Canada and Mexico announced earlier this week.
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