United States: Proclamation Confirms Southern Africa Travel Ban to Be Terminated on December 31
December 28, 2021
At a Glance
- President Biden has issued a proclamation, effective 12:01am ET on December 31, 2021, that lifts the travel ban for foreign nationals recently present in one of eight Southern African countries.
- After the ban lifts, foreign nationals with recent physical presence in Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe will remain subject to the U.S. COVID vaccination and testing requirements applicable to all international air travelers.
- Foreign nationals whose visa applications were refused solely due to the Southern African ban are advised to contact their local embassy or consulate to request reconsideration. However, due to COVID restrictions and consular resource issues, consulates may not be able to schedule affected applicants immediately.
The issue
By presidential proclamation, President Joe Biden has lifted the COVID public health travel ban on foreign nationals with recent presence in Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, effective 12:01am ET on December 31, 2021.
The ban was originally imposed on November 29 in response to the Omicron variant of COVID-19, based on a recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The ban is now being terminated on the recommendation of the CDC after the government has gained a better understanding of the Omicron variant.
What this means for travelers
When the ban is lifted, individuals who have been physically present in one of the eight affected Southern African states within 14 days of travel to the United States will be permitted to board their flight provided that they meet U.S. COVID-19 vaccination and testing requirements. All international air travelers ages two and older must provide a negative COVID test taken within one calendar day of departure. Most nonimmigrants must be fully vaccinated in order to board a flight to the United States.
According to the State Department, foreign nationals whose visa applications were refused solely due to the Southern African travel ban should contact the embassy or consulate where they made their application to request reconsideration. However, the agency also issued a reminder that the lifting of the ban does not necessarily mean that the local embassy or consulate will be able to immediately schedule all affected applicants for visa interviews.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.
