Travel From UK to US Requires Negative COVID Result
People arriving into the US from the UK are now required to show proof of a negative PCR or antigen test, with results from no more than 72 hours prior to departure from the UK.
The mandate was issued by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and came into effect from December 28, 2020.
Under the new rule, airlines must confirm the negative test result before they allow passengers from the UK to board flights bound for the US.
In the event a passenger refuses to take or present a valid test result, the airline is required to deny them boarding.
There are currently restrictions in place for travel between the UK and US, although exceptions can be granted for qualifying individuals including U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and some family members.
The new requirement comes in response to the outbreak in the UK of a new strain of the coronavirus, although the new variant has already been detected in California, Colorado, Florida, and New York.
In light of the new testing rule, Airlines for America, a trade group representing major US airlines have made a formal request to the US Vice President that such a testing protocol be adopted to replace travel bans currently in place for travel from the UK, Europe and other parts of the world.
US immigration advice
NNU Immigration is actively monitoring the impact of the pandemic on US immigration policy and application processing.
As the situation continues to develop, please contact our US immigration specialists for the latest advice for your specific circumstances.
This article does not constitute direct legal advice and is for informational purposes only.
Last updated: December 31, 2020
Author
Founder & Principal Attorney Nita Nicole Upadhye is a recognized leader in the field of US business immigration law (AILA) and trusted adviser to large corporates through to SMEs, providing strategic immigration and global mobility advice to support employers with both US and UK operations to meet their workforce needs through corporate immigration.
Nita successfully acts for corporations and professionals, entrepreneurs, artists, actors, and athletes from across the globe, providing expert guidance on all aspects of US visa and nationality applications, and talent mobility to the USA.
Nita is an active public speaker, thought leader, immigration commentator, and immigration policy contributor and regularly hosts training sessions for employers and HR professionals
