US extends full-vaccination requirements for H-2A guestworkers
The Department of Homeland Security announced April 21 that it is extending requirements that non-citizens are fully vaccinated upon entering the U.S. The requirements include H-2A guestworkers.
The temporary Title 19 requirements being extended by the DHS includes all non-U.S. travelers entering the United States via land ports of entry and ferry terminals at the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borders to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and provide related proof of vaccination upon request. These requirements will continue to apply to non-U.S. travelers who are traveling both for essential and non-essential reasons, and do not apply to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents, or U.S. nationals.
While entrants to the U.S. must be fully vaccinated, testing is not required at the time of entry.
These requirements were extended in consultation with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and several other federal agencies. According to CDC, “vaccines remain the most effective public health measure to protect people from severe illness or death from COVID-19, slow the transmission of COVID-19, and reduce the likelihood of new COVID-19 variants emerging.”
Non-U.S. travelers entering the U.S. via land ports of entry and ferry terminals, whether for essential or non-essential reasons, must continue to:
- verbally attest to their COVID-19 vaccination status;
- provide, upon request, proof of a CDC-approved COVID-19 vaccination, as outlined on the CDC website;
- present a valid Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)-compliant document, such as a valid passport, Trusted Traveler Program card, or Enhanced Tribal Card; and,
- be prepared to present any other relevant documents requested by a U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officer during a border inspection.
