US opens to vaccinated foreign visitors from 8 November

The White House has confirmed the long awaited date when it will welcome foreign travelers again.


Those who are fully vaccinated against Covid-19 will be able to travel to the US starting on 8 November.


"The US' new travel policy that requires vaccination for foreign national travelers to the United States will begin on 8 November," Kevin Munoz, assistant press secretary  tweeted.


"This announcement and date applies to both international air travel and land travel. This policy is guided by public health, stringent, and consistent."


"CDC has already informed airlines that all FDA approved and authorized vaccines, as well as all vaccines that have an Emergency Use Listing (EUL) from the WHO will be accepted for air travel. We anticipate the same will be true at the land border," an official told  CNN.


Earlier this week, the US announced it would ease restrictions on travel across land borders  for fully vaccinated visitors from Canada and Mexico in early November.


Inbound foreign travelers will have to undergo contact tracing and testing to enter the US.


All air passengers will have to take a Covid test three days before arrival


"We are pleased the White House has confirmed a date and details for the implementation of its new global travel policy. For the last 19 months, we've seen that a world without travel is less prosperous and less tolerant," said Global Business Travel's Chief Commercial Officer.


The safe reopening of US borders to international travelers will reconnect cultures and economies, driving growth for businesses."


The news was welcomed by airlines reliant on a strong transatlantic market.


"This is welcome news and finally allows consumers and businesses to book travel with confidence. The US has been our heartland for more than 37 years and we are simply not Virgin without the Atlantic.  We've been steadily ramping up flying to destinations such as New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco, and we can't wait to fly our customers safely to their favourite US cities," said Shai Weiss, CEO of Virgin Atlantic.