The US government will open its terrestrial borders with Mexico and Canada on a November date yet to confirm and will require travelers who want to enter a full-standard vaccination test, the White House announced on Tuesday.
The date will coincide with which the United States requires the vaccination test for international travelers arriving by air and lifting the entry restrictions from the European Union (EU), the United Kingdom, Brazil and China, a measure announced in September.
In addition, the Department of National Security (DHS) announcement that the measures will also apply to maritime entrances with ferry.
The terrestrial borders with Mexico and Canada have been closed from March 2020, coinciding with the outbreak of the pandemic and still with Donald Trump of President.
The plan to open those terrestrial borders will consist of two phases. The first will come into force in November and will require the vaccination test for trips considered "non-essential", such as tourism or visits.
The second will be in January 2022, in which the vaccination test will be mandatory for all travelers.
"This phase approach will provide enough time for essential travelers, as truckers and others, vaccinated, allowing a fluid transition to this new system," he said in a call with journalists a senior white house official.
This system will operate in the legal ports of entry, so "any foreigner who tries to enter the United States irregularly (...) will be subject to border restrictions, including expulsion," said another official.
The White House and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC, in English) still work to determine which documentation will be required to demonstrate the state of vaccination.
The officials, on the other hand, explained that, although a definitive decision has not yet been taken, most likely all the vaccines authorized by the World Health Organization (WHO) are accepted for income, although they are not Approved in the US, as is the case of AstraZeneca.
The CDC have already announced that this will be the case for air arrivals.
It is also being studied if people who have received two types of different vaccines will be accepted for their complete guideline, a practice that has been used for example in Canada.
Border agents will be responsible for verifying the documentation at the time of income to the United States.
Date Of Update: 15 October 2021, 07:57
