Has anyone been through the process of traveling to the USA unvaccinated with a medical exemption?

[stayathomegardener]

Any support or tips would be great.

How long were you planning on going for? You’d still have to quarantine for five days on arrival and test day 3-5. Quarantine must be finished even if test is negative.

I'm a US citizen so can travel unvaxed however I read someone's account and seemed it was the airlines requesting uploading of vaxxed docs before.
When you read the US exceptions there are pretty much none basically. We looked for my hubby but he has no chance of getting an exception to enter as a non citizen.
Have you tried crossing illegally from Mexico? You will get free transport and everything 🤣🤣🤣🤣

You must show a letter from a licensed physician documenting the medical contraindication to the airline or aircraft operator before boarding a flight to the United States.

The letter:

Must be signed and dated on official letterhead that contains contact information (name, address, and phone number) of a licensed healthcare provider.
Must clearly state that you have a medical contraindication to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. The name of the COVID-19 vaccine product and the medical condition must both be listed.
Medical contraindications to COVID-19 vaccination include immediate or severe allergic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) after a previous dose or component of a COVID-19 vaccine or known allergy to a component of a COVID-19 vaccine.
Must have sufficient personally identifiable information (full name plus at least one other identifier such as date of birth or passport number) to confirm that the letter matches with your passport or other travel information.

It's actually for my daughter and isolating around the trip wouldn't be an issue.

I have not been back since Covid. Not vaccinated by choice. I really miss my home from home. 😢

@Kikikik that must be so frustrating for you.

@MooseBeTimeForSnow she's never been vaccinated for Covid so it would be hard to demonstrate by the sound of it.

She has factor five Leiden clotting issues, a history of febrile convulsions following childhood vaccines including separate MMR.

Gilbert's syndrome so she struggles to detox post vaccination and
Cfs from 13 to date.

Maybe it's a no go.

I thought they might drop the requirements rather than extend them this time.

You don't have to quarantine AFAIK? I live in the US but as an unvaccinated foreigner who isnt a permanent resident I can't leave and come back. If you have a proper medical exemption I think you should be ok. Do you want to risk it being denied after paying for flights etc though?

My friend in Switzerland had a severe adverse reaction to 1st jab - officially documented etc. She cannot have more. USA would not let her in despite her proving this. You can try but it’s unlikely I think

The rule has been extended into January but it's possible it may be allowed to expire after that. I mean its past time, the US is literally one of the only countries in the world to still have a nonsensical vaccine mandate for entry.

I know! I was led to believe that the requirements had changed at one point. I double checked when I was on the verge of booking flights for us all. I agree that it is ridiculous and excessive. I love going to other places but my own normal will not return until the day I am back there.

They can be so inconsistent at the point of entry that I would not risk it until it was almost certain. I have only good experiences but I have heard some horror stories.

My husband has clotting issues and lives on blood thinners. He certainly did not want to touch that vaccine following his issues but the US is a massive no. Same with visa requirements.
Follow the HIGHWIRE though. Their legal team with ICAN are contesting the ban on unvaccinated. It's proven it doesn't stop transmission and TRS seems to have renewed the policy for banning unvaxed citizens.
So stupid as I'm unvaxed and don't want it yet I can fly back without so much as a test or quarantining but my husband can't enter!
No bloody logic to it.
However the US is not worth taking that risk, plenty of other places for your daughter to visit x

She would be traveling 1st of February

That's shocking @Blondlashes !

I'll look up HIGHWIRE @Kikikik
Not heard of it before.

I check the entry requirements regularly as we are booked to go in May. DH is unvaxed and really doesn't want to get it but if they haven't lifted it by the end of January then he's going to have to go for it.

@Kikikik when you say the same with Visa requirements do you mean one cannot get a visa if unvaccinated?

@Kikikik Depends on the type of visa. If it's an immigrant visa that requires a medical, then the covid vaccine has been added to the list of required shots. Even for kids as young as 6 months old. If you don't get the full series you are deemed 'inadmissible'.

It's just a holiday visa but it's for an experience she's been working towards for 6 years so I'll be gutted if she can't go.

Well if it's just a holiday visa, then she won't need one for that but will still need one to enter the US until they remove the mandate. Hopefully they will do so in January!

For a holiday? Seriously with everything coming out about it why go back on that decision for a holiday.
I'm surprised De Santos isn't going after the requirements too!

Yes I know. Not sure the US is better then this sh*t show country though anyway but in considering leaving we did consider Florida but not with those criteria.

What is so special about the experience? Why not start looking for other things for her in another country so she doesn't have that pressure feeling.

This is why I won’t visit the US. They have utterly lost the plot. Colleges are still mandating it, it’s bonkers.

I wouldn’t risk the vaccine for a holiday no matter how much I wanted it. My periods are far too regular to spoil!