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Original poster

Travelling to USA Covid regulations

99 replies

confusedofsussex · 18/10/2021 12:48

I am hoping to be finally reunited in December with my brother and my new nephew who live in New York after Covid restrictions are relaxed next month. I also want to take my youngest daughter and who is 16 . She will only have had 1 jab (and there is no set date/uk gov plans for a second) Can anyone tell me whether she can go or will she have to self-isolate . The information talks about being fully vaccinated but in this country for that age group that means 1 not 2 jabs unlike USA. No clear guidance is available - are they saying that Children can't go to the USA at the moment unless they have had 2 jabs ? Cant believe that is the case but cant seem to find the answer . Help !

OP posts:
zafferana · 18/10/2021 13:49

I don't think they've clarified things yet OP, but they should soon, with the reopening of transatlantic flights on 8th Nov.

KickAssAngel · 18/10/2021 13:52

I live in the US and children age 12+ are getting 2 vaccines, so that's the standard for "fully vaccinated" - 2 vaccines & a 2 week wait.

I don't know what exemptions/adaptations there are for children not meeting that criteria.

AttilaTheMeerkat · 18/10/2021 13:52

Further clarification from the US government is still needed. All they have basically done so far is give the date the US border is opened to UK and European citizens.

ChimneyPot · 18/10/2021 14:07

The US regulations currently refer to people who are not fully vaccinated. As your teen will only have had one dose she will be included in this group.
You will have to wait for the new regulations to see if that means no entry, quarantine or something else.

BritWifeInUSA · 20/10/2021 05:31

@zafferana

I don't think they've clarified things yet OP, but they should soon, with the reopening of transatlantic flights on 8th Nov.
Flights have been operating throughout. That’s not what is changing on November 8. What US changing is that people who have been physically present in the UK, Ireland and the Schengen area in the 14 days prior to travel will be permitted to enter directly if fully vaxxed.
Farwest · 20/10/2021 05:52

Your dd is not fully vaccinated (the US definition is what counts here). As pp said, you need to see if that means quarantine or no entry.

zafferana · 20/10/2021 08:22

Yes, I know that @BritWifeInUSA. I'm an American who has been on one of those flights. But this is UK website and most people who use it are Brits who aren't US citizens, so for them flights restart on 8 Nov.

creativevoid · 20/10/2021 16:58

I found this thread because I have the same problem. I am American and was hoping to see my family in the US for the first time in 3 years at Christmas. I have a 13 year old who has had one vaccine. My travel agents have told me that he will need to self-isolate. I'm also worried that if we went he wouldn't be able to get into restaurants, venues, etc. because he is not "fully vaccinated." I am trying to find somewhere private to get him the second jab but so far no luck. I am devastated - we are thinking about not going now. My mother has dementia and I don't know how much longer she will even remember us.

ZZTopGuitarSolo · 20/10/2021 17:07

@creativevoid

I found this thread because I have the same problem. I am American and was hoping to see my family in the US for the first time in 3 years at Christmas. I have a 13 year old who has had one vaccine. My travel agents have told me that he will need to self-isolate. I'm also worried that if we went he wouldn't be able to get into restaurants, venues, etc. because he is not "fully vaccinated." I am trying to find somewhere private to get him the second jab but so far no luck. I am devastated - we are thinking about not going now. My mother has dementia and I don't know how much longer she will even remember us.
It's variable but most venues seem to either ask for evidence that you're fully vaccinated or evidence of a recent negative Covid test. It will also depend on which state you're visiting.

I don't know what the rules will be for your 13 year being able to fly into the country though - sorry. I can well imagine how tough this is for you.

mynameisnotkate · 20/10/2021 17:32

We’re in the same position - hoping to get out to see family for Christmas. I asked at the vaccination centre and was told that the kids were fully vaccinated and the vaccine app would show this and it wouldn’t be a problem. Not sure if this is true though. I’m waiting till November to book! Also a bit worried that they might restrict UK travel anyway now the numbers are getting so high …

creativevoid · 20/10/2021 17:52

The Scotland vaccine app shows the date of the first and second vaccination so I don’t think kids with one vaccine will show as fully vaccinated.

creativevoid · 20/10/2021 17:53

Does anyone know how strictly they enforce self isolation? We’ll be in California and I think they are quite strict but not sure.

ZZTopGuitarSolo · 20/10/2021 19:22

@creativevoid

Does anyone know how strictly they enforce self isolation? We’ll be in California and I think they are quite strict but not sure.
I don't know about California, but where I live in New England there isn't any enforcement of quarantine or self-isolation that I know of, any more.
mynameisnotkate · 20/10/2021 20:44

@creativevoid

The Scotland vaccine app shows the date of the first and second vaccination so I don’t think kids with one vaccine will show as fully vaccinated.
For adults, the Scottish vaccine app shows both vaccines, labelled 1 of 2 and 2 of 2. For children they will just show the one and it is labelled 1 of 1, hence showing that they are fully vaccinated. Whether that will be enough for the US, however, is unclear.
zafferana · 21/10/2021 08:32

@creativevoid is your DS a US citizen? If so, the restrictions don't apply to him. We went to CA in the summer with our unvaccinated 13-year-old and the entry requirements for all of us were merely a PCR taken within 3 days of entry. As a US citizen you have to right to travel to the US, unvaccinated or not. We also got him a dose of vaccine while we were there, which would also be an option for you in getting him his second dose.

Check here for most up to date entry requirements for US citizens: uk.usembassy.gov/covid-19-coronavirus-information/

EileenGC · 21/10/2021 08:36

Restrictions don’t apply to US citizens. I have friends who travelled with their unvaccinated teens in summer and managed to get them vaccinated whilst over there. If they have an US passport and are travelling with vaccinated US parents, they should be fine.

zafferana · 21/10/2021 08:40

@EileenGC

Restrictions don’t apply to US citizens. I have friends who travelled with their unvaccinated teens in summer and managed to get them vaccinated whilst over there. If they have an US passport and are travelling with vaccinated US parents, they should be fine.
Parents don't need to vaccinated either. DH and I were, but we were never asked for our vaccination status. The only entry requirement, for all US citizens, aside from the US passport, is a negative PCR test within the mandated timeframe.
creativevoid · 21/10/2021 10:40

Yes, he is a US citizen. So getting in won’t be a problem. That’s good. I’m also encouraged that the app will say he has had one of one dose. I need to check that’s right of course. But obvs they have the single dose in US so maybe that will work. My sister in law recommends just lying and saying he’s 11 to get into restaurants etc but he has ASD so not a good liar!

zafferana · 21/10/2021 11:28

We ate out in restaurants every day while we were in CA and we were never asked for proof of vaccine OP. I don't know if the rules have changed since August and I know they are different in some states (eg. NY), but at that point you had to wear a mask to enter any indoor setting in LA County (the rest of the state was optional, I think, although we always wore masks), and then once seated at your table you could take them off.

ZZTopGuitarSolo · 21/10/2021 12:30

@creativevoid

Yes, he is a US citizen. So getting in won’t be a problem. That’s good. I’m also encouraged that the app will say he has had one of one dose. I need to check that’s right of course. But obvs they have the single dose in US so maybe that will work. My sister in law recommends just lying and saying he’s 11 to get into restaurants etc but he has ASD so not a good liar!
Also given that they’ll be starting vaccinating 5-11s soon that might not work. But I really think most places will accept a recent negative antigen test.
creativevoid · 21/10/2021 12:54

Also given that they’ll be starting vaccinating 5-11s soon that might not work

Don't say that, I also have an 11 year old!!!

But thanks everyone, I am feeling more like this is doable.

ZZTopGuitarSolo · 25/10/2021 21:47

It looks like children under 18 will be exempted from the vaccine requirement.

Also anyone over 18 who is unvaccinated (including US citizens) will need to show a negative Covid test done within 1 day of travel.

Everyone else (over 2) has to show a negative Covid test done within 3 days of travel.

www.politico.com/news/2021/10/25/biden-international-travel-vaccianted-flyers-517073

Curlybrunette · 26/10/2021 16:12

We're meant to be going to New York late December, I'm concerned that although we can get there, DH and I both fully vaccinated, our sons will only have had 1 vaccine by then.

I need to know if they'll be able to go indoors anywhere. I'm picturing some really cold teens stood outside peering in the window with icicles hanging off their noses while DH and I are inside in the warm Grin

zafferana · 26/10/2021 21:08

@Curlybrunette

We're meant to be going to New York late December, I'm concerned that although we can get there, DH and I both fully vaccinated, our sons will only have had 1 vaccine by then.

I need to know if they'll be able to go indoors anywhere. I'm picturing some really cold teens stood outside peering in the window with icicles hanging off their noses while DH and I are inside in the warm Grin

There needs to be some clarification on that, I agree, and if your DSs will be unable to go in anywhere you should definitely postpone your trip. No point going all the way to NYC in December and being stuck outside, wandering the streets, unable to visit any attractions or even a restaurant.
Curlybrunette · 27/10/2021 08:17

I did see this link last night that said 1 dose classes as fully vaccinated for teens.

Somewhere else I read that AZ and Pfizer are both fine.

Yippee I think we're on!