Tag: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

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Updated Advisory: Traveling to the Philippines and the U.S.

Updated Advisory: Travel to the Philippines and the U.S.
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TRAVELING TO THE PHILIPPINES

Since April 1, the Philippines has been open to all fully vaccinated foreign tourists. They won’t be required to quarantine anymore.

Children below 12 years old do not need to be fully vaccinated.

Those who have been vaccinated need to carry an acceptable proof of vaccination and their passport, valid for a period of at least 6 months at the time of their arrival to the Philippines.

Fully vaccinated individuals still need to provide a negative RT-PCR test, but if they have received at least one booster shot, they no longer need to present this.

A Bureau of Quarantines (BOQ) e-Health Declaration Card (e-HDC) is still required to be filled up upon arrival. This includes children.

It can be filled up three days in advance of your departure through the BOQ’s One Health Pass webpage.

Save a copy of the transaction number and QR code, which will be required by Philippine immigration authorities.

Unvaccinated and partially vaccinated travelers are still required to quarantine and are required to obtain travel insurance which covers treatment costs for COVID-19 from a “reputable insurance provider.” The requirements state that the plan must provide a minimum coverage of $35,000 USD for the duration of their stay in the country.

For local government rules, make sure to check the alert level of the city or municipality you are going to, so that you avoid any challenges for entering their territories.

All local governments as of the end of June are still at most on Alert Level 2, which means the vaccinated would only need proof of vaccination before entry in local areas if ever they are stopped at a checkpoint.

Most of the time, no one is stopped anyway, but it would be prudent to have your proof of vaccination ready.

TRAVELING TO THE UNITED STATES

As of June 12, the United States CDC no longer required travelers into the states to present a negative COVID-19 test result or documentation of recovery from COVID-19.

Proof of vaccination is still required for non-US citizen nonimmigrants.

Non-immigrant and non-US citizen travelers still need to be fully vaccinated and must show proof of this before boarding the plane to the US.

Check the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website for additional information and our Health Alert.

The CDC will consider exceptions to COVID-19-related vaccination and testing requirements on an extremely limited basis. 

Categories
Updates

Updated Advisory: Traveling to the Philippines and the U.S.

Updated Advisory: Travel to the Philippines and the U.S.
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TRAVELING TO THE PHILIPPINES

No more facility based quarantine upon arrival.

As of February 10, 2022, the Philippines will grant entry to fully vaccinated visitors from countries that are permitted visa-free travel, including the United States. 

Fully vaccinated travelers will no longer be subject to facility-based quarantine upon arrival.  Travelers must present proof of vaccination and negative RT-PCR results from a test taken within 48 hours of departure from their country of origin and must self-monitor for symptoms for seven days after arrival, reporting to local government authorities if they begin to exhibit COVID-19 symptoms.  The same requirements apply to fully vaccinated travelers with valid, existing visas.

Travelers for whom visas are not required also must have a valid ticket to depart the Philippines within 30 days of arrival and a passport valid for at least six months from the date of arrival.  Finally, each traveler must present proof of travel insurance purchased before arrival in the Philippines.  The insurance must cover COVID-19 treatment and have a minimum coverage amount of U.S.$35,000 for the duration of the traveler’s stay in the Philippines.

Unvaccinated travelers: Allowed to enter, but subject to quarantine

Travelers who are unable to present acceptable proof of vaccination will be subject to quarantine in a government facility until the release of a negative RT-PCR test taken on the fifth day, followed by home quarantine until the 14th day.

Only the following documents will be accepted as proof of vaccination, and must be presented prior to departure and upon arrival in the Philippines:

  • World Health Organization International Certificate of Vaccination and Prophylaxis; or
  • VaxCertPH; or
  • National or State digital certificate of the country/foreign government which has accepted VaxCertPH under a reciprocal arrangement; or
  • Other proof of vaccination permitted by the IATF.
TRAVELING TO THE UNITED STATES

All airline passengers to the United States ages two years and older, regardless of vaccination status or citizenship, must provide a negative COVID-19 viral test taken within one calendar day of travel.  Alternatively, travelers to the United States may provide documentation from a licensed health care provider of having recovered from COVID-19 in the 90 days preceding travel.  Check the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website for additional information and our Health Alert. The CDC will consider exceptions to COVID-19-related vaccination and testing requirements on an extremely limited basis. 

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Updates

Advisory: Guidelines on Medical exams and COVID-19 vaccine

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As per US CDC and Department of State, COVID 19 is classified as Class A, Inadmissible Medical Condition beginning October 1, 2021:

  • For the safety of all staff and US visa applicants, a negative RT PCR test will be required to be presented prior to their medical examination. Tests should be done within 3 days of the medical appointment and at an accredited reputable laboratory.

RT PCR testing will be available onsite at SLEC-Ermita with results available within 24 hours and applicants are encourage to schedule their tests one day before their medical appointment date.

  • Applicants with signs and symptoms of COVID-19 or recent exposure to a possible COVID 19 case will not be allowed to proceed with their medical appointment and will be required to undergo a repeat RT-PCR test.

If positive, applicants are required to complete the mandatory isolation and quarantine periods:

  • 10 days from the time of a (+) RT PCR test for mild-moderate cases or 21 days for severe cases
  • 14 days for close contacts of active cases

COVID-19 vaccination is also now included in the required immunization for US visa applicants and must be completed before their medical reports can be completed.

Applicants who received COVID-19 vaccines requiring 2 doses (e.g. Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna, Sinovac, Sinopharm) will receive other required vaccines on or after their 2nd COVID -19 vaccine dose. Proof of vaccination (e.g. vaccine record of certificate) should be presented.

Applicants are advised to schedule their medical examination with this in mind – either schedule the medical exam after their 2nd COVID-19 vaccine dose or have their medical exam in between the COVID-19 vaccination and wait for the 2nd dose to complete other required U.S. age-appropriate immunization.

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Featured

New CDC Policy: Covid-19 Vaccine Required for Green Card Applicants

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Starting October 1, 2021, applicants for immigrant visas or green cards whose applications are pending before the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services and or the U.S. Embassies are required to show proof that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

This new policy was released by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. It will be applicable to applicants who complete their Medical Examination or their Form I-693, Report of Medical Examination and Vaccination Record on or after October 1, 2021.  If the medical examination or I-693 was completed before October 1, 2021, and remains valid, proof of COVID-19 vaccination will not be required.

Applicants for green cards who refuse the vaccine and do not qualify for any of the CDCs limited exemptions will be deemed inadmissible and be denied their visas.

Vaccinations that are recognized as valid are the Pfizer-BioNTech, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccine.  If none of these vaccinations are available in the country of origin of the applicant, CDC will accept different-COVID-19 vaccines as recommended by its Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

There are waivers and exemptions from the vaccine requirement that may be applied.  CDC will waive COVID-19 vaccine requirement for individuals who are too young to safely receive vaccines and for people with contraindications, i.e., health conditions that indicate that s/he is likely to have a severe adverse reaction to the vaccine. It can also be waived for individuals from countries with no or limited COVID-19 vaccine supplies.

Exemptions of this requirement may be applied for visa applicants who refuse the vaccine based on religious or moral grounds. However, no exemption will be provided to those who claim that they contracted COVID-19 and are still immune to the virus.

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Updates

Coronavirus and its Impact on U.S. Travelers

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President Trump has issued a proclamation which contains measures intended to control and limit the entry of individuals potentially exposed to the coronavirus (COVID-19).

Travel Ban

 

Certain immigrants and non-immigrants are banned from entering the United States. This include those who were physically present within China, excluding Hong Kong and Macau, 14 days prior to their entry or attempted entry into the United States. The ban became effective at 5:00 pm (ET) on Sunday, February 2, 2020.

On February 29, 2020 the travel ban also extended to any non citizen who has visited Iran within the last 14 days.

On March 11, 2020, Trump added 26 more to the list of European countries subject to the travel ban.These countries are on the Schengen Area and comprises the following European states: Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland.

Avoid Non-essential Travels

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention upped its travel alerts for Italy and Iran yesterday to the highest level, Level 3, which means avoid all non-essential travel. The State Department also increased its warning advising Americans not to travel to certain regions of Italy and South Korea affected by the virus.

Mandatory Self Quarantine

U.S. citizens who are traveling from the enumerated European countries and those traveling to the Hubei province in China within 14 days of arriving to the United States will be subject to up to 14 days of mandatory quarantine. Returning U.S. citizens who had visited other parts of China, outside of Hong Kong, Macau, and the Hubei province, will be subject to monitoring at certain ports of entry, and potentially self-quarantine at home. With the recent advisory it is believed that travelers from Iran may also be subject to mandatory self quarantine.

Individuals Exempt from the Travel Ban (But Not from Mandatory Self Quarantine)

The Proclamation clarifies that it does not impact an individual’s eligibility for asylum, withholding of removal, or protection under the UN Convention against Torture (UNCAT). In addition to U.S. Citizens, the Proclamation does not apply to the following individuals:

  1. Lawful permanent residents of the United States;
  2. Spouses of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident;
  3. Parents or legal guardians of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, provided that the U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident is unmarried and under the age of 21;
  4. Siblings of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, provided that both are unmarried and under the age of 21;
  5. Children, foster children, or wards of a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident, or prospective adoptees seeking to enter the United States pursuant to the IR-4 or IH-4 visa classifications;
  6. Foreign nationals traveling to the United States at the invitation of the United States Government for a purpose related to containment or mitigation of the virus;
  7. Nonimmigrants under section 101(a)(15)(C) or (D) of the INA, 8 U.S.C. 1101(a)(15)(C) or (D), as a crewmember or any alien otherwise traveling to the United States as air or sea crew;
  8. Nonimmigrants on an A-1, A-2, C-2, C-3 (as a foreign government official or immediate family member of an official), G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1 through NATO-4, or NATO-6 visa;
  9. Foreign nationals whose entry would not pose a significant risk of introducing, transmitting, or spreading the virus, as determined by the CDC Director, or his designee;
  10. Foreign nationals whose entry would further important United States law enforcement objectives, as determined by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or their respective designees based on a recommendation of the Attorney General or his designee; or
  11. Foreign nationals whose entry would be in the national interest, as determined by the Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or their designees.

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