The US reopens to international travelers on November 8 — what you need to know
Today, the United States announced that it will officially reopen to fully vaccinated travelers on Nov. 8, following the Sep. 20 announcement that the Biden administration would welcome back these individuals sometime in "early November."
Although we now have a confirmed date of Nov. 8, some questions remain regarding acceptable proof of vaccinations and what the entire process will look like. Here's what we know so far about the U.S. reopening.
The United States is officially reopening on Nov. 8
On Oct. 15, the White House announced its plan to reopen U.S. borders to fully vaccinated international travelers by both land and air on Nov. 8, which the Biden administration said was "putting in place a global international travel policy that is guided by public health, stringent, and consistent."
This is good news for anxious travelers, including Europeans who have eagerly awaited confirmation to go ahead and book travel. British Airways, the European airline with the most flights to the United States, has already seen a huge uplift in new bookings to the U.S. The carrier is even bringing its largest aircraft — the Airbus A380 — out of storage after 18 months to serve U.S. destinations in December, including Miami (MIA) and Los Angeles (LAX).
Which vaccines will be accepted — and how?
Details are expected prior to Nov. 8 regarding what specific vaccines will be accepted for entry to the U.S. — along with the specific types of proof required. For now, we know that all those approved and authorized by the FDA as well as those that have been approved by the World Health Organization (WHO) for Emergency Use Listing (EUL) will be accepted for air travel. This includes the following:
- Pfizer-BioNTech
- Moderna
- Johnson & Johnson
- AstraZeneca-SK Bio
- Serum Institute of India
It is not yet known whether other vaccines, such as the Chinese Sinovac or Russian Sputnik V vaccines, will be added to the list.
Unlike the EU Digital COVID Certificate, which seamlessly allows European Union citizens and residents to produce a formal vaccine certificate within seconds through an easy-to-use app, the U.S. has not yet produced a similar digital process to show proof of vaccination.
At this point, we still do not know whether foreign paper vaccine cards or a photocopy of your vaccination record will be accepted for entry.
This needs to be set before the first European can enter.
Related: Some countries no longer accept paper CDC vaccine cards. Here's how you can prove vaccination status
Will each state have the same entry requirements?
Another issue is ensuring a consistent nationwide approach to the entry of Europeans. Although local restrictions vary from state to state and city to city, you should expect to show vaccination proof to board a plane to the U.S., regardless of your final destination within the country.
Some states are still taking a very strict approach to issues like mask-wearing, vaccination certificates and indoor capacity limits. This includes cities such as New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles — where proof of vaccination or a recent negative COVID-19 test is required to enter most indoor spaces like restaurants and bars.
As a result, you will need to verify specific COVID-19 protocols of each city and/or state you intend to visit. That said, since travel is currently restricted to those who are fully vaccinated, proof of inoculation should suffice and trump any testing protocols — which are usually reserved for those who are unvaccinated.
It's also worth noting that traveling within the U.S. will almost certainly be easier than doing so across the European continent. Virtually every single country in Europe has slightly different entry requirements, and there are almost as many countries in Europe as there are states in the U.S.
For example, did you know that even if you are fully vaccinated, to enter Italy you still need to provide a negative antigen/lateral flow test, but entering Spain requires no test? This kind of inconsistency can be very frustrating, but it shouldn't be replicated in the U.S.
Will testing be required?
All travelers to the U.S., including those fully vaccinated, will still be required to show results of a negative COVID-19 test taken within three days of departure for the U.S.
Similar testing requirements have remained in place in the U.S. since January 2021 for all incoming travelers to the U.S., including American citizens. Anyone boarding a flight is required to present the results of a negative nucleic acid amplification or antigen test taken within three days of scheduled departure to the United States.
Bottom line
Fully vaccinated Europeans have finally received the long-awaited confirmation of the first date they can cross the Atlantic to the United States after an 18-month ban and we now know that is less than a month away on Nov. 8. Although more details are to come, fully vaccinated travelers can feel confident in booking travel plans to the U.S.
Additional reporting by Caroline Tanner
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Annual Fee
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There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
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- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
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- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
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- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits.Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.