UPDATE: The White House announced that travel restrictions for travelers crossing from the Canada and Mexico borders into the U.S. will be lifted November 8 for travelers who are fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus.
"The US’ new travel policy that requires vaccination for foreign national travelers to the United States will begin on Nov 8. This announcement and date applies to both international air travel and land travel. This policy is guided by public health, stringent, and consistent," wrote White House Assistant Press Secretary Kevin Munoz on Twitter.
ORIGINAL STORY from October 13:
The Biden administration announced it will lift travel restrictions at the Canada and Mexico borders beginning in November for travelers who are fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus.
The borders, which have effectively been closed since March 2020 for non-essential purposes, will be open for foreign travelers who provide proof of vaccination; unvaccinated travelers will continue to be denied crossing at the borders. An exact date for the lifting of restrictions was not given at publication time.
The decision was applauded by U.S. Travel Association, a lobbying and advocacy organization for the U.S. hospitality and tourism industries.
“U.S. Travel has long urged a reopening of the U.S. land borders, and we applaud the Biden administration’s plan to ease entry restrictions for vaccinated visitors,” said U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow in a statement. “This action will bring a welcome surge in travel from our two top source markets of inbound travel.
“Declines in international visitation since the start of the pandemic have resulted in more than $250 billion in lost export income and more than a million U.S. jobs,” he continued. “The closed Canadian and Mexican land borders alone costs the U.S. economy nearly $700 million per month. The full reopening of international travel to the United States to fully vaccinated individuals is overdue and will provide a jolt to the U.S. economy, travel businesses large and small, and to destinations across America.”
The move to lift land border crossing restrictions comes after a late September announcement by the Biden administration that restrictions for international travel by fully vaccinated foreigners who can demonstrate proof of vaccination from 33 countries would be lifted in November after an 18-month ban.
