From June 4, 2021, the Japanese government is to implement stricter quarantine measures for travelers from New York, California, Nevada and 12 other states, as well as certain other countries, due to COVID variant infection rates. Under the stricter quarantine measures, travelers from the applicable states and countries (regardless of nationality) will be required to
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EU Getting Ready to Re-Open Borders to Travellers
In line with many countries around the world, in order to combat the spread of Covid-19, the EU placed restrictions on travelers entering from non-EU countries. With increasing numbers of people now being vaccinated, some countries are slowly coming out of lockdown with restrictions on non-emergency travel easing.
Earlier this week, EU Member States came to an agreement regarding entry of visitors from outside of the EU. The agreement is still pending final approval but it is anticipated that EU countries will soon allow entry to visitors who either have been fully vaccinated with an EU approved vaccine or are from a “safe list” of third countries that have met certain criteria.Continue Reading EU Getting Ready to Re-Open Borders to Travellers
US Expands COVID-19 Test Requirement to All Air Passengers
Further to our prior blog post regarding the new requirement of negative COVID-19 tests for travelers arriving in the United States from the United Kingdom, today the Center for Disease Control (CDC) has expanded that requirement to cover all air passengers arriving to the United States from a foreign country (and not just the United…
Negative COVID-19 Tests Required by the United States and Canada
The end of 2020 witnessed an alarming spread of multiple COVID-19 variants, including strains that first emerged in the United Kingdom and South Africa. Record high COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations were reported at similarly alarming rates, leading governments to take drastic action. In our December 22, 2020 blog, we reported on the travel restrictions imposed across multiple countries and regions across the globe, a trend that has continued at a rapid pace as governments fight to contain the spread of the virus. Some countries target travelers from the United Kingdom; others outright ban all foreigner visitors.
In North America, the United States and Canada have taken the additional step to now require negative COVID-19 tests.
Continue Reading Negative COVID-19 Tests Required by the United States and Canada
Suspension of H-1B, L-1 and H-2B Visas Reported To Be Under Consideration by the White House
On April 22, 2020, President Trump issued a “Proclamation Suspending Entry of Immigrants Who Present Risk to the U.S. Labor Market During the Economic Recovery Following the COVID-19 Outbreak,” to pause issuance of new immigrant visas to applicants who are outside the United States for 60 days. As reported on this blog, although the…
Update: Canada Clarifies Scope of Cross-Border Restrictions on Non-Essential Travel
The Canadian government has now published guidance for travelers on the scope of the US-Canada border closure. Last month, the United States and Canada announced that the two countries would jointly and temporarily close the border, until April 20, 2020, to non-essential travel in an effort to limit the spread of the novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).…