Jean Danhong Chen Explains Travel Changes Due to COVID-19

Understanding the COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on international travel is complex. COVID-19 has touched nearly every aspect of global travel, including canceled flights, travel restrictions for residents of certain countries, closed consular centers, and mandatory quarantines.

Jean Danhong Chen gives an overview of how travel has changed due to COVID-19 and how conditions are likely to be altered in the future.

Travel Restrictions

Around the world, travel restrictions spread widely in the wake of COVID-19. The United States restricted travel from nearly all countries around the globe, starting with China. As of September 2020, American travelers are still barred from most other countries, including Canada and Mexico, without an essential designation.

Flight Cancellations

Many airlines have slashed international flights from their schedules. International flights are down significantly around the globe. Some international carriers like Qantas have decided to cut nearly all international flights until March 2021.

Before COVID, there were over 300 flights between China and the United States each week. The number of flights has been doubled as of August 2020. United and Delta are now allowed to make four weekly flights to the United States, up from two. Chinese airlines are able to make eight weekly round trips instead of four.

While there is some impatience to change these conditions, both governments believe that they are on the path toward positive change.

Health Checks

In the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic, health checks were widespread for travelers. Temperature and symptom checks were common. However, as the COVID pandemic progressed, it became clear that the health screenings at certain airports could be causing a lack of social distancing and an increased risk of contagion between passengers while waiting in long lines.

Health screenings have been reduced since the spring of 2020. As of September 2020, the United States government has ended the practice of diverting all incoming international flights to a small selection of 15 airports. The government now recognizes that manually screening for signs of illness may not prevent the spread of COVID, since so many patients have mild symptoms or no symptoms at all.

Enhanced entry health screening now includes travelers who have come from China, Iran, the Schengen region of Europe, Brazil, Ireland, and the United Kingdom.

Mandatory Quarantines

Many countries have instituted mandatory quarantines from travelers coming from COVID hot spots. In the United States, travelers from China are required to self-quarantine for 14 days upon arrival.

There are also many interstate quarantine regulations. As of September 15, California, Hawaii, Minnesota, Maryland, Ohio, and Nevada were removed from the New York/New Jersey/Connecticut quarantine list. This allows for freer travel between states where test positivity rates and illnesses are going down. States are added to and removed from these lists based on their monthly case numbers.

Visa Changes

As of August 2020, certain H, J, and L non-immigrant visas have been suspended. This suspension will continue until December 31, 2020, and it may be extended for a longer period of time. Entry of other immigrant visa types, including EB-2 or EB-3, has been suspended.

Consular Services

Routine visa services at all U.S. Consulates and Embassies have been suspended for non-US citizens. All visa appointments will be canceled except for emergency visits. Services will still be available to US citizens.

As of July 2020, the State Department reported that visa services would be available again in the coming months, but only on a post-by-post basis. Listings of all US Embassies and their status can be found at USEmbassy.gov.

Understanding How the Global Pandemic Affects Travel

The COVID-19 pandemic has had unprecedented and far-reaching effects on domestic and international travel. Returning to conditions under which most global citizens were free to travel to any country they desired seems like a faraway dream. As the pandemic wanes and conditions improve, world governments will begin to relax their restrictions so that the global economy can resume.

Jean Danhong Chen understands how difficult these conditions can be for United States travelers and immigrants alike. Having vital services suspended and having no ability to travel internationally is an unfortunate situation. As 2020 continues and 2021 begins, it is hoped that a vaccine will be available in some parts of the world. The vaccine will continue the slow healing process, allowing business to return to normal around the world.

Since the vaccine will likely take several months or years to take full effectiveness, it is likely that many of these restrictions will persist for the foreseeable future. For the time being, travelers need to be patient and to be aware of all pertinent restrictions. Visiting a site like Fragomen can help travelers make important decisions.