Rule2021-28063
Notification of the Lifting of Temporary Travel Restrictions Applicable to Land Ports of Entry and Ferries Service Between the United States and Canada for Certain Individuals Who Are Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19 and Can Present Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination Status
Primary source
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Published
December 23, 2021
Issuing agencies
Homeland Security DepartmentU.S. Customs and Border Protection
Abstract
This Notification announces the decision of the Secretary of Homeland Security (Secretary) to lift the temporary restrictions that apply to non-essential travel by certain individuals. Specifically, the Secretary has lifted such restrictions for individuals who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19, can present proof of COVID-19 vaccination status, and are seeking to enter the United States via land ports of entry (POEs) and ferry terminals along the U.S.-Canada border. The lifting of restrictions for such fully vaccinated individuals does not affect U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents returning to the United States, regardless of whether the individual is fully vaccinated, because such travel is currently defined as essential travel.
Full Text
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<title>Federal Register, Volume 86 Issue 244 (Thursday, December 23, 2021)</title>
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[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 244 (Thursday, December 23, 2021)]
[Rules and Regulations]
[Pages 72842-72843]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [<a href="http://www.gpo.gov">www.gpo.gov</a>]
[FR Doc No: 2021-28063]
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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
U.S. Customs and Border Protection
19 CFR Chapter I
Notification of the Lifting of Temporary Travel Restrictions
Applicable to Land Ports of Entry and Ferries Service Between the
United States and Canada for Certain Individuals Who Are Fully
Vaccinated Against COVID-19 and Can Present Proof of COVID-19
Vaccination Status
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security;
U.S. Customs and Border Protection, U.S. Department of Homeland
Security.
ACTION: Notification of the lifting of temporary travel restrictions
for certain travelers.
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SUMMARY: This Notification announces the decision of the Secretary of
Homeland Security (Secretary) to lift the temporary restrictions that
apply to non-essential travel by certain individuals. Specifically, the
Secretary has lifted such restrictions for individuals who have been
fully vaccinated against COVID-19, can present proof of COVID-19
vaccination status, and are seeking to enter the United States via land
ports of entry (POEs) and ferry terminals along the U.S.-Canada border.
The lifting of restrictions for such fully vaccinated individuals does
not affect U.S. citizens and lawful permanent residents returning to
the United States, regardless of whether the individual is
[[Page 72843]]
fully vaccinated, because such travel is currently defined as essential
travel.
DATES: The lifting of these restrictions began at 12 a.m. Eastern
Standard Time (EST) on November 8, 2021.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Stephanie Watson, Office of Field
Operations Coronavirus Coordination Cell, U.S. Customs and Border
Protection (CBP) at 202-325-0840.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Notice of Action
On October 21, 2021, the Secretary announced his decision to
continue to temporarily restrict the non-essential travel of
individuals from Canada into the United States via land POEs and ferry
terminals along the United States-Canada border.\1\ The Secretary
further announced that he intended to lift these restrictions for
individuals who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and have
appropriate proof of vaccination to align with changes to international
travel by air.\2\ The Secretary stated that any such modifications to
the restrictions would be accomplished via a posting to the DHS website
(<a href="https://www.dhs.gov">https://www.dhs.gov</a>) and followed by a publication in the Federal
Register.\3\
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\1\ 86 FR 58218.
\2\ Id.
\3\ Id. at 58220.
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On October 29, 2021, DHS posted to its website an announcement that
beginning November 8, 2021, non-essential travel would be permitted
through land POEs and ferry terminals, provided that the traveler is
fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and can present proof of COVID-19
vaccination status. DHS stated that unvaccinated travelers may continue
to cross the U.S.-Canada border at land POEs and ferry terminals for
essential travel, including lawful trade, emergency response, and
public health purposes.\4\ Thus, starting November 8, 2021, when
arriving at a U.S. land POE or ferry terminal, travelers who are
traveling for a non-essential reason should be prepared to: (1) Present
proof of COVID-19 vaccination as outlined on the CDC website; \5\ and
(2) verbally attest to the reason for their travel and COVID-19
vaccination status. The lifting of restrictions for fully vaccinated
individuals does not affect U.S. citizens and lawful permanent
residents returning to the United States, regardless of whether the
individual is fully vaccinated, because such travel is currently
defined as essential travel.
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\4\ See DHS, Fact Sheet: Guidance for Travelers to Enter the
U.S. at Land Ports of Entry and Ferry Terminals, <a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2021/10/29/fact-sheet-guidance-travelers-enter-us-land-ports-entry-and-ferry-terminals">https://www.dhs.gov/news/2021/10/29/fact-sheet-guidance-travelers-enter-us-land-ports-entry-and-ferry-terminals</a> (released Oct. 29, 2021; last
updated Nov. 23, 2021); see also DHS, Frequently Asked Questions:
Guidance for Travelers to Enter the U.S. at Land Ports of Entry and
Ferry Terminals, <a href="https://www.dhs.gov/news/2021/10/29/frequently-asked-questions-guidance-travelers-enter-us-land-ports-entry-and-ferry">https://www.dhs.gov/news/2021/10/29/frequently-asked-questions-guidance-travelers-enter-us-land-ports-entry-and-ferry</a> (released Oct. 29, 2021; last updated Nov. 23, 2021).
\5\ See CDC, Requirement for Proof of COVID-19 Vaccination for
Air Passengers <a href="https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/proof-of-vaccination.html">https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/proof-of-vaccination.html</a> (updated Nov. 24, 2021).
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Consistent with the October 21, 2021 Federal Register notice and
the October 29, 2021 web posting, DHS is publishing this notice of the
lifting of the non-essential travel restrictions for certain
individuals as described above.
Alejandro N. Mayorkas,
Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
[FR Doc. 2021-28063 Filed 12-21-21; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 9112-FP-P[FEDREG][VOL]*[/VOL][NO]*[/NO][DATE]*[/
DATE][RULES]
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