While the Trump Administration’s suspension on travel from Schengen Area countries in Europe to the United States only applies to foreign nationals, the new policy will have implications for Americans returning from abroad. A newly released FAQ from the Overseas Security Advisory Council Bureau of Diplomatic Security (OSAC) at the U.S. State Department lays out what travelers need to know.
The ban goes into effect today, March 13, and it is scheduled to last for 30 days. According to the FAQ, prior to boarding a flight to the United States, all customers will be asked if they have visited a country within the Schengen Area, Iran or mainland China (excluding Hong Kong and Macau) within the last 14 days. If so, foreign nationals will be denied entry, while other travelers will have to enter the United States through one of the following approved airports, where additional screening will take place:
- Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
- Dallas – Fort Worth
- Detroit Metropolitan Airport
- Newark Liberty International Airport
- Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu
- New York – JFK Airport
- Los Angeles International Airport
-
Chicago O’Hare
- Seattle – Tacoma International Airport
- San Francisco International Airport
- Washington – Dulles International Airport
If the traveler is scheduled to arrive at a non-approved airport, the airline will help reroute them to one of the approved airports.
Additionally, some airports in Europe will have additional screenings in place for travelers boarding flights, although the exact procedures will vary by airport. For example, airports in Italy are carrying out temperature checks, and all passengers registering a temperature above 99.5 degrees Fahrenheit will be denied boarding, while other airports are only requiring passengers to fill out a travel health questionnaire. In all cases, travelers are advised to allow for additional time at the airport.
There are no details available at this time for travelers arriving from locations other than Schengen Area countries, but who have a connecting flight there before landing in the United States.
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