As much as we’d hate to admit it, the effects of COVID-19 on the travel industry as a whole are far from over, and when it comes to travel restrictions, it just seems like it’s a constant rollercoaster ride of ever-changing regulations on an almost daily basis.
The current state of affairs surrounding travel to the USA from the UK is vague at best. Because of the pandemic, even travellers who have already had an approved ESTA may find that there will be limited opportunity to use it to travel to the USA. In this article, we discuss everything that is surrounding this issue, and what your next best steps forward should be as an ESTA holder.
What is the coronavirus situation in the USA?
At this point in time, the USA is the world leader in the global coronavirus cases rankings – and that’s saying something. There have been over 12.7 million cases of coronavirus as of 26 November 2020, with over 260,000 dead because of the effects of the virus. Some of the hardest hit states include California, Florida, New York, Texas and Wisconsin, although none of the other states in the USA have been spared from any confirmed COVID-19 infections.
USA’s travel ban
Even with the results of the recent U.S presidential election, the travel ban that was mandated by the Trump administration is still in full force, and it applies to travellers of all nationalities with none excluded. Travellers who have been to any of the countries of the CDC’s list 14 days prior to their attempted entry through U.S immigration can be denied entry outright and be sent back home immediately.
USA’s travel ban exceptions
Though it may seem a bit drastic, the U.S travel ban seeks to significantly reduce the risk of further spreading the coronavirus across the country and avoid worsening the current situation. However, there are some exceptions granted to particular groups of individuals who fulfill certain criteria for entry into the U.S. Here is a short list of the legal exemptions to the U.S travel ban.
- Citizens of the U.S.A
- Parents, immediate relatives or close guardians of current unmarried or under 21 U.S.A residents
- Visits by individuals or groups that is of national interest to the U.S.A
- Students with an F-1 or M-1 visa
- Business travellers and significant investors in the U.S.A
- Visitors on academic purposes such as adjunct professors
- J-1 visa holders
- HIghly qualified persons working with American public health or national security.
If you don’t fit any of the categories above, chances are you might find it a lot more difficult to gain lawful entry into the U.S.A for the period of the travel ban.
How long is my ESTA valid for?
If you hold an approved ESTA permit, it is valid for up to 2 years since the date it was approved, or when the passport linked to the ESTA is expired – whichever is earlier. This validity period and regulations have not changed because of COVID-19, and is expected to remain in place for the foreseeable future.
When can I travel to the U.S.A safely again?
Ultimately it is up to the governments of both nations (UK and U.S.A) to decide on whether it is a feasible idea to allow unlimited travel for ESTA holders from the UK to the U.S.A. A decision is far from being made, with holidays and business trips being two of the most common yet unacceptable reasons for travel between the two countries, as the travel ban remains indefinitely in place. Updates are rolled out regularly, so you can expect changes to occur immediately as this is a developing situation.
What happens if I’m already in the U.S.A?
If you’re a traveller from the UK who’s already in the USA at the time of the travel ban, and your ESTA is due to expire soon, you can apply for a 30 day extension to stay in the USA. You can do this via contacting the U.S Immigration Service which can be found at a major airport or border post near you, or at a deferred inspection site.
So are ESTA applications still being approved?
Despite the currently worsening coronavirus situation in the U.S.A, it is still possible to submit an ESTA application, and they will be processed with the same speed as pre-pandemic times. If you’re thinking of putting in your ESTA application for USA travel, you can still do so because at the time of applying you don’t need to submit your exact travel dates and plans, and your ESTA is valid for 2 years after the date of approval.
Because of this, there are plenty of applications that are still being processed and still being approved. So if your travel plans to the U.S.A are within the span of the next 2 years, you can still apply for your ESTA as per normal.
Final thoughts
For most of us, traveling during this pandemic is probably the first and last thing on our minds at the same time. We want to travel as far away from the terrible year that we’ve faced thus far, yet the overwhelming number of restrictions and high risk that comes with boarding an airplane just seems to give us more reasons why we shouldn’t be thinking of traveling in the first place.
However, if you’re planning a trip to the U.S.A within the next 2 years, applying for your ESTA now is a good idea. Because applications are still being processed at the same speed, you’ll have a higher chance of receiving your ESTA quicker as compared to when hundreds of thousands of other applications are being put in during a busy period – and with the current news of an effective vaccine giving the world the reassurance it needs, there’s a high chance those restrictions will be lifted sooner than later.
