Biden Admin Extends Vaccine Mandate for Entry for Non-Citizens to April

The federal government has extended the COVID-19 vaccine mandate for non-citizens to enter the country to at least April 2023, making it one of the last countries on the planet to have such a policy.

On Tuesday, Austin Gould, the TSA Acting Executive Assistant Administrator of Operations Support, signed the newest Emergency Amendment and Security Directives, continuing the extension of the Biden administration’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for non-citizens.

From January 9, until at least April 10 this year, any non-citizen who wants to enter the United States must either be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, not requiring booster jabs, or confirm that they have a medical or other limited exemption under the Presidential Proclamation that was issued in October 2021.

Anyone who qualifies for an exemption under the scheme must still test for COVID-19 between three to five days after entry, and remain isolated and masked up for five to 10 days after stepping off the plane.

Biden has extended the vaccine mandate for all foreigners visiting the U.S. until April, a policy that continues to cost the tourism industry billions in lost revenue. pic.twitter.com/mY7w0UDUzt

— Ben Kew 🐶 (@ben_kew) January 4, 2023

The vaccine mandate had been extended back in November until January, without much fanfare from the TSA or Biden administration. The current extensions mean that the USA is one of the last countries on the planet to still mandate non-citizens be fully vaccinated for entry.

MORE – The U.S. is one of the few countries in the world that still requires non-citizens to be vaccinated against COVID upon international entry. pic.twitter.com/D0synwiwDZ

— Disclose.tv (@disclosetv) January 4, 2023

The extension of the vaccine mandates comes as the CDC is set to implement more restrictions for Chinese arrivals into the United States, due to concern over rising COVID-19 cases.

As Valiant News reported last week, by January 5, all air passengers older than two years of age will be forced to provide a negative COVID-19 test less than two days before departing from China, Hong Kong, and Macau.

All air travellers, regardless of their nationality, and how many COVID-19 vaccines they received, will be subject to the new regulations. Like with the vaccine mandate, airlines must confirm the details of either a negative test or proof of recovery from the disease.