In March 2020, Former U.S. President Donald Trump implemented a travel ban on U.K. and EU travelers. Now, close to 20 months later, the Biden administration will lift most restrictions for U.K. and EU visitors, among others.

What is the new travel policy?

The U.S. is set to lift the travel ban for fully vaccinated travelers from 33 countries including the U.K., parts of the European Union (EU) and other countries such as China, India, South Africa, Brazil and more.

Who qualifies for the new travel policy?

Previously, if you’re a British national who has been in the U.K. within the last 14 days, you were not allowed to enter the U.S. With the upcoming travel restrictions being eased, double-vaccinated British nationals will be allowed to enter the U.S. with a negative COVID-19 test performed three days prior to flying with no quarantine required upon arrival. Additionally, a mobile number and email address are required for enhanced contact tracing.

When will the new travel policy come into effect?

The easing of travel restrictions will come into effect on November 8^th, 2021 according to the White House.

What about U.S. citizens?

For U.K.-bound flights, fully vaccinated U.S. citizens will continue to be allowed to travel without quarantine or pre-departure testing. If you are unvaccinated, you must provide negative COVID-19 test results, undergo a 10-day quarantine, and take additional tests on days two and eight.

For U.S.-bound flights, fully vaccinated U.S. citizens are not required to provide vaccination proof but must provide negative COVID-19 test results taken no later than three days prior to departure. If you are unvaccinated, you must provide negative COVID-19 test results no later than a day before departure and proof that you have a second COVID-19 test scheduled upon arrival.

How Will This Impact Businesses?

International Air Transport Association (IATA) Director General, Willie Walsh, said that this is “good for the millions of livelihoods in the U.S. that depend on global tourism” and it will also “boost the economic recovery by enabling some key business travel markets”.

In an interview with Reuters, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, said that lifting travel restrictions would boost the travel, tourism and hospitality sectors, and especially when business travel is dependent on international travel.

With business travel leading the way for international travel, companies can certainly look forward to sending their employees with ease across both sides of the Atlantic, to gradually resume international assignments that help contribute to its growth and operations.

Companies that have halted their talent relocation plans due to the COVID-19 pandemic can also now look forward to resuming their regional plans. However, the lifting of travel restrictions is just the first step to begin relocating your talents. International assignments can be challenging due to the different legislations and compliance regulations in different countries that you may not be familiar with.

You need an experienced team of lawyers and immigration experts to organize and deliver your talents to the target country, while adhering to all local requirements and compliance regulations. This is where Elements steps in with our Visa & Global Mobility service that supports your talent throughout the entire process, acting as an extension of your HR team. We become your global mobility HR business partner and walk you through preparation, initiation, assignment to post-assignment.

Elements assumes full responsibility and manages all aspects of your global mobility needs with absolute compliance, so that you can focus entirely on your business and goals. As the Employer of Record (EOR), we provide the key elements for your global success and give your employees the ability to move freely across borders, so that they can fulfill their roles seamlessly to help grow your business.

As countries gradually lift their travel restrictions like the U.S., it becomes increasingly important to have a trusted HR partner to guide you on global mobility and contribute to the success of your global business.

About Elements Global Services
Elements Global Services is a global tech firm, focused on software that is built to go beyond country borders and simplify a company’s ability to Expand its Business, Onboard Employees, Manage Compliance and Pay Globally. Headquartered in Chicago, Elements offers customers 100% direct Employer of Record services in over 160 countries, powered by proprietary HR technology that simplifies everything from payroll, benefits and human capital management to HR outsourcing, local compliance and visa & mobility.