Global health advisory level 3 – Reconsider travel

13th March 2020

The Department of State advises U.S. citizens to reconsider travel abroad due to the global impact of COVID-19. Many areas throughout the world are now experiencing COVID-19 outbreaks and taking action that may limit traveler mobility, including quarantines and border restrictions. Even countries, jurisdictions, or areas where cases have not been reported may restrict travel without notice.

For the latest information regarding COVID-19, please visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) website.

You are encouraged to visit travel.state.gov to view individual Travel Advisories for the most urgent threats to safety and security. Please also visit the website of the relevant U.S. embassy or consulate to see information on entry restrictions, foreign quarantine policies, and urgent health information provided by local governments.

Travelers are urged to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive Alerts and make it easier to locate you in an emergency. The Department uses these Alerts to convey information about terrorist threats, security incidents, planned demonstrations, natural disasters, etc. In an emergency, please contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate or call the following numbers: 1(888) 407-4747 (toll-free in the United States and Canada) or 1 (202) 501-4444 from other countries or jurisdictions.

If you decide to travel abroad:

Review and follow the CDC’s guidelines for the prevention of coronavirus.
Check with your airlines or cruise lines regarding any updated information about your travel plans and/or restrictions.
Visit travel.state.gov to view individual Travel Advisories for the most urgent threats to safety and security.
Visit our Embassy webpages on COVID-19 for information on conditions in each country or jurisdiction.
Visit the Department of Homeland Security’s website on the latest travel restrictions to the U.S.
Follow the Official Twitter for U.S. Department of State Bureau of Consular Affairs
Recent US actions based on COVID-19 and what they mean for Seafarers:

The United States White House issued a Proclamation on March 11 to suspend entry for 30 days for most non-U.S. citizens who have been in or traveled through the 26 countries in the E.U.’s “Schengen Area” in the past 14 days.

We would like to inform you that seafarers can still travel to the US, as long as they have all valid visa documents according to Section 2 (a) par. (vii) which states that the “Scope of Suspension and Limitation on Entry in Section 1 of this proclamation shall not apply to:

any alien traveling as a nonimmigrant pursuant to a C-1, D, or C-1/D nonimmigrant visa as a crewmember or any alien otherwise traveling to the United States as air or sea crew”

The Marine Industries Association of South Florida requested clarification of “air or sea crew” as it relates to yacht crew and the CBP stated that yacht crew with B1/B2 visas are excluded from US entry ban.

You may find the full executive order from the White House here.

In addition, any U.S. citizen or lawful U.S. permanent resident returning to the United States who has traveled to one of the Schengen Area countries within the previous 14 days must enter through an approved gateway for additional screenings. The following are the official approved entry points:

• Atlanta: Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)
• Boston: Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)
• Chicago: Chicago O’Hare International Airport (ORD)
• Dallas/Fort Worth: Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport (DFW)
• Detroit: Detroit Metropolitan Airport (DTW)
• Honolulu: Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL)
• Los Angeles: Los Angeles International Airport (LAX)
• Miami: Miami International Airport (MIA)
• New York City: John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK)
• Newark, N.J.: Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR)
• San Francisco: San Francisco International Airport (SFO)
• Seattle: Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA)
• Washington, D.C.: Washington-Dulles International Airport (IAD)

Please note that all final approval and authority to board the aircraft ultimately resides with the airline/immigration. As the situation develops, we strongly urge you to check with your airline, and official government or travel authority sources before traveling.