President Biden Revokes Southern Africa Travel Ban Effective December 31

President Joe Biden issued a presidential proclamation Tuesday revoking a November proclamation that enacted travel restrictions on eight southern African nations, including South Africa, as the Omicron variant began to spread.

The proclamation repeals the ban as of 12:01 a.m. ET on December 31.

"The travel restrictions imposed by that proclamation are no longer necessary to protect the public health," Biden said in the new proclamation.

Tuesday's proclamation noted that scientists have determined that people vaccinated against Covid-19 "are protected against severe disease and hospitalization from the Omicron variant." It also said that the variant is now in over 100 countries and is "prevalent" in the US, where cases have been rising for weeks.

New Proclamation Suspends Travel for Immigrants and Nonimmigrants from Seven African Countries

On November 26, 2021, just 18 days after prior COVID-related travel bans were lifted, the White House issued a Proclamation barring travel from the Republic of Botswana, the Kingdom of Eswatini, the Kingdom of Lesotho, the Republic of Malawi, the Republic of Mozambique, the Republic of Namibia, the Republic of South Africa, and the Republic of Zimbabwe, in response to a new variant of COVID-19 referred to as B.1.1.529 or the Omicron variant.

The Proclamation suspends entry into the United States, as immigrants or nonimmigrants, of noncitizens who were physically present within the Republic of Botswana, the Kingdom of Eswatini, the Kingdom of Lesotho, the Republic of Malawi, the Republic of Mozambique, the Republic of Namibia, the Republic of South Africa, and the Republic of Zimbabwe during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States. This proclamation is effective at 12:01 a.m. ET on Monday, November 29, 2021. This proclamation does not apply to persons aboard a flight scheduled to arrive in the United States that departed prior to 12:01 a.m. ET on November 29, 2021. The proclamation applies even to travelers that are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

The proclamation contains numerous exceptions, and does not apply to:

• Lawful Permanent Residents (green card holders);

• Nationals of the United States;

• Noncitizens who are the spouse of a U.S. citizen or LPR;

• Noncitizens who are the the parent or legal guardian or sibling of a U.S. citizen or LPR child;

• Noncitizens who are the child, foster child, or ward of a U.S. citizen or LPR, or a prospective adoptee seeking entry under the IR-4 or IH-4 classifications;

• Noncitizens traveling at the invitation of the United States Government for a purpose related to containment or mitigation of the virus;

• Noncitizens seeking entry pursuant to a C-1, D, or C-1/D nonimmigrant visa, or A-1, A-2, C-2, C-3 (as a foreign government official or immediate family member of an official), E-1 (as an employee of TECRO or TECO or the employee’s immediate family members), G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, NATO-1 through NATO-4, or NATO-6;

• Noncitizen members of the U.S. Armed Forces or who is a spouse or child of a member of the U.S. Armed Forces;

• Noncitizens whose entry is authorized by he Secretary of State, the Secretary of Homeland Security, or their respective designees.