Travel Alerts
Know how changes in the immigration environment may affect you if you’re traveling.
COVID Travel Advisories & Restrictions
INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL NOT ADVISED: In light of the uncertainty of the global travel situation due to the emergence of the new Omicron variant, ISS does not currently recommend travel outside the U.S.
Travel restrictions, mandatory quarantines, COVID testing requirements and closed borders are possible during the COVID emergency. Travel at this time is risky. The U.S. Embassies and Consulates in some countries have also not yet resumed routine visa processing. If you choose to travel internationally, your travel plans may be disrupted, and you may be forced to remain outside of the United States for an indefinite amount of time. Please review our travel alerts page, and be prepared for disruption in travel plans.
DHS requires Non-U.S. travelers entering the U.S. at land ports of entry to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19- effective January 22, 2022.
- Non-U.S. individuals traveling to the United States via land ports of entry or ferry terminals, whether for essential or non-essential reasons, must:
- verbally attest to their COVID-19 vaccination status;
- provide proof of a CDC-approved COVID-19 vaccination, as outlined on the CDC website;
- present a valid Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative (WHTI)-compliant document, such as a valid passport, Trusted Traveler Program card, or Enhanced Tribal Card; and,
- be prepared to present any other relevant documents requested by a U.S. CBP officer during a border inspection.
The White House announces changes to international travel- effective November 8, 2021.
- As before, travelers must produce a negative viral test result within a specific time frame prior to travel to the United States.
- Additionally, non-citizen, non-immigrant air travelers to the United States must show proof of COVID-19 vaccination status prior to boarding an airplane to fly to the U.S., with only limited exceptions.
>View the latest CDC Travel Advisories
>View ISS Travel Alerts for current list of impacted countries
New Presidential Proclamation Restricting Travel From 8 African Countries
Proclamation Lifted December 31, 2021
Effective at 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on December 31, 2021 the Proclamation impacting travel from specific African countries described below was lifted.
On November 26, 2021, citing the appearance of the COVID Omicron variant, President Biden issued a Proclamation that suspends the entry to the U.S. of noncitizens who have been physically present in any of the following countries during the 14-day period preceding their entry or attempted entry into the United States:
- Botswana
- Eswatini
- Lesotho
- Malawi
- Mozambique
- Namibia
- South Africa
- Zimbabwe
The Proclamation is effective as of November 29, 2021 and will remain in effect until it is terminated by the President.
If you have been in any of the eight countries affected by the Proclamation in the past 14 days or have made plans to travel to these countries soon, we recommend that you revise your travel plans.
Testing and Quarantine Requirements
Before Traveling
Effective November 8, 2021 all travelers to the U.S. will be required to be fully vaccinated with an approved U.S. FDA or WHO vaccine unless eligible for one of the few exceptions. The previous regional COVID-19 travel restrictions were revoked after President Biden issued a new Presidential Proclamation; this proclamation also discontinued use of the National Interest Exception (NIE) waiver.
The CDC order requiring vaccination also requires all travelers aged 2 years or older to travel with proof of a negative COVID-19 viral test result regardless of vaccination status.
Additional information on testing requirements and determining if you are fully vaccinated according to Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines is available on the CDC Testing for International Travelers webpage.
After Arriving in the US
Quarantine requirements can change as the COVID-19 situation evolves. You can read about current testing recommendations on the After International Travel CDC webpage.
Latest updates on UB specific information is available on the UB Coronavirus page.
Travel to Canada & Mexico
Effective November 8 2021: Fully vaccinated travelers from Canada and Mexico will be permitted to enter the U.S. at land borders and ferry crossings. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) reminds these travelers to be prepared to:
- Provide proof of their COVID-19 vaccination, as outlined on the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) website; and
- Verbally attest to their reason for travel and COVID-19 vaccination status during a border inspection.
>Canadian Government COVID Travel Restrictions
>U.S. Department of State COVID Travel Restrictions (Air travel & travel by land)
COVID-19 Related Travel Restrictions
Detailed information on the travel restrictions related to COVID-19 can be found on NAFSA's Coronavirus Critical Resource page.
Before planning any travel, please review the U.S. State Department Travel Advisories and the ISS COVID-19 FAQs page. Be sure to also read the CDC Domestic Travel warnings.
The University at Buffalo and International Student Services welcome and support all members of our international community. We will continue to advocate for policies that do not diminish the quality of our academic community, and will work to ensure that educational opportunities are available for all students regardless of nationality.