Permanent Resident - Vaccine Travel Requirement

[ThomasM 11]

Hello, my wife just received her Permanent Residence card after the K1 AOS process. If she goes home to visit Austria and returns to the US, will she not be required to be vaccinated since she’s a US resident now, or is she considered a foreign National?

[Angela & Brendon 160]

Looking at the current travel restrictions and guidelines, my reading of it is that because she's a Permanent Resident now, she will not be required to be vaccinated to return to the US. I'm not sure what restrictions in Austria are like so it may be worth checking there. 

[Crazy Cat 39,138]

Literally speaking:

 

https://www.dhs.gov/profiles-lawful-permanent-residents

 

[midwinterrose 263]

Someone asked this question of Jen Psaki(🤮) at one of the press briefings and she said she wasn’t sure and she would find out and report back.  I’ve been scouring all the press releases to try to find some official statement about it, but nothing yet.  I will certainly update here when I do.  I have seen a few places, including the US embassy in the Bahamas stating that LPRs won’t need to be vaccinated, but I’m waiting to hear it straight from the horse’s mouth.

[ThomasM 11]

1 hour ago, radharose said:

Someone asked this question of Jen Psaki(🤮) at one of the press briefings and she said she wasn’t sure and she would find out and report back.  I’ve been scouring all the press releases to try to find some official statement about it, but nothing yet.  I will certainly update here when I do.  I have seen a few places, including the US embassy in the Bahamas stating that LPRs won’t need to be vaccinated, but I’m waiting to hear it straight from the horse’s mouth.

Thanks for the response. I will also continue checking the news, as I believe there is a new conference about it tomorrow. But, logically speaking I’m not sure how they could prevent a legal resident from entering the country because of a vaccine. But, who knows with all this insanity.   

[randy32 165]

I have travelled to multiple countries since the start of the pandemic.

So far the requirement to enter or transit any country (including the US) has been a mixture of testing and quarantine rules.

 

The situation is fluid and can change as anytime.

 

Easy place to check might be the embassy page of origination country, Austria in this case else CBP, or Department of State sites.

Also sites like the ones below can assist you

https://www.kayak.com/travel-restrictions?&origin=NG

https://airfrance.traveldoc.aero/

[ineedadisplayname 442]

6 hours ago, ThomasM said:

Thanks for the response. I will also continue checking the news, as I believe there is a new conference about it tomorrow. But, logically speaking I’m not sure how they could prevent a legal resident from entering the country because of a vaccine. But, who knows with all this insanity.   

Probably it would be easier for your wife to get vaccinated. I think there are rules and possible quarantine when she goes to Austria imposed by the Austrian government if she is unvaccinated.

 

As for the US think about us residents as someone who has the privilege to be here. There is no entry guaranteed. Only citizens are guaranteed to enter the US. We can't vote in any election. Make sure your wife knows that, otherwise she might be kicked out if she voted in any election. Also make sure when she is getting a state id or DL that the DMV does not register her as a voter...

 

[HRQX 4,145]

9 hours ago, ThomasM said:

If she goes home to visit Austria and returns to the US

When does she plan to travel?

[Loren Y 2,731]

My wife and I just came back from brazil, and her vaccine status was checked both ways, twice actually, coming back in Rio to board Copa airlines, then when we transferred in Panama it was checked again before we boarded the United flight to the US. They said it wasn't required as of yet, but that it was coming soon for everyone. This was as of September 13th we returned to the US. Better to be vaccinated if you aren't a full US citizen yet from what I could tell. They didn't seem to concerned about my vaccination status as a US passport holder, but definitely grilled her and her documents to return to the US. I had everything possible they could ask for, so no issues.

[From_CAN_2_US 1,097]

13 hours ago, ThomasM said:

Hello, my wife just received her Permanent Residence card after the K1 AOS process. If she goes home to visit Austria and returns to the US, will she not be required to be vaccinated since she’s a US resident now, or is she considered a foreign National?

This page from a US embassy says:

“Beginning in early November, adult foreign nationals traveling to the United States will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, with limited exceptions.  U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and lawful permanent residents (LPR) will be exempted from this vaccination requirement, although unvaccinated U.S. citizens, nationals, and LPRs will be subject to new pre-travel and post-travel testing requirements.”

 

https://tt.usembassy.gov/white-house-announces-new-covid-19-vaccination-entry-requirements-for-foreign-nationals/

 

[Coco8 1,039]

Given all the vaccines we have to either show proof or get for the medical, I don't see the problem with getting the COVID vaccine and avoid getting sick by traveling so far. Plus, it probably avoids all the hassle of getting tested, etc. Having a green card is not as if one is a citizen. If they want, they can make you wait while they are checking who knows what on their computers and then make you get tested. Not fun.

[aznhouston 124]

She only needs negative test. I've been flying to Europe on 2-year GC and they only asked for negative test when checking-in. It has to be done three days before boarding the flight. I read that proof of recovery within 90 days before boarding is also acceptable.

[Cathi 5,607]

19 hours ago, ThomasM said:

Thanks for the response. I will also continue checking the news, as I believe there is a new conference about it tomorrow. But, logically speaking I’m not sure how they could prevent a legal resident from entering the country because of a vaccine. But, who knows with all this insanity.   

The only people guaranteed entry to the U.S. are U.S. citizens.

[ThomasM 11]

On 9/26/2021 at 8:44 PM, From_CAN_2_US said:

This page from a US embassy says:

“Beginning in early November, adult foreign nationals traveling to the United States will be required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, with limited exceptions.  U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, and lawful permanent residents (LPR) will be exempted from this vaccination requirement, although unvaccinated U.S. citizens, nationals, and LPRs will be subject to new pre-travel and post-travel testing requirements.”

 

https://tt.usembassy.gov/white-house-announces-new-covid-19-vaccination-entry-requirements-for-foreign-nationals/

 

Thank you all for your responses. As Can2US shared, this link shows the rules. It seems as if LPRs are exempt.