US ‘won’t lift travel ban on UK this summer’
The US has no plans to relax travel restrictions dashing the hopes of Britons hoping to visit the States on holiday this summer.
It is not possible for most European travellers, including those from the UK, to enter the US due to coronavirus fears.
The Associated Press reported the policy will not be lifted due to the prevalence of variants of the virus in Europe.
President Joe Biden said his administration was “in the process” of considering how soon the US could lift the ban on Europeans after the issue was raised by German chancellor Angela Merkel.
Last week, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention advised Americans against travel to the UK in light of the country’s surge in cases.
Most of continental Europe has relaxed restrictions on Americans who are fully vaccinated, although the UK still requires quarantines for most visitors arriving from the US.
Airlines said, however, the lack of two-way travel is limiting the number of flights they can offer and seats they can sell.
It comes as ministers are preparing to ease travel rules for expats returning to the UK from Sunday.
UK nationals living overseas who have had both doses of a coronavirus jab will no longer need to self-isolate when they arrive from an amber list country, according to The Telegraph.
The exemption from quarantine currently only applies to people who were vaccinated under the UK programme but the newspaper said the government plans to recognise foreign jabs.
The Department for Transport has committed to holding a formal review of the rules for arriving travellers this week.
Speaking in the Commons last week, vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said: “By the end of this month, UK nationals who have been vaccinated overseas will be able to talk to their GP, go through what vaccine they have had, and have it registered with the NHS that they have been vaccinated.
“The reason for the conversation with the GP is to make sure that whatever vaccine they have had is approved in the United Kingdom.
“Ultimately, there will be a co-ordination between the World Health Organisation, ourselves, the European regulator, the US regulator and other regulators around the world.”
The Associated Press reported the policy will not be lifted due to the prevalence of variants of the virus in Europe.
President Joe Biden said his administration was “in the process” of considering how soon the US could lift the ban on Europeans after the issue was raised by German chancellor Angela Merkel.
Last week, the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention advised Americans against travel to the UK in light of the country’s surge in cases.
Most of continental Europe has relaxed restrictions on Americans who are fully vaccinated, although the UK still requires quarantines for most visitors arriving from the US.
Airlines said, however, the lack of two-way travel is limiting the number of flights they can offer and seats they can sell.
It comes as ministers are preparing to ease travel rules for expats returning to the UK from Sunday.
UK nationals living overseas who have had both doses of a coronavirus jab will no longer need to self-isolate when they arrive from an amber list country, according to The Telegraph.
The exemption from quarantine currently only applies to people who were vaccinated under the UK programme but the newspaper said the government plans to recognise foreign jabs.
The Department for Transport has committed to holding a formal review of the rules for arriving travellers this week.
Speaking in the Commons last week, vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said: “By the end of this month, UK nationals who have been vaccinated overseas will be able to talk to their GP, go through what vaccine they have had, and have it registered with the NHS that they have been vaccinated.
“The reason for the conversation with the GP is to make sure that whatever vaccine they have had is approved in the United Kingdom.
“Ultimately, there will be a co-ordination between the World Health Organisation, ourselves, the European regulator, the US regulator and other regulators around the world.”