Advice for Traveling to the US

Hi there!

My children and I (all USC's) will be flying to the Detroit via Miami in August. I booked PCR tests for us with Express Test in the three days preceding travel. Other than proof of our negative PCR tests and US passports, will we require anything else to be permitted to travel?

I want avoid some long faces at the airport as the kids haven't seen their grandparents in over 2 years. Thanks. :-)

VERY easy to get into the USA as citizens.  If you have a non-citizen spouse or child flying with you, you would need more.  If one parent is not travelling, have a letter and a copy of that parent's passport giving permission to travel (in case asked).

But basically covid doesn't exist there (it does but they pretend it doesn't), so it'll be pretty easy.  Getting back.... just keep watching the news.  They'll change the rules two dozen times between now and when you actually travel.

Unless things have changed recently you do not need exclusively PCR tests, lateral flow is acceptable which are cheaper, easier and quicker. Just for future reference.

Travel to USA for USC's require:

• A negative PCR or lateral flow test result within 3 days of travel for passengers 2 years old or over

Travel to UK requires:

• A negative PCR or lateral flow test result within 3 days of travel for passengers 5 years old or older
• Pre-booked Day 2 & Day 8 tests with an approved provider for passengers 5 years old or older
• Passenger Locator Form(s)

So travelling to the US is pretty pain-free comparing it to the UK. I don't know your circumstances but ensure you have a plan for your test-taking to come back to the UK. It's the same as travelling to the US, you will be denied boarding without them.

I recommend Qured. They are cheap, approved and post the tests to you for you to take abroad with you. You then do the test via video call and then you send them a picture of your test and your passport and they send you a certificate (providing it's negative, of course). Very versatile.

So, to answer your original question this is all you need. Having recently travelled to the US I recommend you print your covid test results if possible. You get asked constantly for them at various stages.  The same with travelling back but also include printing your passenger locator form(s). I'm happy we did this as my wife's for some reason wasn't coming through the UK border system but we printed it out and it solved it all in seconds rather than 15 minutes.

Just a note: I don't know who you're travelling with but American Airlines require masks to be worn on their flights. It's worth taking a few masks for all of you with you in case you drop them etc etc.

All this is as of the requirements today!

Thank you for your advice! One follow-up question: is the Attestation for each passenger necessary? See newcomer link: https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/pdf/Attachment-A-UK-Passenger-disclosure-and-attestation_CLEAN.pdf [nonactive]

Thank you for your advice! One follow-up question: is the Attestation for each passenger necessary? See https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/pdf/Attachment-A-UK-Passenger-disclosure-and-attestation_CLEAN.pdf

I'm happy you mentioned this. Yes it is. I forgot to mention. They ask for it at check-in. Check-in to the US at Heathrow is a sh** show so to save the hassle of filling one in there and then with all the stress yes print and fill it in per passenger.

Your link is the old one that's expired. The one you need is this https://www.cdc.gov/quarantine/pdf/attachment-a-global-passenger-disclosure-attestation-2021-p.pdf

Unless things have changed recently you do not need exclusively PCR tests, lateral flow is acceptable which are cheaper, easier and quicker. Just for future reference.

Travel to USA for USC's require:

• A negative PCR or lateral flow test result within 3 days of travel for passengers 2 years old or over

Travel to UK requires:

• A negative PCR or lateral flow test result within 3 days of travel for passengers 5 years old or older
• Pre-booked Day 2 & Day 8 tests with an approved provider for passengers 5 years old or older
• Passenger Locator Form(s)

So travelling to the US is pretty pain-free comparing it to the UK. I don't know your circumstances but ensure you have a plan for your test-taking to come back to the UK. It's the same as travelling to the US, you will be denied boarding without them.

I recommend Qured. They are cheap, approved and post the tests to you for you to take abroad with you. You then do the test via video call and then you send them a picture of your test and your passport and they send you a certificate (providing it's negative, of course). Very versatile.

So, to answer your original question this is all you need. Having recently travelled to the US I recommend you print your covid test results if possible. You get asked constantly for them at various stages.  The same with travelling back but also include printing your passenger locator form(s). I'm happy we did this as my wife's for some reason wasn't coming through the UK border system but we printed it out and it solved it all in seconds rather than 15 minutes.

Just a note: I don't know who you're travelling with but American Airlines require masks to be worn on their flights. It's worth taking a few masks for all of you with you in case you drop them etc etc.

All this is as of the requirements today!

Ben, I've heard SO MANY PEOPLE say lateral flow is not accepted and the CDC website seems to indicate that...

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/testing-international-air-travelers.html

Ben, I've heard SO MANY PEOPLE say lateral flow is not accepted and the CDC website seems to indicate that...

https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/testing-international-air-travelers.html

The lateral flow test HAS to be an antigen test. If it is an antigen test, it is allowed.



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Yes true. I apologise about my generalisation and could cause confusion. Has to be a rapid antigen test. That's what I took and was accepted. Same coming home.

Qured had a specific option for 'fit to fly' which was specific to USA. However, when I took the test and sent the image of my results, I had to label it as a Lateral Flow Device. They were the exact same tests needed to come back to the UK. All very confusing, I know.

If I am planning on flying on 27th July when should I order the tests? Does my 7 year old and 17 year old have to do the testing process too?

If I am planning on flying on 27th July when should I order the tests? Does my 7 year old and 17 year old have to do the testing process too?

You all need to do rapid antigen tests. Anybody over the age of 2. It depends who you're booking with and their method of testing etc. Do you have any specifics to help you with your question? Such as, airport testing, PCR, rapid, take at home etc etc?

I will be flying out on 27th July and will be at the embassy the day before getting emergency passports (fingers crossed), and it is the weekend before that - wondering if a walk in appointment rather than the Qured service will be better - not sure if there is one at Manchester Airport or somewhere I would go Saturday afternoon then it would be within 72 hours of flight. Or is Qured (or similar) best?
Thanks!

I will be flying out on 27th July and will be at the embassy the day before getting emergency passports (fingers crossed), and it is the weekend before that - wondering if a walk in appointment rather than the Qured service will be better - not sure if there is one at Manchester Airport or somewhere I would go Saturday afternoon then it would be within 72 hours of flight. Or is Qured (or similar) best?
Thanks!

I'm speaking personally but I could not fault Qured at all. They mailed me the tests, I booked a time & date, you log in via webcam (ipad, laptop, phone etc), and then talked me through it. You then send them a picture of your test result next to your passport and they issue a certificate via email, providing it's negative.

I also opted for pre-departure tests back to the UK which they mail also and you take them with you to USA. Took it at my sister-in-laws house. No need to travel anywhere.

We took our tests 3 days prior so if there were any issues we had two days to solve. Just so you know, it's 3 days prior to travel, not 72 hours. So you could take it 8:00am three days prior for a 2:30pm flight, whereas with 72 hours it would have to be after 2:30pm three days prior.

Thanks so much - I am a bit worried with the weekend falling where it does!! If we had the test Saturday afternoon could they get it lab tested  and back to me before monday?

Thanks so much - I am a bit worried with the weekend falling where it does!! If we had the test Saturday afternoon could they get it lab tested  and back to me before monday?

They're rapid antigen tests (lateral flow) so you get the results in 20 mins wherever you're taking them.

Oh right! I thought it said somewhere 4 -6 hours to go to the lab .... Right so planning on booking flights today so once they are booked can order the tests for saturday - was hoping to hear back from the embassy to confirm a monday appointment first but haven't heard back yet ...
Really appreciate your help Ben1989!!