South Africa added to list of restricted countries

05 Feb 2021 / United States

South Africa has been added to the list of countries on which entry restrictions have been placed by the United States.

The restricted countries are now:

  • Iran
  • China (excluding Hong Kong and Macau)
  • European states within the Schengen Area (Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, and Switzerland)
  • United Kingdom (excluding overseas territories outside of Europe)
  • Republic of Ireland
  • Brazil
  • South Africa

Non-passenger commercial vessels that have been or embarked crewmembers from these countries noted within the last 14 days, with no sick crewmembers, may enter the U.S. and conduct normal operations, provided they remain aboard the vessel except to conduct specific activities directly related to vessel cargo or provisioning operations.

U.S. citizens or any other persons listed in Section 2 of Presidential Proclamation “Proclamation on the Suspension of Entry as Immigrants and Non-Immigrants of Certain Additional Persons Who Pose a Risk of Transmitting Coronavirus Disease”, for example crewmembers with a transit and/or crewmember visa, may be permitted to disembark the vessel to conduct vessel operations pier side or for the immediate and continuous transit through the U.S. to another country.

When entering the U.S. all persons must be cleared by Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and, if applicable, CDC. Crewmembers without the appropriate visas will need to be cleared for entry by CBP and, if applicable, CDC.

Non-passenger commercial vessels that have been to or embarked crewmembers from the restricted countries within the last 14 days, and do have sick crewmembers must report the illness per the requirements found above, and should expect delays and need to work with local health and port officials prior to entry.

For further details and updates, as well as information about operations in the United States, contact GAC North America at [email protected]

If quoting any content from Hot Port News, please cite GAC Hot Port News as the source.