What are the restrictions for leaving Italy and coming back to the US?

August 16, 2020 3:40 PM

Asking for an american citizen

I believe there is a restriction for any non-essential people leaving the USA to go anywhere else due to covid. Is it the same for those who want to leave Italy right now? Are they unable to leave as well?

posted by fantasticness to Travel & Transportation around Italy (7 answers total)

I do not know what airlines or the Italians are doing, but on the US government side citizens can return from Europe but must transit through certain specific airports to ensure "enhanced processing":

https://www.dhs.gov/news/2020/05/27/department-homeland-security-adds-brazil-list-countries-covid-19-travel-restrictions

...also, some FAQs on the topic:

https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/presidential-proclamation--travel-from-europe.html
posted by aramaic at 3:47 PM on August 16, 2020

Response by poster: Enhanced processing? Like covid testing?
posted by fantasticness at 3:51 PM on August 16, 2020

FYI, my understanding is that for leaving the USA it depends on the rules enforced by the destination, not any restriction or checking on the US side. Your wording description matches what I've seen people use to describe the rules being enacted by Canada for crossing the Canadian border. But I know for flying to other countries the rules are different, depending on what those countries' restrictions are.
posted by Lady Li at 3:54 PM on August 16, 2020

Like covid testing?

I don't believe they're competent enough to actually test; to my understanding it's more of a questionnaire type of thing and temperature scan, followed by a pamphlet and an admonition to go home and self-quarantine (but no checks on whether they actually do self-quarantine, because, y'know, America). Things might be different at states with competent governance (eg: NY may actually check up on you and you'd best not be found slacking or they'll hit you with a substantial fine).
posted by aramaic at 3:56 PM on August 16, 2020 [2 favorites]

I flew through Amsterdam to Boston last week. The Enhanced Processing: filling out a questionnaire about symptoms, contact information, etc., slower than normal deplaning in small groups, handing your questionnaire and answering same questions verbally after deplaning and getting a pamphlet, and giving out your contact information once again at passport control.

All in all very simple -- the only time I felt there was a higher than usual chance of exposure was during the Enhanced Process deplaning and the follow-up questioning as that squeezes people into tight quarters. Checkin at the airport (in Oslo for us) was normal, no questions about eligibility to travel with US passports. Similarly few weeks earlier flying to Finland with EU passports was not problematic. Some EU countries are instituting more rules for entry as of past few days.
posted by zeikka at 4:26 PM on August 16, 2020 [3 favorites]

I believe there is a restriction for any non-essential people leaving the USA to go anywhere else due to covid

There is no such general restriction enforced on the USA side.

For re-entering the US, per aramaic's comment you will need to come back in via a select number of international airports. When returning to the US from the UK last month via SFO, I was given a paper questionnaire covering travel history and symptoms of illness over the last two weeks and briefly interviewed by a CDC worker upon exiting the plane. I think they took my temperature, otherwise no physical examination and certainly no COVID testing. After that I was free to continue through customs.
posted by 4rtemis at 4:31 PM on August 16, 2020

In addition, the CDC recommends that all travelers self-quarantine for 14 days after returning from abroad, particularly if arriving from a country with a high incidence rate. However, this does not appear to be legally binding.
posted by Johnny Assay at 6:52 PM on August 16, 2020