We’ve been receiving a lot of questions about passports, visas and people wanting to ensure smooth traveling after not being able to do so for the previous few years, so we have complied a guide important information and travel tips for traveling between the U.S. and Australia post pandemic.
- Are Covid Vaccinations Required for The U.S. or Australia?
- Check Passport Expiry Dates
- Keep Hardcopies of Important Information on Your Person
- Keep Important Numbers Written Down
- Check Your I-94 Entry Record
- Check Partner Visa Expiry Dates in Australia
- Be Prepared for Flight Changes or Travel Disruptions
- Be Prepared for Longer Security Wait Times
- Be Aware of The Challenges of Los Angeles Airport (LAX)
Are Covid Vaccinations Required for The U.S. or Australia?
The most frequent question we get asked is about COVID-19 vaccination, and testing requirements for entering the U.S. and Australia.
As of May 2023 the vaccination restrictions for foreign nationals to enter the U.S. have been lifted. This aligned with the Australian Government decision to remove vaccination and testing requirements for foreign nationals in June 2022.
There is currently no requirement to show status of vaccination or COVID tests prior to travel to both the United States or Australia.
We urge travelers to double-check Smart Traveler (if in Australia) or other sites if they’re in the U.S. for other countries requirements during your travel, as there are still several with pandemic related requirements in place.
Check Passport Expiry Dates
It is important to emphasize checking passport expiry dates. During the pandemic, a lot of us couldn’t travel, and checking our passport expiry dates were the last thing on our minds.
Although ten years seems like a long time, surprisingly a lot of people get caught out with expiring or expired passports close to their travel dates. This is important to check early into your planning, ideally months in advance of your travel as getting passports renewed can be a lengthy process.
Update: The Australian system has resumed to more standard timeframes and function.
It is also important to check your children's passports, because, unlike an adult passport they expire after five years. Write their expiry dates down, set reminders, whatever you need to do not to be running to the passport office a week before your trip trying to get it expressed and running the risk of missing flights.
Keep Hardcopies of Important Information on Your Person
We urge everyone to have hard copies of all passports, and all visas with you when traveling, on your person.
This eliminates the stress of lost baggage, stolen passports, etc. putting a halt to your travels. This can ease stress coming and going with visas, as you typically need your visa to re-enter, and if you can’t at a minimum access digital information, you’ll be in a less than desirable situation.
If your passport is lost, you will have to get your visa replaced. If you’re overseas, trying to get an appointment at a consulate or embassy can be difficult as many consulate appointments for non-nationals can be booked out months in advance.
Unfortunately, you are not able to mail in an application to replace a visa, which is why we stress having a duplicate.
Keep Important Numbers Written Down
Write down important numbers, and keep them on your person.
While discussing important travel tips before my mother-in-laws visit, my husband suggested to her writing down his phone number, my phone number, and any other important phone numbers which she kept with her important documents.
After arriving at the airport, she realized she’d left her phone in the car, and for the hours-long flight from Minnesota to Hawaii we didn’t hear a thing. On arrival, she was able to borrow someone's phone and call us to update us on the situation, ultimately avoiding a lot of confusion and chaos.
Though anecdotal evidence, it is a perfect example of our general over reliance on digital devices, and really highlights the importance of traveling with hard copy information.
Check Your I-94 Entry Record
The most important record when you’re traveling to the U.S is your I-94.
Every time you enter the U.S. you have an I-94 entry record, which is a critical document you have to check every time you enter the U.S. as it changes often.
Each time you enter you are issued a new one, which you can check online or ask your attorney to check for you. The record will include which type of validity they have provided you with on that entry, whether it’s an ESTA, E-3, or any other visa, you’re going to have a validity of your stay contained within that document.
In most situations in the U.S, your visa is not the critical component here of your valid stay in the U.S, your I-94 is what is important.
If you have time left on the valid dates for your non-immigrant E-3 visa for example, you’re able to enter the U.S. on that document, but your I-94 may be granted for much longer.
Keep in mind there are several components that must be valid for legal status in the U.S. and your I-94 is a record of permitted stay in the U.S. that needs to align with your reason for permitted travel, or work authorization.
Check Partner Visa Expiry Dates in Australia
For foreign nationals in Australia, it is important to check partner visas.
Regardless of what stage that visa is at, you always need to check when your five-year validity is going to expire. If you’re coming close to traveling around that five-year mark and it’s going to expire, you’re going to have to get a returning resident visa prior to returning back to Australia.
Be Prepared for Flight Changes or Travel Disruptions
We cannot stress enough to be prepared, for the unexpected when it comes to flying both domestically and internationally.
Flight changes, itinerary changes, and flight delays are all quite common in the U.S. and Australia and having a backup plan prepared to minimize the disruption should always be part of your travel planning.
Whether it's being prepared to have a few extra days added to your trip, or some cash aside for emergency accommodation. There is the possibility your travel insurance won’t cover certain types of delays, and with tough cancellation fees and unclear terms of compensation, being prepared and having a plan B and C is the best advice in these situations.
Be Prepared for Longer Security Wait Times
Be prepared to have considerable wait at security lines in the U.S. TSA lines, immigration lines, and even overseas in other countries with the relevant authorities, can take significant time during transit.
Be patient, as authorities such as the TSA, CBP and Australian Customs and Border Force have a job to do and it's a good idea to check out their websites close to travel for updated information.
Be prepared either on arrival at immigration, or even when you’re checking into domestic flights, these will be longer than usual. If you’re traveling with children, elderly people, etc. have snacks, entertainment, something ready to keep you busy during that wait time.
Be Aware of The Challenges of Los Angeles Airport (LAX)
The final tip in this article is specific to Los Angeles Airport (LAX). Traveling to LAX is a common place to enter the U.S. from Australia and return, though in reality, LAX is a mess.
LAX airport is excessively spread out, and usually very busy at all points of operation. Be prepared to spend a lot of time in this airport walking, in between changing flights, moving between terminals, and picking up bags.
If you’re traveling with elderly people or young kids, this is a advice to take seriously, especially if you are unprepared. Walking half an hour with heavy luggage and no transportation can be taxing, so be prepared to have plenty of time and measures in place to alleviate the difficulty.
The upside to LAX is generally the flight to Australia. Most airlines flying back to Australia depart late into the night from the U.S. and the international terminal is significantly quieter than it is during other times of the day.
If you have any questions regarding passports, visas, or travel tips feel free to send us an email, give us a phone call, or contact us through our webpage. We’re always happy to help wherever we can. From the entire team here at Worldwide Migration Team, we wish you safe travels.
About The Author
Melissa Vincenty is a U.S. Attorney, a registered Australian Migration Agent and the founder and managing director of Worldwide Migration Partners. Melissa has over 25 years of experience in U.S. Immigration Law, including practising at the world’s largest U.S. Immigration Firm and more than 15 years as a Country Specialist (China and Tibet) for Amnesty International USA.
Disclaimer: The information in this article is general in nature, may not, and is not intended to constitute the most up-to-date legal or other information, and is for general informational purposes only. It does not represent legal advice specific to any individual/s situation, and should not be relied on as such. Please contact us to schedule a legal consultation for advice specific to individual circumstances.
