Urgent question regarding US National wishing to travel to the US

[Huggybearman]

A question to our American friends who may be able to help with the answer.

A friend of mine wishes to return to the US within the next week or so to visit his gravely ill mother who is in hospital in Boston, Massachusetts. She is well into her nineties and the prognosis is not good!

He is a US citizen, married to a Filipina and living here in Cagayan de Oro, Northern Mindanao. He is a permanent resident here on a 13A visa. He is 70 years old and plans traveling without his wife, to Boston for about four weeks or so and then returning to CDO.

I have no idea what the travel requirements, including COVID tests, quarantine requirements etc. are, both here exiting the Philippines and for his arrival into the US. 
Can anyone here advise him what is needed, other than an ECC? He can be flexible as to routing, but would prefer to avoid Manila if possible due to the current COVID situation. 
Any advice you can give him would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance, guys.

Edited April 15, 2021 by Huggybearman
Add further info.

[Yeochief]

If I remember correctly, you have to have a COVID test done with in 48 hours of your flight.  Once in the United States there should be no restrictions.  Now coming back, I thought you had to have your wife with you and a current visa, of course that can change in four weeks.

[Yeochief]

 

Correction, within three calendar days.  

 

COVID-19 Information | U.S. Embassy in the Philippines

COVID-19 Information

Last updated:  04/14/2021

All airline passengers to the United States ages two years and older must provide a negative COVID-19 viral test taken within three calendar days of travel. Alternatively, travelers to the United States may provide documentation from a licensed health care provider of having recovered from COVID-19 in the 90 days preceding travel. Check the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for additional information and Frequently Asked Questions.

The Philippine government has suspended the entry of all foreign nationals through April 21, 2021. In addition, the number of inbound international passengers has been limited to 1,500 per day.

The following individuals are exempt from the entry ban provided they have a valid visa at the time of entry:

1. Diplomats and members of international organizations, and their dependents, provided they hold a valid 9(e) visa or 47(a)(2) visa;
2. Foreign nationals involved in medical repatriation duly endorsed by Department of Foreign Affairs – Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration;
3. Foreign seafarers under the “Green Lanes” program for crew change, provided that they hold a 9(c) crew list visa;
4. Foreign parent/s, spouses, and children of Filipino citizens traveling with the Filipino citizen; and
5. Emergency, humanitarian, and other analogous cases approved by the Chairperson of the NTF COVID-19 or his duly authorized representative.

Below are the current quarantine classifications according to the Philippine government:

Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) through April 30, 2021

Metro Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Santiago City, Quirino Province, and Abra

General Community Quarantine (GCQ) through April 30, 2021:

Luzon – The entire Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Cagayan, Isabela, and Nueva Vizcaya in Region II, Batangas, and Quezon Province;

Visayas –Tacloban City; and

Mindanao – Davao City, Iligan City, and Lanao Del Sur.

All other areas are under Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ).

For quarantine classification protocols and regulations, visit the Philippine COVID -19 website. The Philippine government mandated all persons to wear full-coverage face shields together with face masks while in public places. Local governments continue to implement additional requirements to slow the virus’ spread.

[Huggybearman]

4 hours ago, Yeochief said:

 

Correction, within three calendar days.  

 

COVID-19 Information | U.S. Embassy in the Philippines

COVID-19 Information

Last updated:  04/14/2021

All airline passengers to the United States ages two years and older must provide a negative COVID-19 viral test taken within three calendar days of travel. Alternatively, travelers to the United States may provide documentation from a licensed health care provider of having recovered from COVID-19 in the 90 days preceding travel. Check the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website for additional information and Frequently Asked Questions.

The Philippine government has suspended the entry of all foreign nationals through April 21, 2021. In addition, the number of inbound international passengers has been limited to 1,500 per day.

The following individuals are exempt from the entry ban provided they have a valid visa at the time of entry:

1. Diplomats and members of international organizations, and their dependents, provided they hold a valid 9(e) visa or 47(a)(2) visa;
2. Foreign nationals involved in medical repatriation duly endorsed by Department of Foreign Affairs – Office of the Undersecretary for Migrant Workers Affairs and Overseas Workers Welfare Administration;
3. Foreign seafarers under the “Green Lanes” program for crew change, provided that they hold a 9(c) crew list visa;
4. Foreign parent/s, spouses, and children of Filipino citizens traveling with the Filipino citizen; and
5. Emergency, humanitarian, and other analogous cases approved by the Chairperson of the NTF COVID-19 or his duly authorized representative.

Below are the current quarantine classifications according to the Philippine government:

Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ) through April 30, 2021

Metro Manila, Rizal, Bulacan, Cavite, Laguna, Santiago City, Quirino Province, and Abra

General Community Quarantine (GCQ) through April 30, 2021:

Luzon – The entire Cordillera Administrative Region (CAR), Cagayan, Isabela, and Nueva Vizcaya in Region II, Batangas, and Quezon Province;

Visayas –Tacloban City; and

Mindanao – Davao City, Iligan City, and Lanao Del Sur.

All other areas are under Modified General Community Quarantine (MGCQ).

For quarantine classification protocols and regulations, visit the Philippine COVID -19 website. The Philippine government mandated all persons to wear full-coverage face shields together with face masks while in public places. Local governments continue to implement additional requirements to slow the virus’ spread.

Thank you Yeochief, that is very helpful. I have passed on the info to my friend. He might just have to take his wife along with him just to ensure his return entry to the Philippines. Always assuming that the rules don’t change prior to their return! And also that she can get a visa to the US!

[graham59]

Alternatively, he could meet her in say, Hong Kong (on his way back to the Phils), then the two of them arrive back in the Phils on the same flight (with marriage cert in hand). 

(From memory, Filipinos can have 14 days visa-free, when visiting Hong Kong.)

 

Edited April 15, 2021 by graham59

[Joey G]

3 minutes ago, graham59 said:

Alternatively, he could meet her in say, Hong Kong (on his way back to the Phils), then the two of them arrive back in the Phils on the same flight (with marriage cert in hand). 

Not a bad idea, but even that will take some close coordination of schedules... though transit through HK is allowed... they are "subject to restriction" 

https://hk.usconsulate.gov/covid-19-information/

Entry and Exit Requirements:

• Are U.S. citizens permitted to enter? Yes, if they fall into one of the categories listed below.
  • U.S. citizens with Hong Kong residency, diplomats, and U.S. citizens who have been present in mainland China, Taiwan and Macau uninterruptedly for the past 21 days are permitted to enter Hong Kong.
  • All non-Hong Kong residents arriving by air from any location other than mainland China, Macau, and Taiwan will be denied entry. Non-Hong Kong residents arriving from mainland China, Macau, or Taiwan will be denied entry if they have been to any overseas countries and regions in the past 21 days. Certain transportation links and border checkpoints between Hong Kong and mainland China remain closed. Ferry service between Hong Kong and Macau remains suspended.
  • As of December 22, 2020, all persons who have been in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Brazil or South Africa for more than two hours in the past 21 days (including Hong Kong residents) will not be allowed to board a flight to Hong Kong. Recently, Hong Kong has allowed passengers of designated Cathay Pacific flights to fly from London to Hong Kong with arrangements for these passengers to undergo the 21-day compulsory quarantine in a specified quarantine facility.
  • Travelers are allowed to transit through Hong Kong, though they are subject to certain restrictions. Please check with your airline and the Hong Kong government site for more information about transiting in Hong Kong.
  • For more information, please see the Hong Kong government’s website.
• Is a negative COVID-19 test (PCR and/or serology) required for entry? Yes
  • As of July 29, 2020, the Hong Kong government requires travelers arriving in Hong Kong from the United States to provide proof of a negative COVID-19 nucleic acid test administered within 72 hours of the scheduled time of departure. Travelers from the United States will no longer be able to quarantine at home upon arrival and must instead show confirmation of a hotel reservation for not less than 21 days starting on the day of arrival in Hong Kong. For more information, including important details about other required documents, please see the Hong Kong government’s website. Effective December 22, 2020, this 21-day quarantine must occur in one of the officially-designated quarantine hotels. For more information, including important details about other required documents, please see the Hong Kong government’s website.
• Are health screening procedures in place at airports and other ports of entry? Yes
  • As of April 8, 2020, all inbound travelers arriving at Hong Kong International Airport are subject to COVID-19 testing, and as of April 22, 2020, they must wait for test results at a designated location. For more information, please see the Hong Kong government’s press release. As of July 8, 2020, aircraft and vessel crew members entering Hong Kong are subject to COVID-19 testing and 14-day mandatory quarantine. For more information, please see the Hong Kong government’s press release.
• If you wish to extend your stay in Hong Kong, please contact the Hong Kong Immigration Department before your visa or limit of stay will expire. For more information, please see the Hong Kong Immigration Department’s website.

[graham59]

The idea would be just to transit through HK airport, but yeah, not so straightforward these days  (but probably a lot easier than her trying to get a visa for the U.S.  ). 

[Gator]

For routing, obviously departing from Cebu would be the logical choice. Often the same price or even less then via Manila. But you might also check departures from Clark. Sometimes more expensive, but going to the northeast US it might be a more preferable route. 

[Jollygoodfellow]

5 hours ago, Huggybearman said:

Thank you Yeochief, that is very helpful. I have passed on the info to my friend. He might just have to take his wife along with him just to ensure his return entry to the Philippines. Always assuming that the rules don’t change prior to their return! And also that she can get a visa to the US!

As long as things change after the 21st otherwise he may not get back without a wife.

Aliens not traveling with Pinoy kin can't enter PH during travel ban - BI
The Bureau of Immigration (BI) reiterated that foreign parents, spouses and children of Filipino citizens cannot enter the Philippines if they are not traveling with the latter.
In a statement, BI Commissioner Jaime Morente reiterated that said existing guidelines on international travel set by the Inter-Agency Task Force for the Management of Emerging Infectious Diseases (IATF) do not allow the entry of foreign parents, spouses and children of Filipinos if they are travelling alone.
The said foreigners, Morente reminded, should likewise possess valid visas secured in the country’s foreign posts abroad to be able to enter the country.
He added that the Balikbayan privilege, which allows the visa-free entry of foreign spouses and children of Filipinos, remains suspended.
The reminder was issued following reports that a handful of aliens were denied entry at the airports for attempting to come to the country without their Filipino spouse, children, or parent.
Morente stressed that airlines and ships are obligated to ensure that only foreigners eligible to enter the country during the implementation of the travel restrictions are allowed to board their Philippine-bound flights.       
It can be recalled that the Philippines reimposed a ban on the entry of foreigners last month amid the resurgence in the number of COVID-19 cases in the country.
The ban, which started last March 22 is in effect until April 21.
Aside from prohibiting the entry of foreigners, the IATF also ordered a reduction in the number of inbound international travelers to 

https://www.facebook.com/officialbureauofimmigration/posts/1986573754814655

[Jollygoodfellow]

21 hours ago, Jollygoodfellow said:

As long as things change after the 21st otherwise he may not get back without a wife.

Just quoting myself. Don't need to wait until the 21st for another change