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Frequently Asked Questions: Guidance for Travelers to Enter the U.S.

Updated Date: April 21, 2022

Since January 22, 2022, DHS has required non-U.S. individuals seeking to enter the United States via land ports of entry and ferry terminals at the U.S.-Mexico and U.S.-Canada borders to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and provide proof of vaccination upon request.  On April 21, 2022, DHS announced that it would extend these requirements. In determining whether and when to rescind this order, DHS anticipates that it will take account of whether the vaccination requirement for non-U.S. air travelers remains in place.

These requirements apply to non-U.S. individuals who are traveling for essential or non-essential reasons. They do not apply to U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents, or U.S. nationals.

Effective November 8, 2021, new air travel requirements applied to many noncitizens who are visiting the United States temporarily. These travelers are also required to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination. All air travelers, including U.S. persons, must test negative for COVID-19 prior to departure. Limited exceptions apply. See  CDC guidance  for more details regarding air travel requirements.

Below is more information about what to know before you go, and answers to Frequently Asked Questions about cross-border travel.

Entering the U.S. Through a Land Port of Entry or Ferry Terminal

Q. what are the requirements for travelers entering the united states through land poes.

A:  Before embarking on a trip to the United States, non-U.S. travelers should be prepared for the following:

• Possess proof of an approved COVID-19 vaccination as outlined on the  CDC  website.
• During border inspection, verbally attest to their COVID-19 vaccination status. 
• Bring a  Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative  compliant border crossing document, such as a valid passport (and visa if required), Trusted Traveler Program card, a Department of State-issued Border Crossing Card, Enhanced Driver’s License or Enhanced Tribal Card when entering the country. Travelers (including U.S. citizens) should be prepared to present the WHTI-compliant document and any other documents requested by the CBP officer.

 Q. What are the requirements to enter the United States for children under the age of 18 who can't be vaccinated?

A:  Children under 18 years of age are excepted from the vaccination requirement at land and ferry POEs.

Q: Which vaccines/combination of vaccines will be accepted?

A:  Per CDC guidelines, all Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved and authorized vaccines, as well as all vaccines that have an Emergency Use Listing (EUL) from the World Health Organization (WHO), will be accepted.

Accepted Vaccines:

• More details are available in CDC guidance  here .
• 2 weeks (14 days) after your dose of an accepted single-dose COVID-19 vaccine;
• 2 weeks (14 days) after your second dose of an accepted 2-dose series;
• 2 weeks (14 days) after you received the full series of an accepted COVID-19 vaccine (not placebo) in a clinical trial;
• 2 weeks (14 days) after you received 2 doses of any “mix-and-match” combination of accepted COVID-19 vaccines administered at least 17 days apart.

Q. Is the United States requiring travelers to have a booster dose to be considered fully vaccinated for border entry purposes?

A:  No. The CDC guidance for “full vaccination” can be found here.

Q: Do U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents need proof of vaccination to return to the United States via land POEs and ferry terminals?

A:  No. Vaccination requirements do not apply to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or Lawful Permanent Residents (LPRs). Travelers that exhibit signs or symptoms of illness will be referred to CDC for additional medical evaluation.

Q: Is pre- or at-arrival COVID testing required to enter the United States via land POEs or ferry terminals?

A: No, there is no COVID testing requirement to enter the United States via land POE or ferry terminals. In this respect, the requirement for entering by a land POE or ferry terminal differs from arrival via air, where there is a requirement to have a negative test result before departure.

Processing Changes Announced on January 22, 2022 

Q: new changes were recently announced. what changed on january 22.

A:  Since January 22, 2022, non-citizens who are not U.S. nationals or Lawful Permanent Residents have been required to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter the United States at land ports of entry and ferry terminals, whether for essential or nonessential purposes. Previously, DHS required that non-U.S. persons be vaccinated against COVID-19 to enter the United States for nonessential purposes.  Effective January 22, all non-U.S. individuals, to include essential travelers, must be prepared to attest to vaccination status and present proof of vaccination to a CBP officer upon request. DHS announced an extension of this policy on April 21, 2022.

Q: Who is affected by the changes announced on January 22?

A: This requirement does not apply to U.S. citizens, U.S. nationals, or U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents. It applies to other noncitizens, such as a citizen of Mexico, Canada, or any other country seeking to enter the United States through a land port of entry or ferry terminal.

Q: Do U.S. citizens need proof of vaccination to return to the United States via land port of entry or ferry terminals?

A: Vaccination requirements do not apply to U.S. Citizens, U.S. nationals or U.S. Lawful Permanent Residents. Travelers that exhibit signs or symptoms of illness will be referred to CDC for additional medical evaluation. 

Q: What is essential travel?

A:  Under the prior policy, there was an exception from temporary travel restrictions for “essential travel.” Essential travel included travel to attend educational institutions, travel to work in the United States, travel for emergency response and public health purposes, and travel for lawful cross-border trade (e.g., commercial truckers). Under current policy, there is no exception for essential travel.

Q: Will there be any exemptions? 

A: While most non-U.S. individuals seeking to enter the United States will need to be vaccinated, there is a narrow list of exemptions consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Order in the air travel context.

• Certain categories of individuals on diplomatic or official foreign government travel as specified in the CDC Order
• Children under 18 years of age;
• Certain participants in certain COVID-19 vaccine trials as specified in the CDC Order;   
• Individuals with medical contraindications to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine as specified in the CDC Order;
• Individuals issued a humanitarian or emergency exception by the Secretary of Homeland Security;
• Individuals with valid nonimmigrant visas (excluding B-1 [business] or B-2 [tourism] visas) who are citizens of a country with limited COVID-19 vaccine availability, as specified in the CDC Order
• Members of the U.S. Armed Forces or their spouses or children (under 18 years of age) as specified in the CDC Order; and
• Individuals whose entry would be in the U.S. national interest, as determined by the Secretary of Homeland Security.

Q: What documentation will be required to show vaccination status?

A:  Non-U.S. individuals are required to be prepared to attest to vaccination status and present proof of vaccination to a CBP officer upon request regardless of the purpose of travel.

The current documentation requirement remains the same and is available on the CDC website . Documentation requirements for entry at land ports of entry and ferry terminals mirror those for entry by air.

Q: What happens if someone doesn’t have proof of vaccine status?

A: If non-U.S. individuals cannot present proof of vaccination upon request, they will not be admitted into the United States and will either be subject to removal or be allowed to withdraw their application for entry.

Q: Will incoming travelers be required to present COVID-19 test results?

A: There is no COVID-19 testing requirement for travelers at land border ports of entry, including ferry terminals.

Q: What does this mean for those who can't be vaccinated, either due to age or other health considerations? 

A: See CDC guidance for additional information on this topic. Note that the vaccine requirement does not apply to children under 18 years of age.

Q: Does this requirement apply to amateur and professional athletes?

A: Yes, unless they qualify for one of the narrow CDC exemptions.

Q: Are commercial truckers required to be vaccinated?

A: Yes, unless they qualify for one of the narrow CDC exemptions. These requirements also apply to bus drivers as well as rail and ferry operators.

Q. Do you expect border wait times to increase?

A:  As travelers navigate these new travel requirements, wait times may increase. Travelers should account for the possibility of longer than normal wait times and lines at U.S. land border crossings when planning their trip and are kindly encouraged to exercise patience.

To help reduce wait times and long lines, travelers can take advantage of innovative technology, such as facial biometrics and the CBP OneTM mobile application, which serves as a single portal for individuals to access CBP mobile applications and services.

Q: How is Customs and Border Protection staffing the ports of entry? 

A: CBP’s current staffing levels at ports of entry throughout the United States are commensurate with pre-pandemic levels. CBP has continued to hire and train new employees throughout the pandemic. CBP expects some travelers to be non-compliant with the proof of vaccination requirements, which may at times lead to an increase in border wait times. Although trade and travel facilitation remain a priority, we cannot compromise national security, which is our primary mission. CBP Office of Field Operations will continue to dedicate its finite resources to the processing of arriving traffic with emphasis on trade facilitation to ensure economic recovery.

Q: What happens if a vaccinated individual is traveling with an unvaccinated individual?  

A:  The unvaccinated individual (if 18 or over) would not be eligible for admission.

Q: If I am traveling for an essential reason but am not vaccinated can I still enter?

A:  No, if you are a non-U.S. individual. The policy announced on January 22, 2022 applies to both essential and non-essential travel by non-U.S. individual travelers. Since January 22, DHS has required that all inbound non-U.S. individuals crossing U.S. land or ferry POEs – whether for essential or non-essential reasons – be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and provide related proof of vaccination upon request.

Q: Are sea crew members on vessels required to have a COVID vaccine to disembark?

A:  Sea crew members traveling pursuant to a C-1 or D nonimmigrant visa are not excepted from COVID-19 vaccine requirements at the land border. This is a difference from the international air transportation context.

Entering the U.S. via Air Travel

Q: what are the covid vaccination requirements for air passengers to the united states  .

A:  According to CDC requirements [www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/noncitizens-US-air-travel.html | Link no longer valid], most noncitizens who are visiting the United States temporarily must be fully vaccinated prior to boarding a flight to the United States. These travelers are required to show proof of vaccination. A list of covered individuals is available on the CDC website.  

Q: What are the COVID testing requirements for air passengers to the United States?  

A:  Effective Sunday, June 12 at 12:01 a.m. ET, CDC will no longer require pre-departure COVID-19 testing for U.S.-bound air travelers.

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Global Entry Now Has an App That Makes Getting Through Customs Even Easier

And you can download it now.

Liz Hafalia/The San Francisco Chronicle/Getty Images

It will soon be faster to clear customs and security for millions of travelers in the United States.  The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) recently announced a brand new smartphone app that will help speed up the security process. The app is now available for the more than 12 million members of the Global Entry program, who can download it from the Apple App Store and Google Play Store according to a statement from the CBP .  For years, Global Entry has been a speedy shortcut as travelers returning to the United States from destinations abroad. The service uses kiosks to scan biometrics from a traveler to verify their identity. Now, the new app will verify the identity of the traveler from their smartphone,  To use the app, travelers take a selfie from their phone while waiting in the security line, instead of taking the photo at the kiosk. The image is matched with those on file to verify the traveler’s identity.  “The new Global Entry mobile application leverages the latest technologies, in order to enhance security while further improving the travel experience for CBP’s trusted travelers,” CBP’s Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Commissioner Troy A. Miller said in the statement.  The service will be initially available at several airports around the United States including: Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, Miami International Airport, Orlando International Airport, Pittsburgh International Airport, Seattle Tacoma International Airport, and Washington Dulles International Airport.

CBP noted they will evaluate the current launch of the program to make decisions on future airport launches.  Travelers need to be registered with the Global Entry program in order to utilize the new smartphone app. The program provides access to expedited entry and no paperwork during the customs process. Global Entry costs $100 for five years of access to the program, and requires an application and interview with a CBP agent. The service also provides eligibility for TSA PreCheck, so travelers may find it more convenient to sign up for Global Entry instead of TSA PreCheck separately. 

From vaccines to testing: What travelers need to know before the new US travel system on Nov. 8

• The U.S. is launching a new travel system on Nov. 8.
• Vaccinated foreign air travelers will need to show proof of full vaccination and test for COVID-19.
• The new travel system also adds more stringent testing requirements for unvaccinated U.S. travelers.

The United States is about to make it much easier for vaccinated international travelers to visit.  

The White House announced that a new air travel system will take effect Nov. 8, allowing entry for fully vaccinated foreign tourists .  The system is set to launch nearly two years after the U.S. began imposing travel restrictions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 . 

The move by the White House will essentially have the U.S. drop its travel ban on dozens of countries while also making entry more challenging for the unvaccinated. The new system will allow entry for foreign nationals only with vaccinations approved for emergency use by the World Health Organization and would add testing requirements for unvaccinated Americans.

Here’s what we know about the new travel requirements:

What are the entry requirements for foreign nationals?

Starting Nov. 8, non-citizen, non-immigrant air travelers   will need to show proof of full vaccination as well as a pre-departure negative coronavirus test taken within three days of travel before they can board a plane to the U.S. 

Learn more: Best travel insurance

Acceptable forms of proof of vaccination include:

• Digital or paper verifiable record, such as a vaccination certificate or a digital pass with a QR code.  
• Nonverifiable paper record, such as a printout of a COVID-19 vaccination record or COVID-19 vaccination certificate.
• Nonverifiable digital record, such as a digital photo of a vaccination card or record, downloaded vaccine record, downloaded vaccination certificate or a mobile phone application without a QR code.  

The U.S. will accept nucleic acid amplification tests, including PCR tests, and antigen tests. The rules will go into effect for passengers on planes leaving for the U.S. at or after 12:01 a.m. ET on Nov. 8.  

Airlines will collect basic personal contact information   from all U.S.-bound travelers for contact tracing. Airlines are required to keep the information on hand so the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention   can reach out to travelers who may have been infected or exposed to COVID-19.

Masking will be required, but there will be no quarantine mandate for vaccinated travelers or unvaccinated children .

► US  travel bans: How COVID-19 travel restrictions have impacted families and couples

The change will make entering the U.S. possible for travelers from countries now listed on the U.S. travel ban, which prohibits entry for travelers who have been in any of the regions within the past 14 days. The travel ban  took effect in early 2020 and includes :

• United Kingdom
• Republic of Ireland
• South Africa
• The European 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, Switzerland, Monaco, San Marino and Vatican City)

Currently, the U.S. asks international air passengers only to get tested within three days of their flight to the U.S. and show either the negative test result or proof of recovery  from COVID-19 before boarding. 

What about the land borders with Mexico and Canada?

New travel rules will also take effect for foreign nationals arriving by land or passenger ferry.

Starting Nov. 8, fully vaccinated foreign nationals can cross the land borders for nonessential reasons such as tourism or visiting friends and family . These travelers will need to verbally attest to their reason for travel and vaccination status and be prepared to show proof of vaccination  upon request. U.S. Customs and Border Protection will accept both digital and paper records showing proof of vaccination, including documents not in English.   Foreign nationals will also need appropriate travel documentation to enter the country.  

CBP will spot-check travelers' vaccination documents, and those without documented proof of vaccination can be denied entry. Travelers under 18 will be exempt from the vaccination requirement as long as they are traveling with a fully vaccinated adult, according to Matthew Davies, CBP's executive director of admissibility and passenger programs.  

The new travel rules will go into effect as soon as a port of entry opens on Nov. 8, or at midnight for ports that operate 24 hours a day changes will go into effect at midnight on Nov. 8 for ports that operation 24 hours a day.  

U.S. citizens reentering the country should also bring a Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative document, such as a valid passport, trusted traveler program card, enhanced driver's license or enhanced tribal card. 

Entry rules along the border will change again in early January, with all travelers – including those traveling for essential purposes – required to show proof of full vaccination. 

► US land borders: Travelers in Mexico and Canada plan their next US visit after new land border policy announced

Which vaccines does the US accept for travel?

The CDC has announced that vaccines approved for emergency use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and World Health Organization will be accepted for air travel. White House officials expect the CDC to approve the same vaccines for travelers entering the U.S. by land or ferry.  

The FDA has authorized three COVID-19 vaccines for emergency use during the pandemic: Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and Pfizer-BioNTech, the last of which has received the FDA's full stamp of approval.

Vaccines with WHO approval for emergency use include:

• Johnson & Johnson
• Pfizer-BioNTech
• Oxford-AstraZeneca/Covishield 

The CDC confirmed that it would accept a mix-and-match approach to vaccinations. Travelers who have any combination of FDA- or WHO-approved vaccines will be considered fully vaccinated.

The new travel policy does not accept foreign travelers who have had COVID and received just one shot in a two-dose series. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday that the administration will "continue to review" its entry requirements.  

► Covaxin gets WHO emergency approval: Travelers vaccinated with Covaxin can enter US   

► 'You feel lonely and left out': These fully vaccinated travelers want to visit the US. They may not be allowed in.

How do the new rules affect kids? 

Foreign nationals under 18 are exempt from the vaccination requirement. Children under two will not need to take a pre-departure COVID test.

Kids 2 and older traveling with a fully vaccinated adult can test three days prior to departure, while children traveling alone or with unvaccinated adults will need to get tested within one day of departure. 

Currently, all air passengers 2 or older, including U.S. citizens and permanent residents, need to show a negative coronavirus test to fly to the U.S.

What are the entry requirements for Americans?

The new travel system adds more stringent testing requirements for unvaccinated U.S. travelers.

Starting Nov. 8, unvaccinated U.S. citizens and permanent residents will need to take a test one day before departure and test again upon arrival in the U.S. 

► New travel rules: What US travelers need to know about the new COVID rules for international flights

Entry requirements will not change for vaccinated Americans. They will still need to show proof of a negative coronavirus test taken no more than three days before departure. 

Americans will not need to be fully vaccinated to board international flights to the U.S.

Are there any exemptions?

There is a limited set of travelers who are exempt from the vaccine requirement for entry.

Children under 18, certain COVID-19 vaccine clinical trial participants and travelers with adverse reactions to the vaccines – such as people who have had severe anaphylactic allergic reactions to a prior COVID-19 vaccine –  will be exempt.

People traveling on non-tourist visas from countries with less than 10% of its population vaccinated who need to enter the U.S. for emergency or humanitarian reasons are also exempt from the vaccine requirement. There are about 50 countries considered to have low vaccine availability at this time.

These exempt travelers will generally need to show that they will comply with public health mandates, including a requirement to be vaccinated in the U.S. if they plan to stay more than 60 days.  

Unless they have recovered from COVID-19 within the last 90 days, unvaccinated travelers  must agree to be tested with a COVID-19 viral test three to five days after their arrival and quarantine for seven days, even if their post-arrival test comes back negative. 

Unvaccinated travelers who are not U.S. citizens or permanent residents must also agree to self-isolate if their post-arrival test is positive or if they develop COVID-19 symptoms. 

Unvaccinated children under 18 will not need to quarantine but will still need to take a post-arrival test. 

► Who is exempt?: These select groups of unvaccinated foreign travelers can enter the US

The CDC will not give exemptions  to people who object to the vaccinations due to religious or moral convictions. 

There will also be testing accommodations for travelers who can prove they recently recovered from the coronavirus. These travelers will need to show a positive COVID-19 viral test result on a sample taken no more than 90 days before their flight's departure and a letter from a licensed healthcare provider or public health official saying they are cleared for travel.  

Follow USA TODAY reporter Bailey Schulz on Twitter: @bailey_schulz . 

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International travel documents for children

See what documents a child needs to travel to or from the U.S. alone or with a parent or relative.

Children traveling to the U.S.

All children, including infants, must have their own travel documents such as a passport or document from a Trusted Traveler Program to enter the U.S. If you travel or are going to travel with a child, consider taking the following documents:

• If the child is traveling with only one of their custodial parents, they must have a letter of consent, preferably in English and notarized, from the other parent or signed by both parents. The letter should say "I acknowledge that my son/daughter is traveling outside the country with [the name of the adult] with my permission."
• If one parent has sole custody of the child, a copy of the custody document can take the place of the other parent's letter.
• Parents who frequently cross the border by land with a minor must always carry a letter of permission from the other parent.

U.S. citizen children traveling abroad

Ports of entry in many countries have security measures to prevent international child abduction . If you are traveling alone with your child, you may be required to present documentation proving you are the parent or legal guardian. You may also need a letter of permission from the other parent for your child to travel. 

If your child travels alone, depending on the country, they may be required to present a notarized letter from both parents or their legal guardian. If a minor is traveling abroad and is not accompanied by both parents or a legal guardian, contact the embassy or consulate of the country you will be visiting and ask about entry and exit requirements for that country.

LAST UPDATED: December 6, 2023

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Customs and entry process.

Promoting a more secure and efficient arrival process for international visitors

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers are the first line of defense in America’s national security efforts—and they’re often the first people international travelers interact with on their trips here.

U.S. Travel urges lawmakers to provide CBP with adequate funding so that they can properly screen international travelers and streamline the customs and entry process. 

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U.S. Travel Association Welcomes Brazil Into Global Entry Program

U.S. Travel Association President and CEO Roger Dow issued a statement on the announcement that Brazil and its citizens now have full partnership in the Global Entry program, which will ease travel to the United States for business and tourism.

U.S. Travel Applauds Bipartisan Letter to State Dept. to Restore Visa Processing

U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes issued a statement on a bipartisan letter signed by more than 80 lawmakers, led by Reps. Darren Soto (D-FL) and Peter Meijer (R-MI), calling on the U.S. Department of State to restore visa processing operations, reduce the backlog of appointments and lower visa wait times.

U.S. Travel Reacts to Release of Additional H-2B Visas

U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes issued a statement on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s release of 22,000 supplemental H-2B visas.

U.S. Travel Reacts to Tighter Entry Restrictions for U.S. Arrivals

U.S. Travel Association Executive Vice President of Public Affairs and Policy Tori Emerson Barnes issued a statement on the Biden administration’s announcement that it would tighten the pre-departure testing window for entry to the U.S. from three days for vaccinated travelers to one day.

US. Customs and Border Protection recover $1.1m in stolen vehicles at Charleston, Savannah seaports

U .S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers stationed at the Charleston, South Carolina, and Savannah, Georgia, seaports have continued their efforts to combat vehicle theft, intercepting 18 stolen vehicles valued at approximately $1.1 million so far in the 2024 federal fiscal year.

The recovered vehicles were destined for various countries, including Ghana, Libya, Jordan, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates.

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“Our officers and law enforcement partners have a major role in the battle against Transnational Criminal Organizations,” said Gregory Alvarez, Director of Field Operations for CBP’s Atlanta Field Office. “Intercepting these stolen vehicles allows for victims to recover a significant personal item and disrupts the flow of money to criminal enterprises both foreign and domestic.”

Throughout the 2023 federal fiscal year, CBP officers at the ports of entry in Charleston and Savannah successfully recovered 59 stolen vehicles, with an estimated domestic value of $7,597,528.

These vehicles, ranging from sedans to luxury sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks, were obtained through various fraudulent means, including the use of stolen identities and credit cards, including reservations made via fraudulent methods.

CBP’s efforts have not only protected American businesses and vehicle owners but have also led to significant disruptions in criminal enterprises, both domestically and abroad.

Recovered vehicles have been traced back to states including Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Michigan, Florida, North Carolina, and Georgia.

The recovered stolen vehicles have been turned over to the Georgia Port Authority Police and the South Carolina Law Enforcement Divisions for final disposition.

CBP’s mission at the nation’s Ports of Entry is multifaceted, encompassing the screening of international travelers and cargo, as well as the detection of illicit narcotics, unreported currency, weapons, counterfeit goods, prohibited agriculture, and other illicit products that pose potential harm to the American public, U.S. businesses, and the nation’s safety and economic vitality.

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U.S. tourist faces 12 years in prison after taking ammunition to Turks and Caicos

An Oklahoma man faces up to 12 years in prison on a Caribbean island after customs officials found ammunition in his luggage.

Ryan Watson traveled to Turks and Caicos with his wife, Valerie, to celebrate his 40th birthday on April 7. They went with two friends who had also turned 40.

The vacation came to an abrupt end when airport staff members found a zip-close bag containing bullets in the couple's carry-on luggage. Watson said it was hunting ammunition he had accidentally brought with him — but under a strict law in Turks and Caicos, a court may still impose a mandatory 12-year sentence.

"They were hunting ammunition rounds that I use for whitetail deer," Watson told NBC Boston in an interview conducted last week that aired after their first court appearance Tuesday.

"I recognized them, and I thought, 'Oh, man, what a bonehead mistake that I had no idea that those were in there,'" he said.

The couple were arrested and charged with possession of ammunition. Authorities seized their passports and explained the penalties they faced.

Valerie Watson said in the interview: "When I heard that, I immediately was terrified, because I was like we can't both be in prison for 12 years. We have kids at home, and this is such an innocent mistake."

The charges against her were dropped, and she returned home to Oklahoma City on Tuesday after the court hearing to be reunited with her two young children.

"Our goal is to get Ryan home, because we can’t be a family without Dad," she said.

The couple also spoke about the financial burden of a much longer-than-planned trip. "This is something that we may never recover from," Ryan Watson said.

The U.S. Embassy in the Bahamas issued a warning to travelers in September about a law that strongly prohibits possession of firearms or ammunition in Turks and Caicos, an overseas British territory southeast of the Bahamas that is a popular vacation spot.

It said: "We wish to remind all travelers that declaring a weapon in your luggage with an airline carrier does not grant permission to bring the weapon into TCI [Turks and Caicos Islands] and will result in your arrest."

The embassy added: "If you bring a firearm or ammunition into TCI, we will not be able to secure your release from custody."

The embassy and the government in Turks and Caicos did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

The same thing happened to another American, Bryan Hagerich, of Pennsylvania, who was arrested after ammunition was found in his luggage before he tried to board a flight out of Turks and Caicos in February. He said he accidentally left it in his bag.

Hagerich was on a family vacation with his wife and two young children but has now been in the country for 70 days. He spent eight days in prison before he posted bail.

"It’s incredibly scary. You know, you just don’t know what the next day may bring — you know, what path this may take," Hagerich told NBC Boston.

"You know, it’s certainly a lot different than packing your bags and going away with your family for a few days. It’s been the worst 70 days of my life," he said.

Hagerich, once a professional baseball player, was drafted by the Florida Marlins in the MLB 2007 June amateur draft from the University of Delaware.

His case goes to trial May 3.

Patrick Smith is a London-based editor and reporter for NBC News Digital.

Labour’s tax-raising agenda can no longer be hidden

From pensioners to small businesses, the party’s worst instincts are now coming to the fore

Pensioners are undertaxed “codgers” who should be giving more to the state. The VAT threshold should be dramatically reduced so anyone doing a few odd jobs at the weekend might find themselves adding 20 per cent on top to give to the Treasury. No one could accuse the former head of HMRC Sir Edward Troup of lacking loyalty to his old employer. 

In his new role as an adviser to shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves, Sir Edward’s historic policy suggestions have taken on a new light – and brought on scrutiny. So why do Labour employ his advice? The truth is that as the party draws closer to taking power, its mask is slowly slipping. Never mind that taxes are approaching a 70-year high, nor that they are crushing the life out of the economy – Labour seems intent on asking for more regardless. 

Sir Edward fits perfectly into their mould. Earlier this month, it was revealed that he suggested pensioners were not paying their fair share towards the state, advocating stripping them of perks such as free TV licences, or perhaps even handing these perks to younger people. 

This weekend we learned that he suggested the threshold for VAT registration should be halved in a move which would hit hundreds of thousands of small businesses. Estimates show that lowering the threshold to £50,000 – a figure close to Sir Edward’s suggestion – would mean 351,000 more businesses having to register for the tax in 2025-26. 

It all begs the question: what next? 

Keir Starmer and Reeves are doing everything they can to reassure voters and industry that they have no plans to conduct a tax raid, that they will stick to the self-imposed “fiscal rules”, and that there will be no “uncosted” spending programmes. When the manifesto is published, we can expect it will promise no increase to the basic rate of income tax or national insurance. It might even include one or two tax cuts, designed, like any good conjurer, to distract attention from all the rises elsewhere. 

Piece-by-piece, however, the real tax raising agenda is starting to emerge. Alongside Sir Edward, the Resolution Foundation – one of the Labour’s favourite think tanks – has been busily dreaming up new tax rises, such as imposing National Insurance charges on the rental income of landlords. The party’s outriders and advisers appear to have a clear mantra. If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, raise the tax even higher. 

Many of the changes will likely be dressed up as purely “technical”. Take the suggested VAT raid, if Sir Edward’s comments are to be taken seriously. Sure, there is a textbook argument that smaller companies and sole traders should levy the tax. Some might even keep their turnover just below the £90,000 threshold to avoid it. 

And yet, that ignores the fact that they might well lose customers when they have to start charging an extra 20 per cent on jobs. Others could decide a side gig isn’t worth it if they will have to deal with VAT enquiries, not a section of government exactly famous for its charm and helpfulness. 

Or take the argument, seemingly advanced by Sir Edward, that pensioners should be taxed more. Sure, some of them are quite wealthy, but many are not. And unlike younger people, they have few opportunities to earn more. It is hard to describe anyone in Britain today as “undertaxed” – but pensioners are certainly not on the list. 

There are other areas where the Labour’s urge for “tax fairness” could lead to higher taxes. Capital Gains Tax, perhaps? That could certainly be made “fairer”, by the Left’s definition of the word. Or even road pricing, taking billions more from motorists. 

None of it will help an economy already trapped in a doom loop of stagnant growth and rising government spending. 

In reality, the UK’s tax system needs deconstructing. Taxes are too high, taking too much spending power out of the economy. And marginal rates have run out of control, with many families – particularly those with student loans – having to pay an extortionate amount as a proportion of their income. 

If Britain is to recover from its current mire, the economy needs both lower and simpler taxes. 

Unfortunately, Labour seems committed to the opposite. As the moment when they will take power draws closer, and they become more certain of victory, that is becoming painfully clear.

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• Keir Starmer,
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Southwest Airlines will no longer fly out of Bush Airport and 3 other airports after financial lows

HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) -- Soon, you won't be able to take a Southwest Airlines flight out of Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport. After expanding to Bush Airport just three years ago, the airline says it's pulling out, leaving Hobby Airport as the only option for Southwest customers.

Southwest Airlines announced it will stop flying to IAH on Aug. 4, 2024, as part of a plan to cope with weak financial results and delays in getting new planes from Boeing.

The announcement comes after the airline reported a $231 million loss in its first quarter.

"We're also taking steps to restore an industry-leading financial performance that enables us to best serve the millions of customers who fly with us each week," the airline said in a statement.

CEO Robert Jordan said the airline was reacting quickly "to address our financial underperformance," including by slowing hiring and asking employees to take time off.

The Dallas-based carrier said it expects to end this year with 2,000 fewer employees than it had at the start of the year.

But money isn't the only bump on the tarmac for the airline.

"Southwest is really struggling with their delivery of aircraft, so that's really a significant struggle for them," Jim Szczesniak, Director of Aviation for Houston Airports, said.

Unable to meet demand, Southwest will also stop flying to three other airports: Cozumel, Mexico; Syracuse, New York; and Bellingham, Washington; and implement capacity reductions in Atlanta, Georgia; and Chicago, Illinois.

The closures will help the airline focus on more profitable locations and deploy a fleet of planes that will be smaller than it had planned. Southwest said it's expecting only 20 new 737 Max 8 jets from Boeing this year, down from the 46 it expected just a few weeks ago. It will offset some of the shortage by retiring fewer planes.

Boeing is struggling with slower production since a door plug blew out of an Alaska Airlines Max 9 in January, and that is frustrating its airline customers.

READ RELATED: Boeing whistleblower testimony to Congress: 'They are putting out defective airplanes'

Southwest said that its loss, after excluding special items, was 36 cents per share. That was slightly worse than the loss of 34 cents per share that Wall Street expected.

Revenue rose to $6.33 billion, below analysts' forecast of $6.42 billion.

American Airlines also reported first-quarter losses on Thursday. While demand for travel remains strong, including among business flyers, airlines are dealing with higher labor costs and delays in aircraft deliveries are limiting their ability to add more flights.

American said it lost $312 million as labor costs rose 18%, or nearly $600 million. The airline said it expects to return to profitability in the second quarter - a busier time for travel - and post earnings between $1.15 and $1.45 per share. Analysts expect $1.15 per share, according to a FactSet survey.

The first-quarter loss amounted to 34 cents per share, excluding special items, which was worse than the loss of 27 cents per share forecast by analysts.

Revenue was $12.57 billion.

CEO Robert Isom said American is less impacted by Boeing's problems because the airline had already received hundreds of new planes in recent years. American has ordered Boeing Max 10s, a larger model that has not yet been certified by the Federal Aviation Administration, but those planes are not due to start showing up until 2028.

"If they don't get it together, we have also made sure that we're protected," Isom told CNBC. He stopped short of saying American would switch Boeing orders to rival Airbus, saying only, "We'll take care of it."

In premarket trading, Southwest shares were down 9%, while American shares were up 3%.

But the airline isn't leaving Houston altogether.

"Because they have a really strong presence here at Hobby when they had to figure out a way to make their aircraft work with their network, it was one of those things where they decided, hey, we've got to pull out of (Bush) and concentrate on Hobby," Szczesniak said.

This is the airline's second split from IAH. They stopped operations in 2005 and returned just a few years ago in 2021.

Southwest will fully pull out on Aug. 4. Customers with flights after that will be contacted by Southwest to fly out of Hobby or to get a refund.

For more news updates, follow Lileana Pearson on Facebook , X and Instagram .

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Senior Official Performing the Duties of the Commissioner Troy Miller addresses the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America

CBP Senior Official Performing the Duties of Commissioner Troy A. Miller delivered the following remarks at the 51 st Annual Conference of the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America in Fort Lauderdale, Florida

First of all, I just want to say thank you for the introduction. You are all true partners of US Customs and Border Protection, and more importantly, true partners in the economic security of this nation and the safety and security of our citizens. So if I could a round of applause for the association, Lenny and JD.

Good afternoon, everyone. It's great to be here in Fort Lauderdale. Again, I just want to acknowledge the National Customs Brokers and Forwarders Association of America, the president JD, and thank you for having me speak again at the 51st annual conference. It was quite an honor to be here for the 50th in New Orleans last year. Customs officials and industry partners have been coming together in these conferences to discuss issues with the trade environment as we said, for over 50 years. And while the discussions and issues may have changed, one thing that hasn't, it's the need for us all to work together. By looking around the room today, it's clear we continue to do just that.

As customs brokers and freight forwarders you are a full force multiplier for Customs and Border Protection as we enforce trade compliance and supply chain security every day if you are working to collect information that helps us maintain a safe, fair, viable trade environment that protects our nation's economic security. One in four partnership effort for CBP, and we were just talking about a little bit at the table, is the Customs Trade Partnership Against Terrorism Program, or CTPAT.

From its inception, in 2001, CTPAT continues to grow. Today, we have more than 11,000 certified partners, including customs brokers, freight forwarders who have been accepted into the program. By helping to validate safe supply chain, certified partners receive fewer exams, first-line privileges, assigned supply chain security specialists and the scientists supply chain security specialist to provide assistance.

Since January 2024, remember that date, January 2024 CTPAT has successfully conducted nearly 30 webinars providing useful information to our trade industry partners on CBP requirements and how to identify potential bad actors who are attempting to exploit legitimate supply chains for illicit activity. This outreach will be ongoing as we work with trade to combat tactics used by transnational criminal organizations and further secure the supply chain.

Today, January 2024, CBP’s efforts have resulted in educating over 3,000 companies, or approximately 42,000 individuals involved in shipping commodities to the US. But we need to continue to hear from you, everybody in this room. The ever-changing dynamic of the trade environment requires us to stay agile and adaptable together. CBP will continue to collaborate, communicate, and listen to the needs of our partners so we can adjust and ensure supply chain security and continue to facilitate legitimate trade. Your feedback is essential, it's necessary.

Speaking of adapting, everyone in this room has had to adjust to the unprecedented expansion of e-commerce. In fiscal year 2015, we processed 134 million de minimus shipments. Today, CBP processes nearly 4 million de minimus shipments a day.

This is a major challenge. Bad actors are exploiting de minimus to traffic illicit goods and circumvent legitimate trade. Small packages may be of low cost but they provide bad actors with high rewards. Especially for the illegal trafficking of narcotics, synthetic drugs and the chemicals and tools used to make things like fentanyl, which are killing American youth.

Fentanyl is devastating our communities. We are committed to stopping fentanyl and other synthetic drugs from crossing our borders, while holding those who manufacture and traffic it accountable. In fact, I was just in Arizona just last week announcing the next phase of our strategy, Plaza Spike, which targets the plazas and the cartel bosses responsible for bringing fentanyl across the southwest border.

The fight against fentanyl and other synthetic drugs is complex. We need the trade community's support. We have all have a shared responsibility in ownership and securing our supply chains. We need your help to establish better information sharing on shipments by providing accurate data on producers, shippers and commodities, end users and the ultimate destinations.

Currently, we are still receiving advanced data for de minimus shipments that is limited and often vague and inaccurate. I am asking you to do your part and share the information we receive as detailed and matches what we have in the package. This means confirming that filer and carrier requirements are met through accurate manifest descriptions, providing correct classifications and values for de minimus goods, and ensuring the timely filing of data. In today's dynamic environment, we can expect to encounter shifts and trading patterns. We will work with you to keep pace with those shifts. CBP has several efforts underway to deal with the growing volume of small packages so that our personnel can focus on high-risk packages.

Entry Type 86 created new business opportunities for parties, including customs brokers who were previously not utilizing the de minimus entry process. However, we are seeing many instances within the Entry Type 86 test where filers aren’t doing their part to validate the data they are submitting. We continue to see weight and value ratios that don't make sense, vague cargo descriptions like freight of all kinds or daily necessities. In fact, a few weeks ago, we seized two shipments that contained Xylazine, a horse tranquilizer. When added to fentanyl it is resistant to Narcan, a medication that helps prevent opioid overdose deaths. Both shipments were misclassified, had vague one word descriptions “bag” and “90.” Both shipments entered under Entry Type 86.

We know that there are filers abusing their Entry Type 86 test by filing entries as quickly as possible and providing junk data. These individuals can file entries worth more than several thousand dollars a day without any vetting of the data to ensure accuracy. CBP has learned that these same filers are charging as little as $0.10 per entry type 86 transaction. As a result, highly compliant customs brokers like you aren't participating in the test because they can't fulfill their duty to provide accurate data to CBP. They simply cannot compete with these prices.

This is creating an unlevel playing field with the Entry Type 86 test environment. Put simply, these bad actors are potentially harming us all and are making us less safe. To change this, CBP is increasing our enforcement efforts to ensure that compliant and responsible customs brokers are participating in the Entry Type 86 test. We are taking actions to tighten the guardrails around Entry Type 86 test to ensure the responsible customs brokers can compete in this environment.

This includes suspending participants from the test when necessary. Again, we want to make sure we are all on the same page when it comes to compliance. We have been in close dialog with your association's leadership. We appreciate your input to provide more guidance related to the Entry Type 86 test. As a result, we published a new Entry Type 86 guidance just last week. We will continue to be transparent and maintain this open dialog with the industry to ensure everyone understands the requirements.

 Another initiative is the Section 321 Data Pilot that is running through August of 2025. This pilot allows CBP to receive, as you all know, additional advanced data from non-traditional trade partners. It enhances our ability to assess risk and interdict illicit shipments in a small package environment, and we have received positive feedback from you, the trade community on both time and cost savings.

We have been conducting both Entry Type 86 and Section 321 Data Pilot for several years. In fiscal year 2023, participants in the Entry Type 86 test and Section 321 Data Pilot provided us with over 785 million filings of data elements not traditionally required for de minimus shipments. We have found that entries submitted with additional data elements, accurate data elements, can be evaluated and released more quickly. This has resulted in same day clearances and about 90% reduction in shipments of participating online platforms. Detailed product information from online marketplace product listings have proven extremely beneficial to officers evaluating shipments for risk. We are learning a lot through these initiatives, and we know there is still more to learn.

We encourage everyone who is eligible to participate and provide that feedback. More participants will allow more companies to collect data from various sources in the supply chain and develop streamlined filing mechanisms to explore new and different technologies that can impact future regulations and help us identify future trade facilitation benefits.

And that's another example of us working together to improve the trade environment. Continuing education for customs brokers is another key priority for CBP. We published the final rule for continued education for licensed customs brokers just last June, lining the broker license with many other professional licenses certifications which have a continued education components. This rule requires an individual broker to obtain 36 hours of continuing education every three years.

As customs brokers you all are on the front lines of security facilitation and compliance and enforcement. Continuing education is intended to help ensure all 13,000 individually licensed customs brokers stay current and new requirements in the highly dynamic trade environment. We are looking at what activities will be eligible for credit including webinars, trade conferences, corporate training, trade days held at ports, our trade summit and training offered by trade associations and other private entities. Activities that are not offered by the US government will need to be accredited by a CBP approved accreditor. We issued a request for proposals for interested parties to become CBP educated creditors in February, and the solicitation closed on March 7th. We are currently reviewing the submissions and plan to select multiple accreditors soon. We encourage all customs brokers to stay tuned for further information, including the anticipated start date for customs brokers to begin earning continuing education credits.

We will also be administering the next Customs Broker License exam on May 1st. This exam will be offered in person and virtually. Currently, there are more than thirteen-hundred folks registered for the exam, the majority of whom have elected to take it in person. We are also listening to feedback from the customs broker community, and CBP is partnering with the COAC’s Broker Modernization Working Group to work through a series of ideas for re-envisioning the customs broker exam. The working Group has provided CBP with excellent recommendations to enhance the Customs Broker’s License exam experience.

Now, I'd like to update you on a couple of other items. As you may have heard, I announced at a recent trade summit, CBP is partnering with the FDA to expand the focus of the Global Business Identifier Test. In February, we issued a Federal Register notice modifying the GBI test by removing commodity and country of origin limitations on the types of entries permitted under the test, and extending the test for three more years. This expanded focus will allow us to expedite compliant trade and pursue a future state where the industry can use identifiers to demonstrate compliance with mandates, and indicate low risk to the US government. CBP will work jointly with the FDA to explore how identifiers could be leveraged to improve coordinated decision making across the US government. This could enhance predictability, lower costs, and create additional facility benefits for compliant trade participants. I encourage our trade partners to participate in this test and voluntarily transmit GBI data with your entry filings. Your feedback will help inform the ongoing evolution of the test, including potential benefits for participants.

I would also like to update you on two notices of proposed rule makings, or NPRM’s, that have cleared CBP. The Rail Electronic Export Manifest NPRM, requires the electronic submission of the export manifest and is for cargo transport by rail and formalizes the current test environment for rail transmissions with other modes of transportation to follow for future rulemakings.

The entry of low value trade shipment NPRM’s, the value low value shipments which we just talked about, the electronic process for entry and low value shipments is based on the successes of the Entry Type 86 test and the Section 321 Data Pilot. This proposed rule allows CBP to target high-risk shipments more effectively, including those containing synthetic drugs such as fentanyl again, that has made its way out of CBP. Both NPRM’s demonstrate our commitment to enhancing the automation of trade processes, which will facilitate trade and improve enforcement. As these NPRM’s are currently in the interagency review, we don't know when the proposed rules will be published in the Federal Register, but we will continue to do everything possible to expedite the process. Once they are published, we look forward to your comments and we'll take them into account before we finalize these rules.

To close, I want to reiterate that we remain committed to strong partnerships with NCBFAA and other key trade stakeholders to keep the global supply chain safe and moving. For our part, CBP will continue to impact, impart critical information and listen to your needs. For your part, I ask that you continue to be a force multiplier for us and help us eliminate the bad actors from the supply chain. I encourage all of you to engage with CBP representatives during the conference to provide your feedback and ideas. Direct engagement is vital to maintaining a trade landscape that addresses our collective needs in the safest, most efficient manner possible.

Again, I cannot thank everybody in this room enough for your partnerships, and I look forward to the continued collaboration as we do everything we can to keep the people of our country safe and continue to protect the economic security of our nation.

Thank you so much.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the comprehensive management, control, and protection of our nation’s borders, combining customs, immigration, border security, and agricultural protection at and between official ports of entry.