Update – Can I Book India To USA Flights & Is COVID Test Required?

Last Updated on Oct 28th, 2024 by Heena Ganotra, 52 comments

The last time the United States updated its travel protocol was on 4 December 2021 (effective from 6 December 2021). Under that, every citizen had to get tested not more than 1 day before the departure, irrespective of the vaccination status and nationality.

However, now, international travelers to the US will no longer need a pre-departure Covid-19 test or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before they board their flight. A full-vaccination certificate or proof will suffice. This policy came into effect from June 12, 2022 on 12 AM (EDT)/ 9:30 PM (IST).

Since there’s a lot more to the new guidelines than this, MyTicketsToIndia has consolidated every bit of information to help passengers book India to USA flight tickets with ease. Here’s everything you need to know before planning your trip to USA.

Who Can Book India To USA Flights?

Have you been knacking your brains with the question, “Can Indian citizens travel to USA?” Well, the answer is a partial yes since there are certain exceptions. People who can book International flights from India to USA flights are  are as follows – 

• Nationals and permanent residents of the USA.
• Spouses of nationals and of permanent residents of the USA with a valid marriage certificate.
• Parents/legal guardians of an unmarried national or permanent resident of the USA who are younger than 21 years.
• Brother or sister (unmarried and younger than 21 years) of a national or permanent resident of the USA.
• The child/foster child/ward of a national or permanent resident of the USA.
• Passengers with these visas: A-1, A-2, C-1, C-2, C-3, CR-1, CR-2, D, E-1 (as an employee of TECRO or TECO or the employee’s immediate family members), G-1, G-2, G-3, G-4, IR-1, IR-4, IH-4, IV, K-1, K-2, K-3, K-4, NATO-1 through NATO-4, or NATO-6 visa.
• Airline crew or passengers with one of these visas: C-1/D, B1, H1, L who are traveling to join an aircraft in the USA.
• Merchant seamen, if traveling to join a ship in the USA; or with one of the following visas: C-1/D, B1, H1, L visa if traveling to join a ship in the USA.
• Passengers engaged in lightering, Outer Continental Shelf (OCS) activity, wind farm activity, private air/sea crew, or other similar crew-member activities.
• Passengers with a DV visa issued between 1 October 2019 and 30 September 2020.
• Members along with their children and spouses of the U.S. Armed Forces.
• Passengers invited by the Government of the USA to mitigate COVID-19.
• Passengers with documents issued by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, or U.S. Department of State stating the exemption of the passenger.
• Passengers with an NIE exemption.
• Expired DV visas issued in September 2020.
• Nationals of the U.S.A. with an expired passport. Note: This does not apply to emergency passports which must be valid on arrival.

Suggested Read: Top 7 Places to Get Passport Photos Near Me

Can Students Book Flights to United States from India

Students with an F-1 or M-1 visa if participating in an academic program that started on 1 August 2021 or later can book flights to USA. 

If you are a continuing student who had booked cheap flights from USA to India before India’s lockdown, make sure you confirm the operational status of your school before getting your flights booked from India. In case the school is operational and their policy for foreign students syncs well, you can travel to USA. However, in this case, you will mandatorily have to carry a confirmation in writing regarding the school being open and operational. You will not be able to board the US flight if you have a valid F or M visa but don’t carry the proper documentation,  

Explanation: This is mandatory because currently schools are operating online and may have policies of not allowing students (who had previously booked cheap flight tickets to India during the pandemic) to return to the campus for a prolonged period of time. 

Suggested Read – Self Declaration Form On Air Suvidha Mandatory For India Travel

Tests & Documents Needed To Travel From India To USA

The earlier update stated that all inbound international travelers (including Indian travelers) were to test within one day of departure globally, regardless of nationality or vaccination status. 

However, according to the new guidelines which are put into effect from 12 June 2022, air passengers traveling from a foreign country to the United States do not need to show a negative COVID-19 viral test or documentation of recovery from COVID-19 before they board their flight. 

Note: The requirement of showing proof of Covid vaccination for non-citizens who are nonimmigrants is still in effect, said CDC. It has recommended Covid vaccines, including boosters, for everyone aged five years and above.

Vaccination Guidelines For USA Travel 

Statement: The CDC on its website clearly stated, “People vaccinated outside of the US who completed the primary series should receive all recommended boosters when eligible. People who received all recommended boosters with an accepted vaccine outside the United States are up to date with their Covid-19 vaccines.”

Insight: If you’re someone looking to travel from India to USA, India now allows booster doses for most eligible people. Furthermore, Covaxin and Covishield are both among the vaccines listed for emergency use by WHO and are accepted by the US. “Primary series” completion will be when both doses of these vaccines have been taken, stated CDC, which, like India, does not recommend mixing of jabs.

Can This Decision Change?

In a statement, CDC said that it will continue to “evaluate the latest science and state of the pandemic and will reassess the need for a testing requirement if the situation changes.” But, for now, the possibility of this decision changing is negligible.

Guidelines For U.S. Citizens, U.S. Nationals, U.S. Lawful PRs & Immigrants

Documents Needed – All air passengers to the United States will be required to provide contact information to airlines before boarding flights to the United States. This is to streamline the process and identify people who may have been exposed to COVID-19. 

If Not Fully Vaccinated – Vaccination requirements to enter the United States do not apply to US citizens. That’s because this end to the testing requirement applies to all travelers previously required to present negative test results.

Guidelines For Non-U.S. Citizens & Non-U.S. Immigrants

Noncitizens who are nonimmigrants and seeking to enter the United States by air are required to show proof of being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before boarding a flight to the United States from a foreign country.

If you are not fully vaccinated against COVID-19, you will NOT be allowed to board a flight to the United States, unless you meet the criteria for an exception under the Proclamation and CDC’s Amended Order. A booster dose is not needed to meet this requirement.

Exempted Categories

Categories of noncitizen nonimmigrants that meet the criteria for an exception under the Proclamation and CDC’s Amended Order include:

• Persons on diplomatic or official foreign government travel
• Children under 18 years of age
• Persons with documented medical contraindications to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine
• Participants in certain COVID-19 vaccine trials
• Persons issued a humanitarian or emergency exception
• Persons with valid visas [excluding B-1 (business) or B-2 (tourism) visas] who are citizens of a foreign country with limited COVID-19 vaccine availability (See list for updates that will be effective June 28, 2022)
• Members of the U.S. Armed Forces or their spouses or children (under 18 years of age)
• Sea crew members traveling with to a C-1 and D nonimmigrant visa
• Persons whose entry would be in the national interest, as determined by the Secretary of State, Secretary of Transportation, or Secretary of Homeland Security (or their designees)

Requirements For Exempted Categories

If you travel by air to the United States under one of these exceptions, you will be required to attest that you are excepted from the requirement to present Proof of Being Fully Vaccinated Against COVID-19 based on one of the exceptions listed above. Based on the category of the exception, you may further be required to attest that:

1. You will be tested with a COVID-19 viral test 3–5 days after arrival in the United States, unless you have documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days;
2. You will self-quarantine for a full 5 days, even if the test result to the post-arrival viral test is negative, unless you have documentation of having recovered from COVID-19 in the past 90 days; and
3. You will self-isolate if the result of the post-arrival test is positive or if you develop COVID-19 symptoms.

Depending on the category of the exception, if you intend to stay in the United States for longer than 60 days you may additionally be required to attest that

• You agree to be vaccinated against COVID-19; and
• You have arranged to become fully vaccinated against COVID-19 within 60 days of arriving in the United States, or as soon thereafter as is medically appropriate.

For more information about what each exception category has to attest to, see the attestation.

Can Someone Attest For Another?

A parent or other authorized person should attest on behalf of a passenger under 18 years old. An authorized person may attest on behalf of any passenger who is unable sign their own attestation (e.g., because they are too young, or because of physical or mental impairment). Children under 2 years of age do not need to complete an attestation. As required by United States federal law, all airlines or other aircraft operators will provide and collect the passenger attestation on behalf of the U.S. Government.

If you are a noncitizen nonimmigrant and are fully vaccinated, make sure your vaccine and proof of vaccination are acceptable to board a flight to the United States.

For additional information on recommendations and requirements before and during travel to the United States and after arriving in the United States, visit Non-U.S. citizen Non-U.S. immigrants: Air Travel to the United States

Airlines Operating Flights to the United States of America

Air India has been operating cheap flights to USA (Newark, Las Vegas, Chicago, Washington DC, San Francisco, etc) from major Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Kochi, Amritsar, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Thiruvananthapuram, Hyderabad, etc. British Airways, American Airlines, Emirates, Etihad, United, and Lufthansa among others are other airlines that are currently operating internationally.

Suggested Read: Is It Important To Take COVID-19 RT-PCR Test Before India Travel?

Where To Find Cheap Air Tickets to USA from India?

You can enjoy cheap flight tickets to USA right here, right now with MyTicketsToIndia where you can avail of bumper deals and discounts with every piece of information you’d need to travel from India to USA. Right from the quarantine guidelines to COVID-19 test requirements and detailed updates, we’ll offer you a one-stop flight booking service from India – USA – India. We assure you of the lowest airfares and the best services.  

Suggested Read: Who Can Book USA to India Flights & When Will Normal Travel Begin?

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How is the RT-PCR test different from the COVID-19 test?

A: There are currently two types of tests in use-
(i) RT-PCR Test (Real-time polymerase chain reaction)
(ii) Antigen Test.
While the PCR test involves inserting a 6-inch long swab into the nose, the Antigen test involves taking a blood sample. The major difference lies in the accuracy portrayed by these tests. The RT-PCR test results are 100% accurate. On the other hand, the accuracy of Antigen Tests ranges from 30 to 90% only. That’s why only the RT-PCR test is considered to be a valid test.

Q: What must the COVID-19 vaccination proof have?

A: The COVID-19 vaccine documents must have – 

• Vaccine manufacturer


• Date(s) of vaccination


• Sign of the health professional issuing the record


• Personal identifiers (name and date of birth) that match with the identifiers on the passport and other travel documents.
 

Q: Are flights from India to US open?

A: Yes, flights from India to USA are open and operating.

Q: Do passengers need to follow the COVID-19 measures set by the respective US states they need to go to?

A: Yes, passengers are subject to COVID-19 measures set by the state/territory of their final destination.You can find the same at the CDC Health Gateway. 

Q: Who is a fully vaccinated passenger?

A:   A passenger is considered fully vaccinated 2 weeks (14 days) after –


• The dose of an accepted single-dose COVID-19 vaccine (Janssen/J&J).


• The second dose of an accepted 2-dose series COVID-19 vaccine (of the WHO-approved 7 vaccines).


• The passenger received the full series of an “active” (not placebo) COVID-19 vaccine in the U.S.-based AstraZeneca or Novavax COVID-19 vaccine trials.


• The passenger got 2 doses of any “mix-and-match” combination of accepted COVID-19 vaccines at least 17 days apart.

Q: Where are the COVID-19 Testing centers in USA and how to find them?

A: The two types of COVID-19 testing centers are
(i) Community-based test centers and
(ii) Drive-through testing centers.


For the former, the US Department of Health & Human Services has designed a search tool that allows people to identify free community-based testing centers across the US. This also includes people without insurance. While there is no such database for Drive-through testing centers, the map given below can be beneficial. It helps in locating the drive-through testing centers across all 50 states. 



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