The land borders of the United States will be thrown open
after nearly 19 months of closure in November. Nonessential travellers can now
enter the country from next month if they are vaccinated for the COVID-19
virus.

 Vehicle, rail, and
ferry travel between the US and Canada, and Mexico has been largely restricted
to essential travel, such as trade, since the pandemic began. According to the
new rules announced on Wednesday, the US will allow fully vaccinated foreign
nationals to enter the country regardless of the reason for travel starting in
early November when a similar easing of restrictions is set to kick in for air
travel into the country. By mid-January, even essential travellers seeking to
enter the US, like truck drivers, will need to be fully vaccinated.

Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said he was
“pleased to be taking steps to resume regular travel in a safe and
sustainable manner” and lauded the economic benefits of it, the Associated
Press reported.

Both Mexico and Canada have pressed the US for months to
ease restrictions on travel that have separated families and curtailed leisure
trips since the onset of the pandemic. The latest move follows last month’s
announcement that the US will end country-based travel bans for air travel and
instead require vaccination for foreign nationals seeking to enter by plane.

Senior administration officials had previewed the new land
border policy on Tuesday. Both policies will take effect in early November, the
officials said.

The new rules only apply to legal entry to the US Officials
cautioned that those seeking to enter illegally will still be subject to
expulsion under so-called Title 42 authority, first invoked by former President
Donald Trump, that has drawn criticism from immigration advocates for swiftly
removing migrants before they can seek asylum. One of the officials said the US
was continuing the policy because cramped conditions in border patrol
facilities pose a COVID-19 threat.

Travellers entering the US by vehicle, rail and ferry will
be asked about their vaccination status as part of the standard US Customs and
Border Protection admissions process. At officers’ discretion, travellers will
have their proof of vaccination verified in a secondary screening process.

Unlike air travel, for which proof of a negative COVID-19
test is required before boarding a flight to enter the US, no testing will be
required to enter the US by land or sea, provided the travellers meet the
vaccination requirement.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
the US will accept travellers who have been fully vaccinated with any of the
vaccines approved for emergency use by the World Health Organization, not just
those in use in the US. That means that the AstraZeneca vaccine, widely used in
Canada, will be accepted.